Hello from Eastern MA

[amymcg]

Hello Everyone,

My name is Amy, I'm from Eastern Massachusetts. I have been following Beemaster's site for about 2.5 years.  I'm finally getting some hives of my own this spring.  I used to watch my grandfather work his hives in Virginia.

[Horns Pure Honey]

Hi, I hope you have good luck. bye

[Jay]

Welcom to the forum Amy! I'm in eastern MA too. Are you near Concord?

[amymcg]

Hi Jay,

I'm actually from Andover, not too far from you     I 'm wondering if you have dealt with any of the massachusetts equipment suppliers and what your experiences are?  You can feel free to PM or email me that if you don't want to post it on the board.  I need to find the best deal/service since I'm just getting started.

[beemaster]

Hi Amy:

I wouldn't be much of an Admin if I didn't welcome you to the forums too!!! Thanks for your many visits over the last few years to my site, I hope you learn a bunch of great beekeeping hints for when you get your hives in Spring!

I'm proud of the great bunch of Beekeepers and wanna-bees who are here to learn EVERYTHING they can before making the big plunge.

Best wishes for the New Year and please, post as often as you'd like - I think we have plenty of categories to choose from and I'm sure that this dedicated membership will give you plenty to read and inspire you be a great Beekeeper when the time comes.

Again, welcome and thanks for being a dedicated follower of the site.

I have some interesting changes in the works, but I need to troubleshoot all the quirks in the content, but I have about 20 pages I'm adding to the Beekeeping Course and I know they will be VERY helpful.

Welcome Aboard Amy, it is GREAT to have you in our group!!!!

[leominsterbeeman]

Amy -

I am an othere Eastern Mass Resident to.  I work in Waltham and live in Leominster.    As far as local suppliers/dealers.

I got started with Bees from Bee Supply Co in Southborough - everything there is too expensive.

I have bought from Crystal Bee in Peabody,   Vin Gaglione.... Very knowledgable.....
Website:http:// http://members.aol.com/jgagli1646/page1.htm


Check with Essex County for classes....
http://[color=blue]http://essexcountybeekeepers.org/[/color]


When I purchase I do it through mail-order and mostly use Betterbee.com


I am getting my bees from Western Mass at Warm Colors Apiary.  They are located in S. Deerfield, MA - about 2 hours from Andover,  but only about an hour for me.    He is taking orders soon for Bees.   if you don't have them already.  

I am installing my packages on or around April 10th this year, and this is the earliest delivery I have seen.  http://www.warmcolorsapiary.com/


Andy Reseska also has bees.  He is in Holliston - 508-429-6872.  He usally has NUCS in  1st , 2nd week of May.


Good luck,  contact me if you need more information....

[Anonymous]

Hello fellow beekeepers...just wanted to introduce myself and my bee friends.  I purchased two nucs last year, one Russian and one Minnesota hygenics from Merrimack Valley Apiaries (the Card family).  I have been working with bees about six years. The most hives in one year was six (caught four swarms... don't know if they were all mine).  Last winter I lost all four hives probably to starvation and mite infestation.  Both the Russians and Minnesotians built up pretty fast and in August took off about 30 lbs from each.  Pretty good for nucs!  

I checked them today (35 out) and laid down some dry sugar on top of inner cover until I can make up some sugar candy or slurry.  They did come up to say  hello and thanks!  Thursday is supposed to be in the high 50's, so am going to see if they come out for a cleansing flight.  I am hoping that the dry sugar is okay.  Any thoughts on that???

One person posted that Russians were aggressive.  I have not found that and I never smoke my bees, even when taking off honey.

[leominsterbeeman]

Dear Guest -

Please get an logon on BeeMaster's site.  We need better representation from New England.

From what I've seen, Merrimac Vally Apiaries (Andy Card and Family) runs a good business too - i know some people who got their bees from there last year.  I had tried to get in touch with them last year to get bees and no one ever picked up the phone when I called - no machine either.  So I had to with other sources.    

Andy and MVA are lead characters  in  Following the Bloom,  They are one the largest pollenation businesses in the US.   I hope they expand more with Bees and Queens here in the Northeast.

[Anonymous]

Hello Amy, I read your post on another thread which led me to believe you got the idea that buying package bees were the way to go. Yes I read where you were buying a nuc this year. I think that the nuc is the way to do it if you can and get them localy.
The story of my woes, started with bees in a tree which didn't seem to care much for the brand new hives I had gotten for them.So being really as dumb as a box of rocks and not having this forum for helpful information I bought one (only one) Nuc which didn't make it thru the first winter. Should have bought two so I could have spilt the one that did make it thru the winter.
Instead I bought two packages. Packages that cost me money but brought some sort of illness to my area which forced me to kill them off.
If it were not for me joining a club about a year ago I wouldn't have any bees just equipment. But I had two different club members give me swarms of bees plus I teamed up with one of the members and captured 3 more swarms so I have 5 colonies now.
No I do not recommend packages at all. I recommend buying local nuc's if possiable where you can inspect the health before buying.
I also firmly believe you should start with two colonies and you should join a club.

You also do not have to be a stranger on the garden forum. Nor do you have to stick just to the veggies section.
  Al