Comments

• • Terry Anderson@terrya

  

  Great shots Mary

  I kept bees years ago when I was 'back to the landing' near Joussard Alberta.  I bought used hives (12) from a Peace River Beekeeper, so put up with lots of drone cells and a few mites and other bad things (no foul brood), but I never put a new package of bees onto straight foundation combs as you seem to be doing above.

  Now getting into a buzz about retirement projects, and thinking about bees again, I am wondering how it worked. Did the hive thrive?? Much yield? Did you build the frames and install the foundation yourself.

  Looks like good fun!

  Terry

  Terry Anderson November 2, 2012 - 9:35am

• • Mary Pringle@maryp

  

  I got the bees and bee supplies from the Bee Maid store in Spruce Grove. The hive seems to be doing well, but I haven't taken any honey from it. The supers above the queen excluder are still almost unused. They have swarmed a couple of times already--I haven't learned how to prevent that. I've been giving them sugar water in the spring in case they don't have enough honey stored.

  I did put together the frames myself because I wanted to use the beeswax frame instead of plastic. The foundation had to be put together from a kit, too.

  I just like having them around. I find it hard to go in and disturb their stuff--they seem to have it the way they want it.

  Mary Pringle November 2, 2012 - 9:52am