Want Honeybees?


Chad Moore, a North Idaho beekeeper, is looking for additional locations for his beehives. We have found that some landowners enjoy having the generally non-aggressive honeybees on their property. Also, Chad provides landowners with free honey for use of their property.

Chad, of Sandpoint, is a third generation beekeeper who maintains approximately 1,500 honeybee hives. His bee operation involves an annual trek covering 2,500 miles between Idaho, California and Washington.

The cycle begins in late fall when Chad transports bees to the almond orchards in California for pollination duties. They remain in these orchards until the end of March, and then they are transported to orchards in Washington. In Washington, these bees are moved between cherry, pear and apple orchards as the trees blossom. By mid-May, Chad’s well-traveled honeybees return to North Idaho. It is here he is seeking additional locations to have his bees spend the summer months.

Chad says North Idaho summers are typically ideal for raising bees. Daily temperatures in the 80s, occasional rain, and plentiful flowering plants make for prime bee conditions.

Proper beehive location and maintenance are key elements to having success in the bee business. Ideally, Chad has his beehive yards located no less than seven miles apart. Since bees will fly over three miles one way for nectar, the bees do not compete for the same flowering plants at this distance. Most beehive yards involve approximately 64 hives that are set upon pallets. Chad strives to visit and monitor each yard weekly.

As a sideline, Chad’s wife, Tracy, has a business selling handmade beeswax products. These include items such as lip balm and hand cream. She sells through her web site at www.beekissable.com.

Beehives are not for everyone, but many people find them enjoyable. Landowners also have the side benefit of free honey that was produced on their property.

If you are interested in having beehives on your land, please contact Chad Moore at 208-265–4748. Unfortunately, Chad will be gone tending his California and Washington bees until mid-May. However, you can leave a message with Tracy now, and Chad will contact you when he returns in May.

Bee Facts

Honeybees have been present on the Earth for millions of years. Beekeeping is one of the oldest agricultural pursuits known to man. When early settlers arrived in America, sugar was very expensive and limited, so honeybees were imported from Europe to satisfy the growing nation’s sweet tooth.

During the summer, a worker bee’s life span is up to 45 days. As with humans, her responsibilities increase as she ages. Here’s an overview of her duties:

Age (days)

Duties

1-2

Cleans cells and warms brood

3-5

Feeds older larvae

6-11

Feeds younger larvae

12-17

Hive repair and attend queen

18-21

Guard hive entrance

22-45

Collect pollen, nectar and water