With a sense of eager anticipation, We started our first year with two packages of European honey bees. These energetic insects embarked upon their industrious pursuits, which ultimately left us with 40 pounds of honey at the end of the summer. Alas, the winter proved unkind, causing us to lose both hives.

A year of fresh starts, we went into the summer with two packages once again. The bees grew large and strong and we were able to split the two hives into a third. We collected 100 pounds of honey at the end of the summer. However, we lost two hives during the winter.

In the 2021 season we only purchased one package of honey bees and we had one package of bees from the prior season. We were able to generate 3 more hives. With our five hives growing stronger by the day we were able to collect over 100 pounds of honey this summer. After treating for mites in the fall we lost two hives and only went into the winter with three hives. During that winter we lost two hives of bees and were only left with one.

We started the season with one hive and purchased 1 packages of bees. From those two hives of bees we were able to generate two more hives of bees. During this season we collected over 250 pounds of honey. We lost two hives to mite treatments and lost one hive over the winter.

One hive survived the winter and we purchased one package of bees. From there we were able to generate three packaged of bees. So far this season we have collected over 100 pounds of honey. This year is the friendliest hives of bees we have ever worked with.

In the future we hope to gain a few more hives, but our main priority is creating and cultivating strong hives hat have a fighting chance through the Midwest winters. With Honey bees and many other pollinators being endangered our goal is to help create a pollinator friendly yard and educate others about the importance of these tiny creatures.