I am a new subscriber to Bee-l, and find it very interesting and informative, and even facinating at times! This is also my first post to the 'whole' list, so I hope I don't mess up. I have some comments, thoughts, and a few questions that I'd like to throw out. First, my beekeeping background. I've had two hives for two summers. I started with used equipment and 2 packages. I lost both hives the first winter. Last summer and fall, I was more diligent about feeding the medicines recommended at the correct times, and my bees survived last winter (I'm sure the mild winter here in Minnesota helped). We also harvested our first honey last fall - its amazing how much better your own honey tastes!! Some thoughts after reading the correspondense on Bee-l for the past couple of months. I would highly encourage knowledgeable people to direct their answers to the whole Bee-l list, since that information is invaluable to beginners like myself. I'm sure that Kelly from Florida has received a ton of good, beginner info that has been directed just to her that would help lots of other beginners. A recent example that comes to mind is the person that explained why Apistan shouldn't be left in the hive any longer than recommended, to avoid the mites building a resistance to it. I'm sure that was news to lots of people, especially the non-biologist types on the list. I would highly recommend Bee-l in digest form to anyone - it sure cuts down the clutter in my mailbox. Now for some questions: 1) I've started feeding my bees some 1:1 sugar water and terramyacin. I'm feeding using the overturned 1 gallon feeders and another super. When I go back to refill a couple weeks later, I'm finding mold in the buckets. How can I avoid that? Will it harm the bees? 2) I'm concerned that the 1 gallon feeders over the hole in the top cover will cause a ventilation problem in the hive, because you're effectively shutting off the top ventilation. Am I overly concerned? What are other peoples favorate methods of feeding? 3) Bottom boards - which way should they be turned? You have a bigger space one way versus the other way. 4) Harvesting honey - what is a good text or source for beginners on extracting? Seems like last year, we had the uncapping knife too hot, we didn't run it thru a fine enough screen etc. The honey that we ended up with was very edible for us, but not what I would want to market. 5) Does anyone have plans for a solar honey extractor? 6) Honey sales - the minute people found out that I had bee hives, they were lining up for 'free' honey, especially my relatives. To make it worse, they then start giving me honey jars, or scrounging up beekeeping equipment at sales. How do you get past that free stage and onto the marketing of honey? I've rattled on long enough - keep up the good work!! *****************Have a Great Day!!!***************** Joel Piepenburg Information Services 507-284-8818 [log in to unmask] Officevision=AP00149 *****************************************************