Articles New Beekeepers
New Beekeepers
IF YOU WANT TO KEEP BEES THIS YEAR, YOU NEED TO ORDER THEM NOW! OUR SUGGESTIONS FOR NEW BEEKEEPERS ARE:
Double Nuc Setup: This is the setup we wish were available from the regular suppliers. We are building the telescoping tops and divided bottom boards along with a divider that will allow you to divide a 10 frame deep box into 2 5 frame nucs and allow you to stack another divided 10 frame deep on top. Add to this a budget grade 10 frame deep from Humble Abodes, and 10 PF100 frames and a new grain bag inner cover. We will include 2 virgin queens later in the season to split and requeen your colony from our own stock. $100 (the deep box comes unassembled and can be assembled for an additional $10).
Divided bottoms $25
Telescoping tops $25
Grain Bag Inner Cover $2
10 PF100 Frames $24.10
Groove Top Bar Wood Frames $8.60/10
Budget Grade Deep Boxes $12.70
Deep Divider Kit $10
Boxes and wood frames are available now, the rest will be available March 15.
1. Start with Packages instead of nucs. Nucs contain comb with an unknown history, and are often the combs the seller wants out of their operation for one reason or another...the same reasons that you don't want them in your hives.
2. We recommend the Mann Lake PF100 series frame/foundation combination. Yes, this is plastic...but the advantages (small cell size, ready acceptance by the bees, very small amount of actual wax [which is invariably contaminated with chemicals] is introduced into the hive) outweigh any concerns, at least in our opinion. We recommend this as a first step when starting with a new hive. We will have the frames available for $24.10/10 frames, which is enough to start your new package with, or you can order directly from Mann Lake: http://www.mannlakeltd.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=page17
3. We recommend using all 10 frame deep boxes and frames...this is what we use, and we find it most efficient. We will be able to provide equipment. For new beekeepers, we are suggesting divided bottom boards so that your single package can go into winter as 2 colonies with 2 queens. We will be manufacturing "double nuc" specific equipment (for 10 frame hives), and will post info here soon.
4. We have much more faith in queens produced in smaller numbers locally than the queens that come with packages. Students that attend at least 3 of our classes, or take any of our courses, will be eligible for a few virgin queens from our own stock (to be mated in your own yard). Get your packages, get them started, then we can talk :)
5. We will keep this list updated with information on the availability of package bees from sources that we do business with:
PLEASE LET THEM KNOW THAT WE SENT YOU SO WE CAN TRY TO COORDINATE PICKUPS!
George O'Neil: Autumn Morning Farm, Barre, Massachusetts 978 355 2442 ...has packages available scheduled for April 1st (always expect delays). We can probably assist our students in getting packages from this order into Boston/Cambridge safely.
Brad Morrill-Cornelius: Sugarbush Bees, Southbury, CT 859-361-3060 "These are Italian packages that will be available for pickup in Southbury CT and South Royalton VT. Weather Permitting I have been assured that they will be available for pickup the weekend of 12-13th of May 2012. I try and be flexible with pickup location, if you want to meet me along my route up from Rossman's in GA I would be happy to try and be accommodating."