I started beekeeping as a 10-11 year old, when I "inherited" my grandfather's 2 hives he kept to pollinate his orchard (he developed allergies to bee stings). As a teen I built up the apairy producing comb honey for Draper's Super Bees. A turn of events led to a different career than beekeeping and I have spent the last 22 plus years in the US Air Force, where I have had the opportunity to visit with beekeepers around the world (Phillipines, Korea, Middle East). At some of the places I have also been lucky enough to have a hive or 2 of my own. Now as I am approaching retirement, I have been building up a sideline operation in the Florida Pan handle. In this operation, I practise making walk away splits (My best results come when I make sure there is no larvae but rather eggs in 1 frame with 2 frames of capped brood. Some of the walk away splits I made early this year produced a surplus of 4-5 illinois supers of honey. I use Api life var, and powdered sugar to keep varroa in check. And I am the president of the Tupelo beekeepers Assosciation. -- _______________________________________________ NEW! Lycos Dating Search. The only place to search multiple dating sites at once. http://datingsearch.lycos.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -- Visit www.honeybeeworld.com/BEE-L for rules, FAQ and other info --- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::