1st Round of Extractions
August 2nd – Honey Extraction Like I said, I’m trying things different this year so I wasn’t sure what to expect for honey. But, this is the first year ever I extracted honey the first of August. Usually don’t pull honey supers until September or even October. That way they catch the last honey/nectar flow of the year. But I may extract again in the fall. I don’t expect much from this harvest. I’m guessing 20 pounds or so. But hey, that is $200 for winter hive wrap, mite treatment, and feed! I am hoping for a total of about 60 Pounds this year. A little less than last year, but it will all work out.
UPDATE – 7-26-25
Good Things Coming! Although it’s still a touch-and-go struggle with the bees since the devastating winter of 2021-2022 and some losses that have occurred since, we aren’t giving up on the bees! We can’t give up on the bees! With that said, we are down to three (3) active hives for the 2025 summer season (so far). That is a far cry from the 10 we started with. However, as you know, we’ve relocated everything back to our property to manage them better and more often. The Vassalboro location was great, and Ethan did awesome caring for them all the times I couldn’t get there. But having them here, they are outside our window, and if they start to swarm, we are right on top of it. When it’s inspection time, they are right outside our door! I believe I mentioned in another post that we are also working on 1-Deep Management rather than 2. This will give us a lot more honey and be better for keeping control of the colony’s size. It also makes inspection a lot easier as well as cutting the cost of any natural treatments in half! Saving money is a good thing. Another part of the positive changes is we have purchased a vlogging camcorder (a cheap one) so we can start videotaping hive inspections and goings-on at the apiary. With these films it will help build a presentation to schools so the children can familiarize themselves with the life and times of honeybees. So, once we figure out the camera, you can start expecting some great videos of our hives, inspections, harvests, extraction and bottling of our honey. I hope you will enjoy an up-close and personal view of the bees and their activities. As you can see in the photo on the right, our hives are home but in a new location. We’ve decided not to cut the lawn until late fall on this side so the bees can enjoy the wildflowers and an all-natural-looking area. So far, it seems the bees are doing well in this location. Although we only have 3 active hives right now, our 3rd hive is all made up of deep supers. We can break them down and make splits, maybe this year, and give us 1 to 2 more hives. We have extra frames of honey from last year that we never extracted in case we needed them to feed back to the bees. It turns out, these extra frames of honey will be a considerable help in creating a split and the bees having enough honey to make it through the upcoming winter. So, when we do our inspection this week, I’ll see if any of the hives, especially the one made up of 3 deeps, is ready to split and create one or two more hives this year. If we can get 2 more, that puts us halfway to getting where we were to begin with 3 years ago. You can see (in the picture) that we have extra hives available. (NOTE: This picture was taken from our living room window.)
Learn Beekeeping Free!
Want to be a Beekeeper? Learn Hands-On Free as a Volunteer! Learn Beekeeping Free! You read that right! No $50 or $100 “Bee School” cost for a school that is 1 day a week for about a month. Then, when your bees arrive you are on your own! “Bee School” offered by most local Beekeeper Clubs are a great way to learn by way of classroom, videos and textbooks. Then, you MAY get to be involved in a “Hive Opening” or Inspection.” Usually, you never get to actually touch the frames or anything. Just look and listen to the instructor. Once “Bee School” is over, it’s usually not for another month or two (at least) before your bees arrive. But, since you aren’t in bee school anymore, you are on your own to try to remember what you heard and read! Not at “Saving the Honeybees!” We do things differently here. At “Saving the Honeybees” we are offering Learning/Volunteer Positions for 2 people.. Once every 2 weeks (sometimes a little longer and sometimes a little shorter) for 1to 3 hours. We are seeking volunteers. You help us while you learn for free! We will teach you beekeeping the “hands-on way”. Not with outdated videos, books, and lots of classroom time. At “Saving the Honeybees” we believe to learn, you must get involved. Up close and personal with the bees. Here you will open hives, remove, inspect, and replace frames, exchange honey frames with new frames, and help with the extraction. If this sounds interesting to you, drop us an e-mail stating your interest in learning beekeeping. If you are under 18 you will need parental consent. Bob@SavingtheHoneybees.net
Behind Schedule
The weather has been awful, with rain much of the time. That is a setback for the hives because the bees can get out and forage, and with all the bees in the hive and in a lame mood, it is a bad time to check the hives. So, I’m about 3 weeks behind in my inspections. I hope to be doing inspections tomorrow. With a little luck, I’ll set my camera up on the tripod and try to get dsome new pictures from this year’s inspections. In the meantime, I found a few pics from an inspection at one of our locations last year. Pics came out well! Enjoy!
Baby Steps…
This year, like so many others in recent history, we lost a few hives over the winter. With that loss came some changes. We’ve relocated much of our equipment that we had at the Funny Farm back to our home location. We sold a hive to the Funny Farm to help them out a bit, and the money went toward much-needed apiary supplies. Then we ordered 3 nucs from Holt’s Apiary in St. Albans, ME, as theirs are always really good and strong. They came in in early May, and we installed them into the 3 deadout hives we had from last year. So, we had a major setback, but we are still thinking positive! The 3 new nucs, we are hoping, will grow very swiftly, and we can do a couple of splits. With a couple of splits, that will bring us back up to 5 hives, our halfway point. Yes, we are only halfway to where we were before the die-offs from our debut in Maine! But, we will get back to 10. It just may take a little time. We now have new all-natural treatments to knock down the varroa mites. We’ve also got more winter insulation for the hives and will be building a wind block for this coming winter. That should reduce our losses for this coming year. Hopefully, by 2026 or 2027, we will be back to 10 hives. (A little quicker with more sponsors and/or capturing swarms.) One baby step at a time. You can’t force Mother Nature. You can sometimes trick her, but sometimes that doesn’t work out too well. So, Baby Steps…!
Dangers Honeybees Are Facing Today
Honeybees face numerous threats in today’s world, and their survival is increasingly at risk. One of the biggest dangers is the widespread use of harmful pesticides, especially neonicotinoids. These chemicals can disorient bees, reduce their ability to forage, and even kill them. Pesticide exposure weakens entire colonies and affects their reproduction and resilience. Habitat loss is another major threat. Urban development, agriculture, and deforestation reduce the natural spaces where bees find food and shelter. Without wildflowers and flowering plants, bees struggle to survive. Monoculture farming also limits their food sources and increases their exposure to harmful chemicals. Climate change adds another layer of danger. Shifts in temperature and weather patterns affect flowering times and reduce the availability of nectar and pollen. This forces bees to adapt or relocate, which isn’t always possible. Extreme weather events, such as droughts and floods, also destroy bee habitats and food supplies. Diseases and parasites like the Varroa destructor mite are deadly for honeybees. These mites feed on bee blood and spread viruses that can wipe out entire colonies. Commercial beekeeping practices, which sometimes involve moving hives across long distances, can stress bees and spread diseases faster. Lastly, pollution from air and water sources affects bee health. Bees are highly sensitive to pollutants, which can impair their navigation and foraging behavior. Even light pollution disrupts their natural patterns. The decline in honeybee populations is a warning sign. Without action, we risk losing one of nature’s most essential pollinators. Understanding these dangers is the first step toward protecting honeybees. Governments, farmers, and individuals must work together to reduce pesticide use, protect habitats, and support bee-friendly practices. It’s not just about saving bees—it’s about protecting ecosystems and ensuring a secure food future for all.
Simple Ways To Help Honeybees
You don’t need to be a beekeeper to help save honeybees. Everyone can contribute, no matter where they live. Even simple actions can make a significant difference in supporting honeybee health and survival. One of the most effective ways is to plant a bee-friendly garden. Choose flowers that are rich in nectar and bloom throughout the seasons. Native wildflowers, lavender, clover, and sunflowers are great options. Avoid using pesticides, especially neonicotinoids, which are harmful to bees. Provide fresh water sources. Place shallow dishes filled with clean water and stones or twigs for bees to land on. Bees get thirsty too, and this small act can support them, especially during hot weather. Let your lawn grow a bit wild—dandelions and clover are valuable food sources for bees. Support local beekeepers by buying their honey and beeswax products. This supports ethical beekeeping and encourages the preservation of bee populations. Reduce your carbon footprint and support organic farming. Industrial farming and climate change negatively impact bee habitats. Educate others. Share knowledge about honeybees with friends, family, and your community. Start or join local conservation efforts, attend workshops, or participate in World Bee Day events. Encourage schools to include pollinator protection in their environmental education. If you have space and interest, consider becoming a beekeeper yourself. Local beekeeping associations often offer training and support. Even hosting a hive on your property can make a big difference. Helping honeybees doesn’t require grand gestures. Every flower planted, every harmful chemical avoided, and every informed conversation helps. Honeybees need our protection now more than ever. Their survival ensures a balanced ecosystem, diverse food sources, and a healthier planet. Let’s all take small steps that lead to a big impact.
Why Honeybees Are So Important
Honeybees are not just honey producers; they are vital to the environment and our food systems. One-third of the food we eat relies on pollination, and honeybees are responsible for about 80% of that. They pollinate fruits, vegetables, nuts, and many crops that livestock eat. Without them, our diets would become far less diverse and nutritious. Sadly, honeybee populations are declining due to habitat loss, pesticide use, diseases, and climate change. This decline is alarming, as it threatens food security, biodiversity, and ecosystems. Honeybees also help support the growth of trees, flowers, and other plants. These plants serve as food and shelter for many creatures, keeping ecosystems balanced. The absence of honeybees could lead to a collapse in the ecological chain. Beyond their ecological importance, honeybees have economic value. The global crop pollination done by honeybees is worth billions of dollars annually. We must act now. Supporting organic farming, avoiding harmful pesticides, and planting bee-friendly flowers can help. Also, buying honey and other products from local beekeepers supports sustainable beekeeping. Educating communities about their importance is key to change. Schools and environmental programs can raise awareness in young minds. In summary, honeybees are tiny heroes that play a massive role in our lives. They contribute to food production, support biodiversity, and strengthen natural ecosystems. Losing them would mean losing much more than just honey. By understanding their value and taking steps to protect them, we ensure a healthier planet for ourselves and future generations. Every garden planted, every pesticide avoided, and every hive protected makes a difference. Saving honeybees is not just an environmental issue—it’s a survival issue. Let’s appreciate these pollinators and make choices that protect their future and ours.