February 2020 — here comes spring

Brewery construction continues as excitement builds for several other projects that will soon draw our time and attention. When the organic white clover seed arrives in the next few days, we will seed down the patch of the field where we will be planting 80 additional apple trees this spring. We are also adding more raised beds next to the gooseberries for the addition of 30 new currant bushes. There will be space for several new pollinator gardens beside the trees and berry bushes. We plan to fill those with swamp milkweed for the monarchs and asters for a late fall bloom when the honeybees are searching for nectar for winter stores. We are keeping an eye on the bees and feeding them as needed. The periodic warm days tend to draw them out of the hives and they expend a lot of energy searching for food.

We just completed a class taught by the Central Eastern Illinois Beekeeping Association. We came home with a book full of notes but these were the four most important points:

• Your best source of information is an experienced beekeeper.

• There is no one true failsafe way to care for bees. Countless books and internet sites are available and every one of them has their own variation of methods. You have to do your research and figure out what works best for you and your bees.

• Hives must be checked and treated for Varroa mites. Fortunately there are organic treatment options out there.

• You will lose bees no matter how hard you try to combat the widespread used of pesticides and the invasion of the Varroa mite. Rejoice when you have the chance to work with bees that are healthy and thriving and continue to look for ways to facilitate growth in the bee populations.

Some of the family members will be attending the MOSES Organic Farming Conference in La Crosse this weekend. They are hoping to learn more about soil health, the care and nurturing of fruit trees and berries, regenerative agriculture, pollinator habitats, and other issues pertaining to the family farm. In the beginning of March some will also be attending the Midwest School for Beginning Apple Growers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. We will be getting together later in March to share and discuss important points from the conferences.