Organic Beekeeping Newsletter

Late Summer Issue: Preparing for winter treatments and companion planting for healthy bee colonies

As the honey season comes to an end, it is time to plan for fall and winter treatments. The information we share is simply our own plan for getting our bees through this winter. It is a plan which has proven itself in past years.

Our winter feeding will be a sugar syrup mixture with either wintergreen essential oil or Bob Noel's formula *(see note below).

First, we will give each hive 1 quart of sugar syrup with a goldenseal/echinacea/usnea mixture (directions below) This is anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. (Our weakest hive this spring became our strongest hive soon after this mixture was given in a spring feeding.)This mixture will be given to the bees at the end of August (Southern Appalachia schedule) Once the bees have finished the goldenseal syrup, we will begin the wintergreen and/or "Bob's formula" (HONEY-B-HEALTHY ® )* treatments. These feedings will continue through the winter until the first nectar flow next spring. (Our estimated cost per hive, per winter $4-8)

Companion Gardens for Healthy Honeybee Colonies

We have a considerable companion garden for our hives which includes ~150 square feet of mints. Our mints (peppermint and spearmint) are flowering now and are covered with honeybees. Also included is a small patch of wintergreen (available from The Forest Farm - www.forestfarm.com). There seemed to be a need for more early season and late season bee food sources. For late season pollen, a small garden of corn gives a great supply For late season nectar, encourage white flowering sumac, clovers and mints. For early bee foods, include several varieties of maples, clovers, dandelion and fruit trees (peach & plum are earliest favoured by honeybees).

Greenhouse

This year, we have a new project involving one of our beehives. We have a small greenhouse with one hive having an entrance both into the greenhouse and to the outdoors. In the greenhouse, we have some young fruit-bearing citrus trees (i.e. Persian lime, Keylime, Meyers Lemon - all everbearing). In addition, we have included a few other citrus varieties, stevia plants (late flowering), red raspberries, nasturtiums, borage, tomatoes, beans and peppers.

Years ago, I read in an old JI Rodale, Organic gardening text that 'one lime tree could supply enough nectar to keep one hive in honey year round'.

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We have enjoyed excellent results with the wintergreen essential oil. There is one disadvantage.....the oil and water tend to separate. Bob Noel's product, HONEY-B-HEALTHY ®, is an emulsified solution of essential oils and he feels that the oils are more fully delivered to the bees and the brood cells................

Until next time, peace and bee well

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