Drake's Hometown Honey

At the Presque Isle Form today for the craft fair. Stop by and say Hi. Here till 5pm today May 18th. :)

So this weekend is all about first high inspection in Aroostook County Maine. We went into the winter with 10 hives.We came out of the winner with eight hives. Which for northern maine is an extremely good rate.

Looking for local honey? I am at the Mapleton Daze Craft Fair today until 3pm. Stop by the Elementary School.

Want to know one of the reasons it's so hard to keep bees in northern maine? Even if all your winter prep is good. The first picture is from March 13th.Almost no snow and it was almost forty degrees. The second picture March 30 and we have snow it's 30 degrees and that's without the wind. Weather swings like this make it hard for a hive that's already stressed from the long winter.

Thanks to everyone who came to today's class. I always enjoy talking 🐝. Hope it was fun and informative for you.

Ready for Beginning Bee Class at the Presque Isle Rec. Starts in 15 minutes.

🐝 class is just 2 days away. Happening this Saturday 2/17 at Presque Isle Rec. What questions did you have about 🐝?

Can't wait to talk 🐝. If you want to learn or start hive this Summer or maybe don't know, this will help you decide. If you have never had 🐝or are a new🐝 come talk about your experiences.

https://www.facebook.com/1534415348/posts/10223252457369775/?mibextid=Nif5oz

Here at the Presque Isle Rec Center today Sunday Dec 3rd until 2pm. Come get your local honey for you or a gift. :)

Are you looking for a Holiday gift? Local Honey is a great gift. Stop by the Presque Isle Rec center today and Sunday Dec 3rd. Please share with your friends.

Just had a lovely lady stop by for honey. Said our honey was the only reason she came. That is always nice to hear. Stop by Caribou Rec Center we are here till 4pm.

We will be at the Mapleton Daze Craft Fair tomorrow Sat 10/7 from 9-4pm. Come get your honey. :)

With the flowers going on the wayside it's time to start feeding your bees for the winter. Remember winter feeding is 2 to 1 - 2 parts sugar one part water. The bees need time to dehydrate the sugar water so it's edible for them. If you don't give them enough time to do this, they can get sick in the winter. From eating fermented food.

This is what a bumblebee looks like after the honey bees find her in the hive.

circa. 1816 ~ Ringing the Bees when Swarming.

When your bees swarm, the first thing is to get the key and fire shovel, to ring them. Some of the country folks think, that if you don't ring your bees, you can't follow them, but, in my opinion, this is a mistaken notion;

Via. Historical Honeybee Articles - Beekeeping History

-I believe, that if you keep in sight of them, or can otherwise prove them to be yours, you may follow them, and demand them, the same as strayed cattle; yet I must confess that I am fond of the ringing of bees, for I always fancy that the more noise you make, the more it deadens their sound, and thereby causes them to settle much sooner and better;-also, I think if there were a swarm just hived, before a second swarm rose, that by your ringing, it would, in a great measure, prevent them from going together; -but, however, if there is no real good in ringing your bees, it is well known there is no harm, therefore I would say, ring, and give your neighbours notice of your swarm, and follow them.

Source:

Image:
circa. 1816 ~ The history of Frugal, the wild bee
https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objects/328054/the-history-of-frugal-the-wild-bee?ctx=8ce12b2248764acf516117f8395afd1d1e67eed0&idx=5 #

Text:
circa. 1839 ~ The Cottager's Bee-book ... Page 33 , Richard Smith (of Quenington.)
https://books.google.com/books?id=qYZlAAAAMAAJ&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&pg=PA33 =onepage&q&f=false

https://www.science.org/content/article/watch-honey-bee-tongues-act-either-spoons-straws-depending-flower?mibextid=Zxz2cZ&&fbclid=IwAR0lF9U_5ifzNmLGFDLrN1o0HQK5-Kg2GbTswVMlXBvckNepf5gGETvgGfk

Watch these honey bee tongues act as either spoons or straws, depending on the flower The bees’ versatile feeding strategies help them access nectar as efficiently as possible

Pollen as a Nutrient Source

In a recent study published in the Nutrients journal, researchers evaluated using bee pollen as a nutrient source. The study focused on understanding bee pollens' nutrient richness and possible role in the pathophysiological mechanisms linked to imbalanced nutrient levels.

To read on, go to: https://www.beeculture.com/pollen-as-a-nutrient-source/

Honey doesn't go bad.

https://www.honeybeesuite.com/liquefy-honey-the-easy-way-or-not/?fbclid=IwAR2uKcjRzOFJWNoe0JaLv9T7ySK8teIiHJ3mau2-LE8N4gAYPnf6bd3F6kY

Liquefy honey the easy way (or maybe not) It's easy to liquefy honey, but it's hard to keep it that way. Instead of repeating the process, why not use it in this delicious form?