Our  interest began about 2006 when we came across one of our great grand father’s hives.  He had kept bees close to 100 years ago on the farm which was simply one part of everything that made up the farm as a whole.  Just one part of the puzzle.  A seasonal treat, if honey was to be had, and the single best pollinator in the world for the half dozen apple trees in the orchard adjacent to the house.

Not much has changed since then in the over-all design of keeping bees.  Bees have more problems, more threats if you will, but the basics have not changed.  A healthy hive is a strong hive.

We hear so much about different kinds of mites, hive beetles, and Colony Collapse Disorder, all things that are bad for hives.  Some of these are explained and we understand them and have devised natural and artificial methods to combat them, while others are a still a complete mystery.  It’s a wonder we even have bees anymore.

One thing is for certain, bees are important and they are wondrous and we most definitely need them.

So, in the past year we began to research the whole process.  How to keep and care for them.  How to manage and help them thrive.  In Spring of 2008, we received our first nucleus colonies and picked up a couple swarms from around the county.  It was a fantastic year and the bees do quite well.  We sold honey at local markets and received many compliments.  Going into the winter of 2009, we are anticipating Spring.  It cannot come fast enough and it is our hope, having fallen in love with Beekeeping, to expand our small apiary.