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Hi, Ted!

Welcome to BeeSource!

We wrap with 15# tar paper. Most of our Winter losses appear to be from starvation. I really don't know if wrapping has any impact to our survival rates, but...

At the very least it will cover...

We have found that Farm Bureau Financial Services understands what we do and have product liability (and other products) through them.

fbfs.com

Welcome, Elderbombadil!

We have yards scattered around the Princeton area and they do well. Be sure to include a bear fence in your plans. We had no idea how many bear hung out around there...

I get a new set every year. My colonies are tucked away in remote areas and I'm often alone while visiting them.

I was kinda-sorta hoping that our delivery would be pushed back as well, but...
Our bees came in yesterday and, in pouring rain on top of several inches of snow, we installed 26 packages. 5 more...

CKOTSMITH,

Welcome to Beesource!

Hi, Irwin!

Is that much snow typical for your location at this time of the year?

We have not had 'typical' winters in our part of the state for several years now. Last year, March had several...

A shot of the backyard today.

68 packages of bees will be arriving in about a month.
If it looks like this in mid-April, I'm going to have to invest in some sled dogs...

4776

Ryan,
I've been using cattle tags on our bottom boards for several years now. So far, they haven't faded or become brittle.

Wow, FameFlower!

This is a great idea!

I hope that lots of folks sign up!

I use EXCEL (actually OpenOffice) to keep track of colonies.
Each bottom board is numbered as is each box.
One work book / yard.
One work sheet / colony.
One row / inspection date with...

Hi, ssteinbrenner!

Welcome to BeeSource!

I'm not from your part of the state but, you'll get tons of help right here.

Maybe check out the Minnesota Grown directory to see if there are...

As a hobbyist (6 colonies at home), American Family covered us. We had to purchase some sort of umbrella policy.

When we turned the hobby into a business (100 colonies with out-yards and honey...

I've also found that the noise in front of the hive may be an indicator of robbing. It may be an individual thing but, to me a hive being robbed sounds more intense (ticked-off) than the noises that...

Welcome to BeeSource, Rumeye!

Bears are definitely a problem in this neck of the woods. We had several yards taken out last Summer in two different areas.

Welcome HBB1!
Your bees just left? At what point in the Fall did they leave?

BeeButler,
We have not seen signs of bear at this location - yet. We had 3 yards about 5 miles to the SE get hit last year. We keep bees in 18 -20 locations and most of them are like this one -...

We strapped on the snow shoes and checked a couple of yards yesterday. We'll trek out to a couple more yards today when my chest pain subsides...

We saw rabbits and this snowbunny:
4506
...

AstroBee,
I was born and raised in Minnysohta, dontcha know... Anytime it gets above 20, it's time to start shedding layers and thinking about sunscreen. :rolleyes:

It was in the low-twenties today with sun so I opened the barn and slapped together a few hive stands.
Here's the view out my barn door.
4309

I use a jig to hold the treated 2x4 pieces in place...

I live on a lake out in the sticks, but still in a "metropolitan" county. That means that we get sprayed a couple of times a year. Because we are on the water, they use two products - BTI and...

When a family with young children offer up their property and there is any chance at all that my bees and their kids would end up in an unpleasant encounter, I politely turn them down. I would feel...

Urbanoutlaw,

I hope that the card that I use will help you as well. Good luck!

My Mann-Lake orders have increased in size over the years. The free shipping amazes me and makes me happy.
Two years running, I've had a SpeeDee Delivery tractor/trailer dropping of pallets of...