The Unexpected Beekeepers, Year Eight 2023

 January 2023:   Happy New Year  

      We have 2 more hive host for this year. One in Muir area and one in Bay City. We have had many people are asking questions, they are curious. These 2 apiaries will produce honey in 2024. The Maple Rapids and Grand Ledge apiaries will get honey late this summer.

      Phillips Orchard has picked up a few of our products. You can find them in their St Johns (1995 E Gratiot County Line Rd, Saint Johns, MI) store. If all goes well, they will put some in their Lansing (close to the Sears Building & Frandor: 3000 Vine Street, Lansing) store 

 February 2023: Happy Valentine’s Day   

       We have had some great news, and some real bad news. The great news I am sworn to secrecy for now.  The real bad news. Tom’s job is moving to Mexico. They state that no one wants to work, no mater how much they pay and the screwed up supply chain. So they are packing up the factory one line at a time and shipping it across the border. Not everyone is getting laid off at the same time. Tom’s line doesn’t go until end of September. Very frustrating.

      But They (the factory) have agreed to pay for classes for Tom to get his welding certificate. This will help him get a better job. So he is going to work there until end of September or until they stop paying for classes. So far he is doing great in his classes

March 2023:  

      11 March Bee Conference: Saw many people. This use to be a 2 day event. That was so nice when it was. More info passed around, More time for friends.

      Thank you to another Hive Sponsor. We now have 4 hives being sponsored. Sponsorships are for three years. Curious? See our website, check out “Help the Bees” page. The Sponsorship and hive hosting programs we have are explained there   

  April 2023: Happy Easter   

The season begins

      This year is not starting out well. We had one of our apiaries sprayed with some kind of a pesticide over the winter. Every hive is dead. We cannot reuse any of the honey or comb. That will just kill the next hive we put in them. We are going to scorch the inside of the hive boxes and let them et and air for a couple years. Hope this passes. We are removing bees from this field. 

Sorry we have just had a sting of bad luck the past couple of months. Trying not to be so cranky and harsh. 

       Because of the loss of the one apiary and the higher than usual bee mortality over the winter we are not able to full fill all the request for hive hosting. We have talked to the host and they understand. Just delayed a year. So understanding. 

      Those of you that are sponsoring hives they made it through in good shape.  We have that. Added boxes to hives to ready them for splits. Fingers crossed for lots of growth, lots of good splits.  

May 2023: Happy World Bee Day 

5-6 May Did Splits and Pickup  couple Bee Packages

19-21 May Thought about doing another set of splits decided against it. Yeas the Hives we made splits from yearlier are doin good and we could have gotten a couple more . We desided for the beter ment of the bees not to.

20 May World Bee Day

The Girls are right on track of where  they should bee.

 June 2023  

2-4 June: We are adding honey suppers to some of the hives. This is a good thing. Also picked up are new honey creamer. Crossing fingers that this one works and is easier then the last one.

We have had a dry hot spell. Bees seem to find nectar but not pollen. We are adding pollen patties to help them with thier brood. If this continues we will need to feed sugar wate. That means no honey this year.

19-25 Pollinator Week: 

24 June: Looked at possible Strawberry festival, this is a very big possable for next year

We are slowly adding back the items thata sold out and adding a few new flavors and items.

July 2023:  Happy Independence Day!!

14-16 Honey Fest

August 2023: 

September 2023:  Happy Birthday Tom 

16-17 September Local Eats  

October 2023:  Happy Halloween  

Fall Conference

 November 2023: Happy Thanksgiving 

11 November Potterville Market

Mason Market

December 2023:  Merry Christmas  

  25 Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to All