Here at Barters Island Bees, it seems like I write a blog post with each season. It makes sense as each season with the bees is distinctly different. And yet, today, I saw a post in Facebook that made me think of endings in general...and, to be honest, running Barters Island Bees in our 70's...definitely in 'old age' to most! Here's the quote:
Right now, our bees are starting to prepare for cold weather. They are beginning to create 'winter bees' as opposed to the bees that were produced during the spring and summer season. These winter bees live longer and will tend to the queen who lives several years, over the cold Maine winter. It's not long until all the male bees, the drones, are kicked out of the hive so that they don't drain the precious resources over the winter. The bees have stored honey to eat, and as beekeepers, we have to be responsible in making sure that we leave them enough honey to survive, and supplementing their food source when they don't The hives must be physically protected because they are exposed to the elements in ways that forest hives are not. We wrap them and put in special boards to absorb the moisture and make sure that they can get in and out. We check on them throughout the winter, even taking infrared pictures that tell us about the conditions in the hive. We take care of them, and they have provided us with the most amazing journey that we wouldn't have imagined when we got those first 3 hives only a few years back. In gratitude...
Donna