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Author Topic: Dead apiary  (Read 3513 times)

Offline Sean Kelly

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Dead apiary
« on: February 28, 2015, 05:04:31 pm »
Well, my last two hives died over winter.  I'm assuming from starvation, but after loosing a couple hives to AFB a couple seasons ago I took no chances and burned everything.  Last week I just about gave up.  I decided to sell everything I've acquired since becoming a beekeeper, including my sweet Mannlake radial extractor, and just throw in the towel.
My wife and I had a long conversation about it.  When I mentioned this to her, she almost seemed like she would start crying!  She said of all my hobbies, this one was her favorite.  She told me that when I started keeping bees, it changed me, as if it calmed me.  Of course she's right.  Everytime I go out to the bee yard with a lit smoker, I'm at peace.  For me, it's one of the only places I can find solitude and some harmony with the world.
So, I'm starting fresh.  Fresh hive hardware, ordered today from Western Bee Supply.  Every time I've reused a hive body, the hive installed never lasts a complete season.  Time to cycle the old stuff out.
I'm moving my apiary to a new location on my property.  My old spot was in a recessed area, up against the black berry patch.  I think it holds too much moisture there, so I'm placing them in my field, in full sun.
I guess you can say I've learned the hard way from my mistakes.  So anyway, I'm back!

-Sean
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"My son,  eat  thou honey,  because it is good;  and the honeycomb,  which is sweet  to thy taste"          - Proverbs 24:13

Offline mikecva

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #1 on: February 28, 2015, 05:39:02 pm »
Some of us learn from our mistakes and some are destined to repeat them.

Me, I am to old to repeat my mistakes - there are just to many mistakes left out there for me to make, I have no time left to repeat my old ones.

Hang in there we have all lost hives but there really is something nice every time I am in my yard.  -Mike
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Offline Maggiesdad

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2015, 06:04:17 pm »
Good luck, man!

Keep us posted.
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Offline Beeboy01

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #3 on: February 28, 2015, 07:54:53 pm »
Been there back when Varoa first hit the US. Lost all six of my hives in one year after working hard building them up. I was a newbee and didn't have anywhere to go for information. Burned a lot of equipment, sold some and stopped bee keeping for a few years. That was 20 years ago and I am still glad I got back into it. DON'T GIVE UP !!!!!
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Offline Lone

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #4 on: February 28, 2015, 10:06:25 pm »
I am absolutely astonished and incredulous, Sean.  I cannot believe that the hobby your wife most enjoys is not, after all, your banjo playing.  Nothing in the world makes sense now.


 :cry:
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Online Kathyp

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #5 on: February 28, 2015, 10:30:53 pm »
Sean, I have had a bad time of it the last couple of years too.  Maybe it's something the PNW is going though  :sad:  have been fighting the yellowjackets and losing.  They have been thick with the last couple of mild winters.

spring is almost here and with it swarms.  hope springs eternal!!
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Someone really ought to tell them that the world of Ayn Rand?s novel was not meant to be aspirational.

Offline CBT

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #6 on: February 28, 2015, 11:14:33 pm »
A good beekeeper may lose Bees if caught off guard. Keep your peace in the hives on a regular ten day interval and stay ahead of the curve ball. Every one on this site wants to see you succeed.
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Offline Maggiesdad

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #7 on: March 01, 2015, 09:16:08 am »
Quote from: Lone on February 28, 2015, 10:06:25 pm
I am absolutely astonished and incredulous, Sean.  I cannot believe that the hobby your wife most enjoys is not, after all, your banjo playing.  Nothing in the world makes sense now.


 :cry:

hmmm... she ordered a new mute for his birthday...   :tongue:



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Offline rober

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #8 on: March 01, 2015, 07:41:25 pm »
next time you might send some bees to the usda lab I md. before you burn everything. they check for varorra & tracheal mites, nosema, & foulbrood & the service is free.
http://ars.usda.gov/main/site_main.htm?modecode=80-42-05-40
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Offline GSF

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #9 on: March 01, 2015, 10:05:50 pm »
Sorry about your loss. I love good banjo music. We go to the smokies often when the festivals are cranked up. I am blown away at the 9 year banjo players. I'm also blown away by the big guys with 2 inch wide fingers who never fret wrong. Something about that culture up there produces a heck of a lot of musicians.
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Offline Lone

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #10 on: March 02, 2015, 02:06:25 am »
Quote
Something about that culture up there produces a heck of a lot of musicians.
I heard it's to do with the teeth or lack of them.

Quote
hmmm... she ordered a new mute for his birthday.
ahhh  so that's what a tonering is

Lone
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Offline amun-ra

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #11 on: March 02, 2015, 03:23:35 am »
lone how are you and your bees long time no see
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Offline Carol

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Re: Dead apiary
« Reply #12 on: March 02, 2015, 04:26:38 pm »
I lost my first couple of hives that were started from pkgs to big red ants then wax moths...I just kept trying...now I have a TBH (just swarmed today) and 2 Langs.  also have a "squirrel Box"  that is now a "bee box". A swarm moved in last summer and are still there.

dont give up.
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