One Beekeeper’s Journey:

A Success Story

Beekeeping is an exhilarating and rewarding experience, but it can also be a very discouraging and disheartening undertaking if done in a half-hearted manner. Focusing on a few critical actions can help increase your chances of success.

One such success story is Sarah Negri seen below in the GSC Beekeeping showroom.

Sarah started her beekeeping experience in the Host-a-Hive program. That began for her three years ago. Along with study on her own, the host-a-hive experience gave her the basic information and some skills to get started on her own. She was engaged in the program, asked a lot of questions, and observed as hive inspections were conducted. She started maintaining her own colony by exercising the option to take her hive home with her at the end of the season.

The following year was not so rewarding. Her colony died. That’s unfortunately part of beekeeping. But she didn’t give up. Sarah purchased a package of bees and started again.

She continued to study and sought help in analyzing what to do to be more successful. Part of that help was acquired through the Garden Supply Company Bee Social. This social is held once a month. It’s designed for beekeepers to meet and talk about issues they are having. Sarah gives credit to the social for, “… providing a welcoming environment, which makes it easy for new beekeepers to feel comfortable asking questions.”

She made some adjustments in the arrangement of frames to concentrate the brood with the queen. And most important of all she treated for varroa mites, the number one threat to successful beekeeping.

Having gained experience and treating for mites she just recently was rewarded for all her hard work. She harvested 54 pounds of delicious honey from her single colony of bees.

After the attention given her for her success at the GSC Bee Social, Sarah said with a smile, “Now the pressure is on to keep them alive for another year.” With her desire to learn more and attention to detail, we’re sure she will!

Congratulations to Sarah.

If you are interested in beekeeping, stop by the beekeeping showroom or contact Jason Cirioli, our beekeeper, at jason@gardensupplyco.com.

Thanks to Roger Montague, volunteer, for writing this article. He can be reached at roger@gardensupplyco.com.