The last two days of vacation, my visitors from West Virginia, asked if they could clean my back yard. They had done all they had planned and were without something to do. I was happy to say “YUP! And I will supervise.” Now you have to understand, I have over 300 supers, deeps, mediums, shallows, and nucs that needs to be cleaned. But before I could do that, I have to be able to get to them. Various reasons as to why the yard got in bad shape. I also had some trees with long limbs swinging down onto the stacks of wooden ware. I welcomed the help and with 2 adults and 4 children working, it got cleaned up and now I have a work area large enough to place a 10′ x10′ canopy up to have shade to work and, if it rains, I can still be dry.

I also have 2 new beekeepers that I am to mentor this year through next Spring to help me do that cleaning. This will be good experience for them. The cleaning will consist of: scraping the wax moth cocoons out of the boxes and off the frames, removing the old wax comb and replacing with wax or plastic wax coated foundation, cleaning and building screen bottom boards, and painting the hive bodies for the new year.

Now that I have told you where I get my help on occasion, you can look for your own form of help and get some of your work done. You can also trade your labor in return for labor on your equipment.

Until the next time, keep reading and learning, and attending your local bee association.