The year has gone fast. I knew that it would go fast – so here we are.
This spring was a bit disappointing. It rained a lot, so the pollen and nectar was washed out of many flowers. When this happens, the beekeeper needs to pay attention to the food level in the hive.
What happens many times is that most of the hives will be light on food and maybe one or two hives found a way to fill 3-4 supers with nectar. How one or two hives found the food sources and the other did not is still a mystery to me and many other beekeepers.
I will not take honey from my apiary until I know the status of food in the other hives and even though I have more forage growing and blooming, the lack of a good and heavy spring flow can be detrimental to the apiary and their ability to make it through winter.
I end up sharing the wealth with all of the hives as experience shows one hive will not consume 3-4 supers through a winter. It may also mean that I do not take any honey for myself, but instead share the frames of honey with the other hives.
After sharing with all hives, then I determine if and how much I need to feed. Remember that here in North Carolina, there is still a fall flow to happen in the months of September and October.
It has been Very Hot and I am looking forward to the cool down of Fall.
So lets get on with Fall and Cooler weather!!!!
Namaste’
