>I was wondering if there wers some other beekeepers who were around in 1976. I am >curious if this year was as good to you as it was to me. Our yield that year was 35% >higher than our next best year. > >I started in 1974 with one hive. I quickly discovered the joys of true allergy to bee sting. However, in the first year I got less than 100 lbs of honey. Wishing for more honey, I had two hives in 1975. Still less than 100 lbs, total honey extracted. In 1976 I decided to go for three hives, in hopes of a bit more honey. That year , from the three, I got 576 lbs of honey!!! That may answer your question. The allergy to bee sting, has produced my o;wn style of beekeeping. (1) Dress so that one can NOT be stung. (2) Let the queen do her own housekeeping, and don't think I know better than the pro how she wants to do it. I only open the hive foradding supers as the season progresses, to take off honey, and for fall feeding. I am down to one colony again this year, mostly because of the impossibility of importing bees to canada from an;y other country last year. We are totally mite free, and no bees are allowed in from anywhere that they are already established. Several of our beekeepers are rearing queens. I have been lucky that mine have overwintered for the last two winters, and the same colony is snugged up, and I have hopes of their surviving again this year I satisfy my interest in working with our Beekeepers Co Op. and the friendships that develop there.