A "swede", is that a term for a turnip or a rutabaga? Regardless, it make me hungry for root-moose... or however you spell it.

I believe he is referring to the bear, I heard once they are referred to as swede in some folklore long ago. I could be wrong. Whats Root Moose ?

Hey Jeff what is your normal honey out put like? Where do you buy your bees from? Any house suggestions for a bee-giner?

If your on the west coast beekeeping is tough, honey production is very meager usually due to a cold late spring and getting a bunch of rain and storms right as the fireweed bloom and that's the main nectar source. You need sunshine and warm temps to make honey and we dont have much of either here. I got like three gallons of honey out of four hives but I split two package's to make four hives, full packages would be better.

I get my bees through Steve Victors in Wasilla called Wildflower Honey. You haveTo order them in January he sells out fast some years. Get Carnolian Queens, they are the best here IMO.I have tried a few other queens, I have one Saskatraz now.
Getting bees shipped cant be on a caravan or 207 so need a hub with reguar fights from Anchorage and make aragnments when you order them , he dont noramaly ship bees but did for me.

For a hive, just get two ten frame Langstroth and one for a brood chamber and one for a honey super. I paint mine black to absorb heat.

The first year your trying to get them to build comb built so dont count on much honey the first year. and maybe a modest harvest after that if your lucky. The fireweed honey here is the best honey I ever tasted, others say the same. I wish I could get more it would sell good.

Beekeeping is kind of a expensive hobby, could pay for itself if we had honey making weather.

I really enjoy just sitting up on the hill watching my bees come and go and I look forward doing inspections once a week that's aways fun.

I have 5 hives put to bed for the winter now , hopefully a couple make it so I dont have to order any again.

Good luck and any questions free free to ask. Are you still in WBB ?

Thanks a ton!

Its been a day dream of mine for years that im slowly pulling the trigger on.

We left WBB this past summer, was a tough choice after 10 years but it was time. Splitting our time between Kotz and Yakutat now with plans to make Yakutat permanent after next summer. Bee keeping would be down there so they stand a little more of a chance.

Oh Yea Yakutat is almost the lower 48 they should do much better down there, I would go for it then. Probably overwinter fine there too.
feed them during the rains but should make a bunch of honey there with all the trees and fireweed.

Good luck and be sure to post some pictures. I have a thread on Alaska beekeeping on Worldwide Beekeeping Forum Its kind of slow forum but you can read up on my challenges if you want.

There is also Beesourse bee forum thats good to read up on too.

Thurman ...
Beekeeping is a hoot. The girls pretty much take care of themselves. I usually just run two hives here in Eastern Interior but
honey production can be really good, up to 15 gallons from two hives.
PM me your address, I've got some beekeeping books for you.

First bit of snow, made for a nice boat ride back to the fishing hole. The moose were out playing in it.

Surprised to still see ducks up your way, all the local birds down here have blown out. Hope fishing was good!

Yes I was surprised to see ducks geese and swans yesterday. I was going to shoot at the mallard's but still a bit far, my buddy suggested just aim at the moose

and yes the grayling are still biting good.

yes, there are several varieties of turnips the one shown is a milder flavour and a late season planted 60 harvest days @ 50* lattitude

First critter of the season, not a bad way to start. #5 Bridger trail set.

Don't use up all your good luck in the first week of the season!

Good job,

Pete

When your good luck has no place.

Great start!

Freaking awesome start!!!! Hope that lucky streak continues for you!

Beautiful wolf!

Great Start

That's a dandy !

Beautiful wolf!