It's been a bad winter for me here in California due to the regular stuff as well as another bear attack and, of all things, yellow jackets, which are always pesky, but never as hugely populous as this year. But still, it's nice to have honey and beehives what with the shortage here. I've never had so many desperate farmers call as I've had lately, and the same for those who want local raw honey. A big avocado orchard where for years I've kept the bulk of my hives just switched hands. The deal was that I could keep the hives there all year in return for pollinating in May-June, and it has been nice because of a good winter honey crop. But I got a call yesterday from the new manager. He want bees there from March to July (which is ridiculous due to minimum temperatures for fruit set not being met in the spring) and he wants the right to decide how many hives are to be placed there with virutally no notice given to me. He will decide based on "feeling" whether he needs 60 hives or 400 (for a 100 acre ranch with many young trees). When I told him my hives would be in the almonds until mid March and I don't have the room capacity for more than 150 hives I got a smug talk about this great beekeeper he knows who will be willing to provide the type of services he requires. I've also got more offers to keep small amounts of bees on small orchards in my immediate vicinity than ever, and while it may not be charitable, I'm looking forward to his phone calls once he learns some basic facts of beekeeping in a few months. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::