70 yr old beekeeper turns blogger, shares secrets

[Arob]

http://media.onsugar.com/files/ons1/303/3035815/17_2009/aad94a471fdf28cb_Hugh_Campbell_closed_sign.xlarge. JPG (http://campbellshoney.onsugar.com)

My dad, a master beekeeper, is just beginning his blog on the Sugar network.

http://campbellshoney.onsugar.com is a repository of his knowledge and a daily (or bi weekly) peek at the life of Hugh Campbell, a seventy year old beekeeper that's getting his hives ready for the 2009 summer crop. He has about 300 hives, but his oldest son Peter has about 1200 hives and together their apiary is one of the largest in Southern Ontario, Canada.

So have a look, ask questions, but please be kind to him - this beekeeper just loves to share his knowledge and would appreciate any feedback. Leave comments on his blog, or better yet, private message him directly.

http://media.onsugar.com/files/ons1/303/3035815/16_2009/37bdc7642c83a837_DSC03912.xlarge.JPG (http://campbellshoney.onsugar.com)

[plapczynski]

Great blog! :thumbsup:
Recommend everyone takes a peek!

[schmism]

i did note one intresting fact in his blog


Last October we packed well over 1200 healthy, strong, well fed Colonies, for the winter. This spring we unwrapped less than 900 alive and well

He attributed the losses to CCD. But it was unclear to me weather or not that ment that the lost hives still had plenty of stores come spring, of if they had simply starved to death.

Its been my understanding that starving due to low stores, and dieing and leaving many stores were 2 different causes. (the latter attributed to CCD) Am i misunderstanding? Or is it just not that simple?

[Arob]

I think his hives just froze - that happens here in Canada over the winter, but 30% is pretty high winter death rate.

Although he might attribute heavier than normal winter losses to CCD, there is no evidence that is what caused the losses.

[Lost Bee]

Hello fellow Ontarian,

I hope your bees do better this winter. I don't have bee hives yet but was wondering
if adding a 2-inch hard styrofoam layer around the hives would help the bees go thru
winter easier. I bet the styrofoam boards could be eaily cut and tacked with nails only
going into the foam and not the wood of the hives. I'm not sure if I would put some
of the roofs though.The vent holes would have to be made of course. I imagine that
the beehives used today are no where as insulating as a tree that wild bees live in.

Just wondering what race or breed of honey bees are you using?

I plan on getting carniolans when I get into it.

Ok, hope you the best.