Hello, I'm Daryl, and thanks for allowing me to join the forum!
This year I "re-entered" the world of beekeeping. As a teenager, starting when I was 12 and living in the country, I had upwards of 25 hives at any one time but, since a career in the Navy and living in suburbia, I've never had the time or the space. Our city (Chesapeake, VA.) recently lifted the city ordinance of "no bees" so I jumped at the chance to get started again.
Man, have things changed!!! I used to build simple wooden hives with natural wax frames, grab a swarm, and set it up on some cinder blocks in the field and let the bees do their thing...basically make me honey. 40 years ago I would have said "what the heck is a verroa mite?". Beekeeping has definitely gone high-tech compared to what I used do and the equipment I had. Basically, I just had an old rusty screwdriver as a hive tool and a big porcelain pot I used to melt the wax and separate the honey.
Anyway, it's great to be back and I've got allot to learn/re-learn. I've got two hives going now and plan to add a few more next season. Looking forward to picking the brains of some of you masters as well as some of my fellow backyard enthusiasts.