Week of Oct 15: Fall hive checklist + where to find us
Hey neighbors,
Fall is here in the Lowcountry and the bees know it. The last of the goldenrod and aster is winding down, the nights are cooling off, and our colonies are packing the pantry for winter. Here's where you can find us and what to do with your own hives this week.
Where to find us
Sat, Oct 17, 2 to 6 PM – Homecoming Community Fall Market, Homecoming neighborhood off Highway 165 and Marsh Harrier Drive, Ravenel
Fri, Oct 23, 6 to 8 PM – Trunk-or-Treat at Westley Memorial United Methodist, Hollywood
Sat, Oct 31, 11 AM to 4 PM – Edisto Beach Fall Festival & Turtle Tide Art Auction, Palmetto Plaza, 114 Jungle Rd, Edisto Beach
Sat, Nov 7 and Sat, Nov 21, 9:30 AM to 1 PM – Ravenel Depot Farmers Market, 5775 Hwy 165, Ravenel
Come say hi and stock up on beeswax candles, lip balm, lotion bars and our tallow & beeswax soaps before the holidays.
If you keep bees: your fall checklist
Check your mites. Do a sugar roll or alcohol wash now that the supers are off. Fall mite loads are what kill colonies in winter, so treat if your count is high.
Feed if they're light. Heft the back of the hive. If it feels light, feed 2:1 sugar syrup while it's still warm enough for the bees to take it and cap it.
Combine weak or queenless colonies with a strong, queen-right one. A big colony winters far better than two small ones.
Make sure every hive has a laying queen. Look for eggs and young brood.
Shrink the entrances. Entrance reducers keep out robbers and mice as the nectar flow ends.
Fix or replace worn equipment so the boxes are tight and dry for winter.
Store empty supers and frames where wax moths and small hive beetles can't get to them.
Bees in your wall or shed?
We do live honey bee removals all over the Lowcountry. We save the bees and relocate them, never spray them. Call or text (843) 870-0314.
Thanks for supporting local bees and a local small business.
Bryan
Lowcountry Bee Works · Yonges Island, SC · (843) 870-0314
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