Package Pick Up this Saturday, May 18.
Our Rossman Apiaries 3lb packages will be available for pickup Saturday, May 18 between 7:30 and 11:30am. All of our packages have been pre-reserved and confirmed via mail. Unfortunately we will not have any additional packages for sale.
If you have a reserved package, please pick up your bees at 188 Capisic Street, Portland between 7:30 am and 11:30 am.
Directions to Overland Apiaries can be found here. Directions to Overland
Please plan to drive your packages directly home from Overland Apiaries (stop for gas on the way here, not on the way home) and install your bees in your equipment as soon as you can once you get home. You will need to feed your bees upon installation, prepare your one-to-one sugar syrup the night before and keep it at room temperature. You should plan to feed your packages for at least several weeks while the bees build their new nest.
Unless you have chosen the installation option on your confirmation, your package will be considered forfeited without refund if not picked up by 11:30 am May 18th.
Overwintered nucleus colonies – sold out
All of our 2013 nucleus colonies are now spoken for. We are sorry to say that we will not have any additional colonies available for sale in spring, 2013.
We are hoping for a nice quiet winter for the bees. As the winter progresses, we will occasionally post photos of the nucs and the rest of our yards. Please check back to see what is going on at Overland.
Overland nucleus colonies
Cumberland County Beekeepers Association Open Hive
Erin and Cindy will be conducting the apiary inpections at the CCBA Open Hive on August 4 in Raymond, Maine.
More information about the CCBA open hive schedule can be found by contacting the CCBA board members, listed on the CCBA page of the Maine State Beekeepers Association website here
Overwintering Nucs Pick-up May 5, 2012
Thank you to everyone who has ordered Overland overwintered nucs this year. The bees are looking fantastic and are being inspected by our State Apiarist the week of April 23rd.
We will have your nucs ready for pick up on May 5. If you have not received a confirmation email from me with details of the pick up plans, please email me and we will coordinate.
Overwintering Nucs workshop scheduled
Erin will be teaching a hands-on workshop on making summer nucs for overwintering on June 16, 2012 in Windham Maine. More information and registration information is available on the CCBA website here
Erin gives talk on SARE Grant Final Results, Bow NH
Erin will be featured at the New Hampshire Beekeepers Association spring meeting on Saturday March 24 in Bow, NH
Erin will be giving the final results report from her SARE grant project, and also talking about swarm management
EAS Certified Master Beekeeper Carol Cottrill will be the other featured speaker.
Details here: NH Beekeepers Assn. website
Swarm Workshop Scheduled for April 25
The Cumberland County Beekeepers Association annual Swarm Workshop is scheduled for April 25, 2012.
Cost is $45 and includes a swarm trap for each participant to take home and use in their own apaiary.
More information here: msba site
Erin MacGregor-Forbes hiving a swarm in Falmouth Maine
Overland Apiaries 2012-2013 SARE Grant
Master Beekeepers Erin MacGregor-Forbes and "Bee" Bee applied for a SARE grant to continue studying the differences between traditional package started colonies and packages requeened with northern raised queens.
A link to the SARE website with the project description is here: FNE 12-756
Master Beekeeper Erin MacGregor-Forbes feeding colonies in the 2009 SARE Biddeford Yard
The 2010 SARE grant report is finished
The final report for our second year of the colony comparison grant is approved and online.
here: FNE10-694
SARE colonies in Westbrook Maine
Overwintering Nucs – 3/11/2012
We actually unpacked the nucs today - about two weeks early by the calendar, but the weather was in the low 50's today and it is forecasted to be the same for the rest of the week. We wanted them oriented to their apart locations.
I love seeing the bees, hearing them fly, smelling the honey, wax and propolis. What a great day it was.
Bee Unpacking nucs 3/11/2012
Bee checking nucs 3/11/2012
Bee unpacking nucs in Falmouth yard 3/11/2012
Overland overwintered nucs 3/11/2012
Erin Checking nucs 3/11/2012