Bear Visitors: First sign 2016

Bears are a big threat to honey bee colonies and I have been visited repeatedly by these critters over the years.  I took some extreme measures and built a platform on well casing pipe to keep my hives safe and it has been very effective.  However, the bears still try to climb the pipe and  you can see their sign here.

Clear Print here - after our rain last week

They are tenacious for sure!

Yellow Jacket Control Time !

The yellow jacket queens are out now, so now is the time to put out your traps to catch them.  These can be a real pain and I've seen them overwhelm a hive.  So, it pays to prevent them from getting started in the first place! I just put these traps out just a few days ago and I've caught a few in this yard north of  Deer Park.

Varroa Mite Treatment - First Application

I've decided to utilize the latest research and practices for dealing with the Varroa Mite by utilizing Oxylic Acid Vaporization.  This method is has been reported to have a 100%  kill rate on Varroa and Trachia mites.  After just a few minutes of vapor exposure - drives the mites off their hosts and they fall through the screen. Here is the result after just 3 hours after the treatment.

 There were many on the paper screen.
Since this hive was created using a Nuc, with capped brood, the treatment regimen calls for 2 more treatments 7 days apart.  This way you catch  ALL the Varroa at each of their life stages.

I will be done treating by the 1st of May or so.

Oxylic acid is a food based product found in Cabbages and Rhubarb.  The fog/vapors don't smell good and it does make the hive a bit angry - not too much though.  I do "vail up" for this just in case.

Within a few minutes afterwards, the hive settles down and returns to normal.  

I would say it is safe to assume that ALL bees coming in as packages and nucs would have Varroa.  Best to treat them now before they get too established in your hives.

I will take more pictures and have more stores about this later.

Thanks for viewing!

- Will Olson

PACKAGE DAY SUCCESS - 2016

Many THANKS to everyone for making our Package and Nuc delivery day a great success!  We had lots of adventures and many great smiles on delivery day.  See you Next Year !

Loading the Nucs in California!

Our Great Helper!

Everyone was learning new things everyday

The Master at Work

Beautiful and Bountiful Nucs

Loading up the Packages Safely on the Trailer

Carefully monitoring the load temperature.  It was 64 inside the truck, bu t 71 degrees on the load, at 8:13 AM

Morning load  out to Beemaniacs 

                                                                           Happy New Beekeepers

EARLY BIRD - PACKAGE AND NUC DELIVERY DAY - APRIL 9^TH  2016

I will be traveling to California to visit family and work in a commercial honey bee operation. We will be making packages. I will be able to secure 2016 packages directly from this pollination business. These 3 lbs. packages will be newly built and they will be fresh. They will have either Carnolian or Italian queen of your choice.

They will be delivered to: BeeManics 7619 W Woolard Rd, Deer Park, WA 99006

Package Price = 130.00

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I will also have the ability to secure nucleus hives “Nucs” that will have 4 frames of brood, eggs, and honey and a proven 2015 queen. What are the advantages of going with a Nuc?

• Eggs and Brood already present
• Proven Queen
• Drawn comb – faster buildup for the bloom
• Simple installation – move the frames into your equipment and you’re done!

Nuc Price = 130.00

SPACE WILL BE LIMITED for this run. I am accepting pre-orders now. A small deposit of 10.00 per package or Nuc will reserve your order. The balance will be due on April 2^nd 2016

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT OF LOCAL BEEKEEPING!

Will Olson, Beekeeper 

509-850-6024

JUNE 12th 2015

I'm sorry for the delay on this as we have been very busy this winter and spring.  Queen rearing is in full swing now.  I will get more on this.

It has been rather hot and dry this last week so we are concerned about the bloom.

Mid Summer Bloom

We now have some great bloom now with the Knap weed and Lavender.  Here a bee is working some Lavender on a hot day last week.