Winter is around the corner while the temperatures swing from moderate to outright cold. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here! Most of what can be done to influence your bees between now and spring is now past. Now is a good time to plan for spring!
- Spring bee orders are now live on the website, with early spring (late March expected) for Carlisle, PA and mid April for Nicholson, PA. These will have 2026 Latshaw Carniolan queens.
- Beekeeping classes are also now open for reservation, with a hybrid class planned for early May at the Carlisle, PA farm shop and an indoor class for those who want some basics before buying bees is on the schedule for Nicholson, PA in February.
- If your honeybee colonies are light on food, at this point some sort of fondant, sugar brick, etc. is your best option. If you are wanting something ready to go and not making your own, products like Hive Alive fondant, Hillco Turbo fondant, Golden Barrel fondant, Dadant winter patties, and similar are all fine to use. Ideally colonies have enough honey stored for winter, but there are times when new colonies or certain circumstances prevent that.
- Keep your guard up for bears between now and when they hibernate. Even with the best fencing, a determined bear can destroy colonies as it tries to bulk up for winter. You may have seen that we had a bee yard broken into by a large bear.
- By now, your varroa mite levels should have been long under control. Some people do an oxalic acid dribble or vapor treatment during broodless (or mostly broodless) times around Thanksgiving or Christmas.
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Our fall honey (primarily knotweed, goldenrod, and aster) is ready in various sizes and quantities. We have sizes from 1lb bottles or jars to gallons or bulk (bucket) quantities. Contact us in advance if you plan to pick up gallons or buckets so we can have it ready for you. We also do cases of 12 1-lb glass jars or plastic bottles for holiday gifts at a discount ($130 per case). Let us know in advance if you are buying cases.
- We have winter fondant (Hive Alive) available in stock at the farm shop.