This is my current method of treatment free beekeeping, which I have already sort of discussed here and there.

2/3 of my hives are honey/pollen producers.  1/3 are hives to be split to replace losses.   Spring splits are for the following year's honey production, late splits are for build up hives the following year.

I have found that regardless of what the "treatment free" folks have told me, I cannot keep bees treatment free AND produce honey on a scale as to be commercially viable.  Three years is the magic number.  After that they hit a wall as a direct result of varroa.

The system above works for a treatment free system, but what I have essentially done is make a sustainable system to replace guaranteed loss.  From a business standpoint its pretty rock solid.  I question it ethically, not from the zero treatment aspect but from the loss element.

I think this may have merit but I have been seriously considering moving into the "acids" IF organic institutions are considering these "organic treatments".  My customers want local honey that is as close to organic as possible and I need to try as hard as possible to get then that product.

Those are my experiences, so far, on zero treatments.

Richard Stewart
Carriage House Farm
North Bend, Ohio

An Ohio Century Farm Est. 1855

(513) 967-1106
http://www.carriagehousefarmllc.com
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