Despite the ongoing snowy, cold and windy weather, spring is only 3 weeks away. As time has permitted, we have been getting our equipment together and making plans for the 2025 season. We have been able to construct new hives for nucleus colonies we intend to create this spring using wood reclaimed from houses in Arlington. This wood has the advantage of being stronger and more rot resistant that newly harvested wood. It is also nice that this wood is not going to the landfill and that no additional trees are being cut down. Thanks to the people who have generously donated wood.
We have prepared equipment to raise new, replacement queens this year. Having replacement queens readily available will let us quickly requeen if one is injured or stops laying as she should. We will also combine some of these queens with excess bees to make new colonies to replace any losses and perhaps sell or give away if we find ourselves with and excess.
Over the next month, we will be moving some of our equipment into a new storage location at our Walker Road Yard.
Volunteer opportunities will occur again on weekends starting in March depending on weather. First tasks will be to reconfigure our hives for spring. Watch for updates on volunteering!