-Maria
Walter Johnson of McDowell County. He sells bee boxes and a few supplies. His grandson is working on becoming a master beekeeper.
His Website: HWY226BeeSupplies.com
Notes from my encounter…
- Says swarm season is about over in our area. (End of May).
- He uses symbols on hives-says it helps prevent them from drifting towards the ends. Middle hives loose numbers and get weaker.
- Leaves entrance reducers on all year long, helps defend against moths.
- Shrinks hives down for winter, a big hive area is too hard to defend in winter.
- Puts a solid screen with hole in it under the top screen. Prevents them from trying to propolis over it.
- Uses “all natural mite control strips” in September. Says they really do the trick.
- Saw a really cool paper mâché swarm trap…looked like a tree branch. He said it worked.
- He said that beekeeping used to be simple. You got bees. You kept bees. You always for honey. They never died off like they do now.
The Leaf of Tea and The Honeybee 