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Honey produced in Phoenixville, PA by Jaarsma Apiaries

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Home News/Updates Late Summer Update 20240924_134630

20240924_134630

Full size 2114 × 2114 pixels Late Summer Update

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31 Days of Bees: Day 15 - Weirdest or worst advice

31 Days of Bees: Day 15 - Weirdest or worst advice I've heard
Photo of a varroa mite under a cheapie USB microscope. They really are pretty gross!
Anyway, I once overheard a conversation amongst beekeepers about doing a preemptive treatment for varroa in the spring, and sure, if your bees somehow survived winter with a high mite load, treat them! But it didn't make a lot of sense to me to do a blanket treatment in the spring since mite loads peak after the bee population peaks, not in the spring. It just sounded like a waste of time and money for no real benefit.
I should add that in Pennsylvania, we have enough of a winter that the hives end up broodless and a treatment on a warm day in December when the hive is likely broodless really gets the varroa count near zero. A spring treatment means the queen has only been laying for a month or two and it just didn't make any sense for where we live.
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 14 - Soapbox Moment: A strong

31 Days of Bees: Day 14 - Soapbox Moment: A strong opinion of mine or a guiding principle in my beekeeping practice.
Don't . Buy . Package . Bees
Package bees in Pennsylvania are usually shipped up on trucks from the south and are usually in poor health and just aren't adapted to our winters. While there don't seem to be any genetic differences between local survivor stock and package bees brought up from the south, there is evidence showing that local survivor stock has a far better chance of making it through the winter (2nd slide). Package bees with package queens have only about a 30% chance of surviving the winter here - a statistic I've seen echoed on our state bee survey as well.
Beyond that, there's benefit to supporting a local beekeeper instead of some massive operation in another state. You'll get to know a fellow local beekeeper who may have advice and offer support or classes locally. And even beyond that, trucking in bees from out of state also trucks in diseases and pests.
Find a local club or your state beekeepers association and make sure you get a local survivor nucleus box. It might cost you more up front, but it'll cost you FAR less than buying a new package year after year.
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 12 - Tell me you're a beekeep

31 Days of Bees: Day 12 - Tell me you're a beekeeper without telling me you're a beekeeper
It's not a problem if they're handmade mugs from amazing artists and I use them all, right? Right?!
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 11 - A beekeeping pet peeve o

31 Days of Bees: Day 11 - A beekeeping pet peeve of mine is ...
..beekeepers who don't actually keep their bees. Sure, bees are considered to be only partially domesticated, but if you've taken on care of a hive, you should actually be caring for them. Bees are only productive and healthy when a beekeeper is actively tending to their needs. They're not native to North America, and I always say it would be like setting chickens loose in the woods and expecting to just go out and find eggs (and not piles of feathers). Ask for help if you need it! Find a mentor and ask questions! I always joke that I'll answer bee questions for free at markets and LOVE talking shop with fellow beekeepers. The healthier your hives are, the healthier my hives are. 💛
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 10 - Tip or Trick: Equipment

31 Days of Bees: Day 10 - Tip or Trick: Equipment and Tools
Bee suit with pockets means no lost hive tools! 🙃
It's a force of habit to pop that tool right in the pocket and it's always there. Still haven't ever lost a hive tool!
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 9 - If you could ask your bee

31 Days of Bees: Day 9 - If you could ask your bees one question and get an answer
Why do you want to sting me when I'm just here to help?! Really, girls, I know it seems like I'm breaking into your house, stealing your food, and rearranging your furniture, but it's for your own good. I just want to help, there's no need to be mean!
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 8 - Personal Growth: Somethin

31 Days of Bees: Day 8 - Personal Growth: Something you do differently now vs a year ago
I didn't quite know what photo to put for this one, so you get a photo of my favorite mailbox lichen while I ramble!
I've been dealing with a frustrating injury that kicked off just before spring beekeeping season shifted into gear, and while it's still not resolved, it's led to finding time for 30 minutes of stretching, movement, and strengthening at least once a day (twice if possible), every day. I know I talked last year about finding balance and taking better care of myself when I get overwhelmed with the busy season of beekeeping, and it's become clear that I can actually find the time to do some yoga or stretching to keep my body from feeling like it's falling apart. Beekeeping involves lots of heavy lifting and repetitive movements that can take a toll on your joints, muscles, tendons, etc. Usually by this point in the season, my poor back is on life support, but this year, I feel pretty fantastic (outside of the ongoing injury that just refuses to get over itself). Also this is a bit of an accountability post too so I can point myself back here when I start to slack off! And, maybe the mailbox lichen is a reminder to persist despite the odds and keep growing, even if slowly.
Edited to add that I saw someone mention that you, the human, are possibly the most important member of your hive and it's just as critical to take care of your own body and mind just as we beekeepers take care of the health and well-being of our beehives. If I'm sick or injured, I can't care for my bees which makes my health just as important as the health of the bees!
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 7 - Favourite, underrated, ov

31 Days of Bees: Day 7 - Favourite, underrated, overrated
Still trying to play catch up and get in the whole 31 days even if this month is turning into absolute chaos.
Pictured here is my new favorite, a tiny little silicone plug that keeps all manner of beekeeping gunk from getting into the charging port on my phone. It's such a tiny thing, but it's become an important part of gearing up!
Underrated - winter screened inner covers. Love them. I always add fondant or candy sugar throughout the winter and they make it so easy to pop on the feed and close up with very little interruption to the hive.
Overrated - it will always be escape boards. On an operation with more than 3 or 4 hives, they just take up so much space for being used a few days out of the year, and it's an extra interruption to the hive to put them on.
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 13 - A first for me this year

31 Days of Bees: Day 13 - A first for me this year was..
a short distance hive move! The @rpcommunitygarden got a great new location inside a deer fence and it made sense to move the bees closer to the garden and away from the new walking path. In the last photo, you can just about see the old location in the background, so it was well outside of the old beekeeper adage that you either move them 3 feet or 3 miles. After asking some fellow beekeepers, it seemed like the best time of year to do a short distance move was February/March, while it was still cold and before the foragers really got at it. Got some tremendous help from @trellisfortomorrow to set up the new fenced in area just behind the garden which has worked out perfectly all season. The move happened March 8th, and since we had rainy weather the next day, I left the bees locked in which hopefully would reset their bee GPS. I also left a nucleus "catch box" at the old location just in case, and transferred those bees back to the new location every few days. It worked a lot better than I thought it would, with very few bees ending up at the empty catch box, even without putting something in front of the entrances (sometimes that helps them know to reorient).
Photo 1: old location, bees locked in for the night.
Photo 2: hand trucking each one around the fence.
Photo 3: new hives all in place!
Photo 4: new hives in their new fence.
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 6 - POV: You're a bee! It's f

31 Days of Bees: Day 6 - POV: You're a bee!
It's fall, so I get a little heavier handed with the smoker to keep them calm, but I'll still talk to them and give them a hearty "Hello Ladies" when I open the hive 😃

31 Days of Bees: Day 5 - A moment you felt like a

31 Days of Bees: Day 5 - A moment you felt like a badass
Setting up last year's class photo showing off the full year of honey really hit it home for me. I knew, on paper, I had processed 2,252 lbs of honey over 39 unique batches, but seeing them all lined up like this hit home just how abundant last year's honey harvest was. I know it was a ton of work and really pushed me to the limits of my equipment and time, but those bees crushed it, so I felt obligated to keep up with their enthusiasm!
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 4 - Tip or Trick: Beekeeping

31 Days of Bees: Day 4 - Tip or Trick: Beekeeping technique edition
Catching up because last week was, whew!
I know the photo isn't exciting, but during the winter I put together little smoker packets so I can grab and go. These consist of old cotton t-shirts that have fallen apart, fabric scraps, chunks of cardboard, and trimmings from the lavender bushes in front. Putting these together in the off-season means there's a whole bucket ready for me to grab and go throughout the summer, no buying smoker fuel, and everything is recycled goods that aren't going to waste!
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 3 - Beekeeper OOTD: Favourite

31 Days of Bees: Day 3 - Beekeeper OOTD: Favourite Work Wear
It's gotta be these ancient Merrell hiking boots that I've been using for .. a long time. They're comfortable, come up high enough on my ankles so there's no gap around the suit, but are still breathable in hot weather. As you can see, they're starting to fall apart, but that's why duct tape exists, right?!
(Proof positive that I share DNA with my grandpa who had the most amazingly duct taped slippers that he couldn't part with either.. I mean, by the time you need to duct tape them together, they're just getting comfortable!)
#31DOB

31 Days of Bees: Day 2 - Advice for novice beekeep

31 Days of Bees: Day 2 - Advice for novice beekeepers
Throwback to May 2015 as we installed our first nucleus box into a hive. The best advice we got and what I continue to tell people is to get a locally overwintered nucleus - in PA, I've seen a statistic that only 20% of package bees that come up from the south survive the winter, so if you want to set yourself up for success, get a local nucleus box. AND, in your first year, build up that first hive and when they start to get swarmy or have filled out 2 full brood boxes (but before July 4th), make a split to have your second hive. Beekeeping always works best with a minimum of 2 hives since you can usually fix problems in one hive with a frame of eggs from the other, and making a split that raises a queen makes you feel like you're really beekeeping.
#31DOB

SCHEDULE CHANGES!! We're finally going to be headi

SCHEDULE CHANGES!!
We're finally going to be heading off on a very last minute vacation, so we won't be at markets from Oct 19-Nov 2, but we WILL be back for Good Food Fest and have added extra November markets to make up for the changes. Hope to see you soon!
----
October markets and events! Keep an eye on the last week or two - there may be some changes as Mr. Phoenixville Honey may finally be home from being at sea all year! I'll post updates here if things change.
Hope to see you at a market soon!

31 Days of Bees: Day 1 - Introduce Yourself Hi, h

31 Days of Bees: Day 1 - Introduce Yourself
Hi, hello! I'm Melissa, queen bee of the operation here at Phoenixville Honey, the human part of the hive that keeps everything buzzing along smoothly. This is my 10th year of beekeeping and 5th year in business. This challenge was one of my favorite things to do last year and I can't wait to see all the beekeeping posts over the next month!

Thank you to our hosts, @evergreenbeekeepingco, @homesteadinthehood, and @rushingriverapiaries for running this again!
Photo by @laur.ariel
#31DOB #beekeeping

Hangry bees. I've been pulling the boxes used for

Hangry bees. I've been pulling the boxes used for storing honey (supers) off the hives in preparation for winter. The fall hasn't yielded much of a honey flow since it's been SO dry, so this is earlier than normal to wrap things up. What's happening here is the bees that have been shaken off frames are desperately trying to find any last teeny tiny drop of sugar that's left on the bee brush or some of the empty boxes I've removed. The higher pitched hum is a sure sign they're trying to steal anything they can.
#beekeeping

TOMORROW! I'll be bringing some new candles and t

TOMORROW! I'll be bringing some new candles and these cute glass honey bear jars with us, as well as the new sunflower towel to @craftandmercantile at Malvern. I can't wait to see you there!

Wait for it ... Welcome to the world, little bee!

Wait for it ...
Welcome to the world, little bee! I always love catching this happening - they way they slowwwwly squeeze out of their cells and how fluffy the newly emerged bees are. Now get back there and clean out your cell so the queen can lay another egg!
#beekeeping #honeybees

Asters and Goldenrod (and zinnias) Busy day on all

Asters and Goldenrod (and zinnias)
Busy day on all the important fall flowers today with lots of pollinators picking up nectar and pollen. I always take a minute to see what the bees are up to outside of the hives after checking inside!
#beekeeping #goldenrod

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