Strong Bees in July.

This is what the landing board of a strong hive looks like in July.   These bees were split in mid June by the Taranov method and are now undergoing treatment for mites.   Were using a treatment certified organic in New Zealand as there is not certification for organic aracnoides in bees anyplace else in the world but this may be our last chemical treatment of any type as we're moving to a heat based treatment. Mites die at 104 degrees and bees and larvae at 126.  Anyhow these bees look very strong, the aroma of honey is in the air.  They're flying purposefully and are docile. Their daughter colony is doing wonderfully in Florence.  It's all you could ask of a hive.  

Frame repair

Here's a great example of recycling.  The bees did a super job of rehabbing old comb.  What a difference two months makes! The work on this frame of honey represents about 300,000 miles of bee flight. 

New Hive Bodies (where the bees live) and supers (where they store honey) painted and ready for the bee yard! 

We're Back!

Northampton Honey took a little time off.  When we started the business it was because we both loved beekeeping.  Priscilla worked half time and Adam 22 hours a week. At our peak we had 30 beehives. 

As both of our jobs became more demanding and full time beekeeping just became more work. We made honey but we sort of fell out of love with the bee yard. 

Now, a shocking six years, later we're keeping bees again because we love to. Nobody follows the season like a beekeeper, except perhaps a farmer. To love bees is to love flowers and to know how much rain you've had or how many good flying days the bee have had recently. 

We now have 2 or 4 hives depending on how you look at it.  These are heavily managed hives that put the health of bees before anything. 

Now when we light a smoker and pick up a hive tool and walk to the bees it's with joy again.   The good news is the bees look better than ever.  We should have honey later this year. 

Northampton honey took a little nap and woke up happy.