As you know, I have lost down to only 8 hives. I have one swarm that was a very late swarm. I have not fed or medicated it, and it is still hanging on. It is in a nuc box in my front yard and I watch it as it struggles to survive. I will probably relent and start feeding it pollen patties and sugar water.

I am going to have to go back to basics. I started out with 2 colonies in the fall 13 years ago and bought 2 more the next spring. That was the last ones I bought. Through splitting and catching swarms, I grew to 86 hives and 100 nucs (nucleus). This is what I meant by going back to the basics. I will just have to split and catch swarms to increase my hive count. It will not take me as long this time because I am no longer a beginner and I know what to do now.

I have plenty of boxes and frames with foundation so that all I have to do this Winter is; scrape and clean wooden-ware, paint and mark them, clean and put in foundation, build and paint top boards, screen bottom boards, and feeders. Then I need to read, read, and read some more.

I just got a commit from a man in Uganda that wants me to help him get started. This will be the first time for me to help someone by long distance. This will be a good project for me to see if I can help through emails and my beekeepersfriend.com website. You know that I am enrolled in the Florida Master Beekeeper Program and I wonder if this would count for extra credit. Even if it doesn’t, I will have gained a friend and maybe help guide a new beekeeper.

Until the next post; keep you veil handy, your smoker lit, and your hive tool sharp .