Wisconsin Natural Acres

 

WINTERING OUR BEES

 

Wisconsin Natural Acres had a great 2007. Our bees had a tremendous year of honey production and all hives ended the year in great shape. Knock on wood, we saw no signs of any chronic colony disorder.

 

As the cold weather moved in we prepared our hives for wintering. Many bee keepers take their hives to Florida and California for the winter. They take part in the very important pollination industry. We choose not to do this as we feel it places too much stress on our hives with all of the transportation and close proximity to thousands of strange hives.

 

Wintering involves giving each hive a thorough inspection to check on the health of the colony. We take great care in ensuring that our bees have proper honey stores inside the hive so they have food for the winter. While we don't harvest any fall honey because the flavor doesn't meet our flavor standards, the most important reason is we leave food for the bees. Consuming their own honey is far more natural and healthy than being fed corn syrup, which is a standard industry practice.

 

During the winter, bees form a cluster around the Queen in order to keep her warm during freezing temperatures. The temperature in the center of a cluster is kept at about 90 (F). The outer edge of the cluster is about 46-48 (F). Bees generate heat by shivering as they move back and forth between the center and outer edge of the cluster.

 

The biggest threat posed to a colony of bees during the winter months is moisture. A wet hive is doomed because bees are unable to generate any heat once they get wet. Keeping the hives dry and well ventilated is critical. For this reason we winter our hives in a building specifically designed for bees. It was built in the 1800's. The walls are 12 inches thick and filled with a mixture of charcoal and sawdust. This insulates against the cold as well as wicks away any moisture that might be present in the room. The room also has a dirt floor. The entire building is unheated.

 

When spring approaches and the temperatures outside begin to rise, our hives will be placed back outside the wintering building as quickly as possible. We do this so the hives can be inspected for health and the bees can continue house cleaning but more importantly, take a cleansing flight. This cleansing flight is needed because bees will not defecate in the hive, they wait until they can take flight once weather permits.

 

Our hives are then delivered to their respective bee yards for another season of nectar collection for our gourmet honey.

 

Thanks to all of our customers for a successful 2007 and here's looking to an even better 2008!