I grew up on a small dairy farm. We did raise our own meat and the opening
day of hunting (or fishing)season was a big event.
     In the attic I found an old copy of ABC-XYZ of Beekeeping. I read it
cover to cover a couple of times. When I found some old hives in the barn, I
was off. This was in the late 40s ... right in that "golden age of
beekeeping" Dee talks about.
    All my bees came from feral swarms and before you get too romantic, know
that they were definitely mean! I got honey for a year or two from 4-5 hives
and then they died. I suspect foulbrood. No-one ever counseled me nor did I
ever talk to another beekeeper. My high point was when I painted the queen
and put a display hive in a fair. Got in the local newspaper. I was about
14-15.
      At 70 I'm just getting back into it, with a drive to do it right! All
8 of the first wave died in the winter. Going into the second winter with
16. BTW... I'm not using pesticides nor Terra.
The guy I know who has 500 hives and uses only FGMO (for 5 years), migrates
once each year... and never loses more than 10% a year, convinced me.

Dick Marron

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