New Beeswax Lotion bar

Our small Lotion Bars have been very popular and we now have available a new larger size Lotion Bar - 4 oz & 4 inch x 2.25 x .75.   Click here to see more....

New Product - A shorter version of our Large Apothecary Candle

List Price: $18.60
Click here for more info....

Spring Pruning

We had a good crew this spring with about 12 or more youths. Most of the work was completed around Easter when the kids were off from school.
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Spring Frosts in the Vineyard

Spring Frost are always a problem for grape growers. As the days in Spring advance the chance of a frost becomes less - but as the buds develop they get increasingly more sensitive to cold.
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About Michigan Grapes and Wines

Each year, Michigan's wine, grapes and grape juice products and related industries produce nearly $790 million of total economic value to the State of Michigan
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Full-Bodied Glossary of Wine Terms

Wine is enjoyed by people all over the world from the casual drinker to wine sommeliers. There is nothing quite like enjoying a glass of wine while relaxing around the house and watching a little television. Some decide to have a little wine while at a lounge, wine bar or elegant restaurant. You may be familiar with the different types of wine brands, but what about the terminology? Wine is a type of alcoholic beverage made from many different types of grapes, skins and seeds. This source will provide you with a list of wine terms and their meanings. Creative Wedding Favors

After losing about 60% of our colonies over winter, we purchased 30 units of package bees to try to keep our volume of honey up. We are still optimistic for a good season. The packages were installed in late March. Click here for a pictorial about installing package bees.

In May we made splits. Splits are when we take one large colony and split it in half and give the queenless half a new queen. This is how we increase our colony numbers to make up for winter loss.

More pictures of the queens we put in our splits.....

Myths of Michigan Agriculture

Myth: Beekeeping is not Agriculture. (Recently a beekeeper in Traverse City, Michigan area was cited for having a farm truck license on his truck used for transporting bees for pollination. He was told that beekeeping is not agriculture.)
Fact: Beekeeping is the oldest form of agriculture known to mankind.

Myth: Most farms in Michigan are "corporate" farms.
Fact: 95 percent of Michigan's farms are single family operated and/or family partnerships. Of the few farms structured as corporations, 99 percent of those are family-owned and involve multiple generations and family members.

Honey and Herbs

(Note - this is from Laurie Teason who produces many of our soaps)

Hi Bill,
 
I had a such great time reading about beekeeping on your website. Found a page where you asked for recipes, I have one I would like to share with you. More....