Some of what I have learned the past two years about honey bees has spiked my interest as I have watched my son and his wife fool with the process. So I will pass along some of what I have learned and maybe I can get some pics of the next honey harvest. First Tj, we discussed navigation disruption this within the family. And about the bees and what is causing the disturbance in "The Force". We just this week talked about a large bee die off in Kansas, Round up along with genetic plant growth may be blamed but I am not sure anyone knows for sure but there is some pretty heavy discussion about it in the local Bee keeper Association. And Pat, we also have bees in the trees
. My son will remove bees from places that people don't want them, like walls in houses and attic's or storage places, School houses, court houses are just a few of the places he will remove them (for a price) Sometimes he will take something in trade. We now have an old skeeter type bass boat at the pond.
He sells his honey as Raw honey (how it is processed), but not organic because a bee will travel up to 20 miles so one must own all that land to declare it is organic. I could be wrong about this but that is what I understand. And Rah, bees will take the shortest route for pollen and will use what is the closest to them. That is why we have clover honey early in the year, we plant and maintain clover for the bees and the bucks. So most likely they are in your veggies. And Brook u r right about the swarms caused by mites and beatles and also due to too many bees in a hive which causes them to split and swarm to start a new hive. To recall a swarm is something to see, he will recall a swarm and get them to enter a new hive, does not always work but it does happen. A neat thing to watch. And Dono, he did buy a flow hive to watch and see how it all works, he has three different types of hives, each has it problems and rewards. Again, I'm no expert but just a father watching his son.
Tracy
