In May 2023, we installed 2 honey bee colonies at a secluded spot in the extensive grounds of Maitreya Pure Land.

 

Our primary objective with this project is to provide a supported environment for promoting a genetic line of honey bees resistant to the modern challenges they have. And of course, a honey harvest is just a bonus.

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Like all ideas, it can’t take physical form until someone puts the first spark to give it a little jump to life.

 

That spark was given by the most wonderful Queenie (so-apt) Linderman when she offering to kick-off the funding I’d need to get it off the ground. Then the project had to hold back a year while I found myself with my first Spring with a greenhouse and workable growing areas at Maitreya Pure Land. For my first summer on triple the workload, it was doable to do one, but not both on top of other projects to get the grounds recognizable or recoverable in our first year with the property.

 

Could only wake up in winter 2022 with planning and pricing with the objective of ordering 2 young colonies of the Buckfast variety of honey bees in January, and have everything ready for when we take custody of them in late April to mid-May 2023. Early reservations with local apiaries is so important, especially just after a winter when local beekeepers have lost colonies during the winter. I’d heard about a local beekeeper who had lost 2 colonies to unknown causes, and thought it may be the case for others in the area. I was glad a did because when we arrived for pickup there were 6 vehicles parked and picking up when we arrived.