pcelar wrote:
> Greetings to all from Western New York!
> I am new member.  
> Sorry if I make some mistakes while I learn how to do things on this forum.
> Please forgive me.
> I am learning many new things from the beeks which have much experience and which one can not always find in textbooks.
> 
> Allen wrote:  I stopped, and now only feed what is *proven* to be beneficial, and
> not what some of us might hypothesize bees should need.
> 
> I like this way of thinking.  First, "do no harm".

Welcome to Bee-L!

I agree with being conservative on feed choices, especially in-hive. 
For things like salt, dry pollen substitute, etc, I prefer to offer them 
separately in the open so the bees can take what they need or 'want', 
and the hive has to be strong enough to have field bees for such choices.

I toss some mineral salt in the mud on my pond shore in the spring 
usually.  At first they will often take some, otherwise that area only 
gets occasional visitors.  I also leave empty equipment out where they 
can harvest the propolis.  We are in a very natural area with lots of 
resinous plants, so I am not concerned that the propolis may contain any 
nasties.  I haven't used any chemical treatments since using formic in 
2002, only formic and a few essential oils since 1997.  No commercial 
beekeeping or transport for many miles.  Few people have that advantage.

Carolyn in SC

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