Mark's (sqkcrk) Blueberry Pollination in Maine

[Barry]

I'm posting these for Mark as he does not have access to a computer. Pictures taken with his phone.


"The first set to pick up and the loading yard too."


"Blueberries as far as the eye can see. In every direction from there."


"Truck and loader to gather pallets of hives to take back to semi. Used two other 6 wheelers too. Started about 7:30 and finished 2:45."

[hpm08161947]

That is so different than the kind of blueberries i am used to. As Mark has said "Have Smoker- will travel".

[Barry]

"Coastal Maine."


"What you do when you aren't moving bees or sleeping."


"Migrant labor camp."


"Cook house and shower house."

[Barry]

I agree Herb. The bushes I've seen in Washington were 6 feet tall and harvested with this.
Mark said the bushes are about 4 to 6 inches tall, but very thick. Some of the states represented by beekeepers there are CA, NY, PA, KS, FL and ME.

[Barry]

"One of the two big blueberry growers is Cherryfield Foods. The other one is Wymans. There are some 38,000 hives on the barrens."


"Moving equipment."


"Usually fences are adequate to protect hives from bears."




"An example of the fencing. Some drops are surrounded by Flexnet electric fencing often used in fencing sheep. It keeps bears out too."


"Future fruit."

[jim lyon]

First I'm looking at all the truck unloading pictures and I'm thinking hmmmm this might work, then I see pictures of bears and fences. Good luck to everyone in the blueberries.

[Barry]

Those hives with the bear must be someone else's or I think Mark would have made a stink about it!

[hpm08161947]

Must not be Chuck Kutic's either... else he would be tackling that bear....

[Mbeck]

Is that a real bear? A few things look off with that photo.

Thanks for sharing.

[Rader Sidetrack]

Is that a real bear?

Since its not wearing a shirt, I don't think its Winnie the Pooh ...
220px-Winniethepooh.png

[tben]

Is that a real bear? A few things look off with that photo.

Thanks for sharing.

Funny, I had the same thought. The bears I'm used to aren't so broad in the shoulders. Those East Coast bears must work out.

302899_10150370729921141_1352034155_n.jpg

[HarryVanderpool]

http://www.beesource.com/imgs/markb/photo3.jpg

OOOOOOOH, MANNN!
That trailer and contraption loaded on it looks HEAVY!!!
That has GOT to be WAY heavy to tow around.
How much do you suppose it weighs?
Heavy for sure.

[naturaledge]

Does,'t look like a real live bear .100.jpg

[jim lyon]

Good one Mark. Where did you get the Bear suit?

[Barry]

I think it's just the angle that makes the head look too big for what little of the body we see. Does look like someone wearing a suit.

[Barry]

OK, the official word from Mark regarding the bear photo, "LOL, it's a statue."
So Jim, coast is clear for you to take bees to Maine!

[coopermaple]

The bear photo looks real enough. Just coming out of winter with a heavy winter coat before shedding out. Those bears up there have to be in shape for blueberry pollination, sometimes they have to unload the trucks themselves just to get to the best hives!

[jim lyon]

OK, the official word from Mark regarding the bear photo, "LOL, it's a statue."
So Jim, coast is clear for you to take bees to Maine!

Maine hmmmm, is that in the United States?

[Keith Jarrett]

=HarryVanderpool;808073OOOOOOOH, MANNN!
That trailer and contraption loaded on it looks HEAVY!!!

Aww, Harry, got one of those BW tilt trailers just like the one in the pic, also a 1k too.

[Hawkster]

there is nothing sweeter than low-bush blueberries, they put those high-bush pretenders to shame