OK Allen you asked for it. I'm a Gulf war Vet (disabled) who uses bees as theripy for PTSD, and as a hobby, I enjoy Extractions and swarm capture, while I work my bee I can't think of anything else 'cept what is going on right in front of me. My doctor is very suportive of my bees as he finds that I require less of the prescriptions that have been prescribed to me for control of depression and sleeplessness. I sell very little of my honey, if I do it is out the gate and I only ask for a donatation, I trade honey for things I need or gift it to elders. In the way my wife and I follow (indian-Blackfeet) a gift of food is a highly thought of gift. My bees are my 'babies' I try to maintain a chemical free enviroment for them using essential oils and natural products only. My honey is raw and just warmed enough to flow easily and no more, about 120, then bottled. I got started when we asked an elder beekeeper for a hive for pollination of our small orchard, about a year later we found out he had a stroke and was in a nurseing home. That hive died out and the next year a swarm took over the empty box. I was at a lost of what to do after asking a number of people we know we found one that kept bees as a hobby and was willing to maintain the hive on my property, a year after that he had to relocate out of state for work and asked me if I wanted his other five hives-Sure why not said I-lost all six the first year the next I bought 5-3lb packages of Russians and started extractions, lost the russians and the ferial colnies that i've got have been going strong. Have lost a few over the winter and keep my colnies up thru extractions and swarm capture. Almost at my limit now of 25 hives. I read BEE/L and also Beesource. both have a wealth of info, subcribe to ABJ. I'm always willing to try something new and experiment to try to make something easier or more efficent. My Girls keep my mind working. AND LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF IT. _________________ WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES, WE ALL LOOK THE SAME> GWPW 03 :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::