>I was wondering if there wers some other beekeepers who were around in
1976.  I am
>curious if this year was as good to you as it was to me.  Our yield that
year was 35%
>higher than our next best year.
>
>I started in 1974 with one hive.  I quickly discovered the joys of true
allergy to bee sting. However, in the first year I got less than 100 lbs of
honey.  Wishing for more honey, I had two hives in 1975.  Still less than
100 lbs, total honey extracted. In 1976 I decided to go for three hives, in
hopes of a bit more honey.  That year , from the three, I got  576 lbs of
honey!!! That may answer your question.
      The allergy to bee sting, has produced my o;wn style of beekeeping.
(1) Dress so that one can NOT be stung. (2) Let the queen do her own
housekeeping, and don't think I know better than the pro how she wants to do
it.  I only open the hive foradding supers as the season progresses, to take
off honey, and for fall feeding.  I am down to one colony again this year,
mostly because of the impossibility of importing bees to canada from an;y
other country last year.  We are totally mite free, and no bees are allowed
in from anywhere that they are already established.
      Several of our beekeepers are rearing queens.  I have been lucky that
mine have overwintered for the last two winters, and the same colony is
snugged up, and I have hopes of their surviving again this year
      I satisfy my interest in working with our Beekeepers Co Op. and the
friendships that develop there.