For years, we at SeaBee honey, have worked with our local schools providing free pollination overviews and observation hive visits.  In 2020, we helped the folks at the Dondero School in Portsmouth with writing a grant to receive a new bee hive and equipment used to manage the hive.   While they provided the equipment, in this case a top bar hive, we provided the honey bees at no cost.

We also provided pollinator overviews with the 3rd graders at Dondero that ranged from Pollination 101 to Products of the Hive.  With the support of Portsmouth Superintendent, Dondero's Principal and Mrs. McCain we were able to set up a space on the campus that could safely house the hive.  Finally, after a one year delay due to Covid-19 we were finally able to hive bees in the top bar hive.

In the attached video you will see Mrs. McCain shake out 3lbs of bees into the top bar hive.   Great job Mrs. McCain and all the teachers, faculty and students at Dondero!   

Bumblebees are great native pollinators and they are best suited to pollinate many of our native crops (squash, blueberry, pumpkins and blueberries).  Unlike honeybee hives, bumblebee hives are not perennial and they break down in the Fall season.  When the hive disperses the queens in the hive will find a burrow to hibernate in the winter.   
We find many locations that are suitable for queen bumble bees to spend the winter but this small burrow under a large pine was ideal for this queen here in Rye.  Watch as she emerges to take one of her first flights for the season and start the process of building a new hive.

#easternbumblebee  #seabeehoney #nativepollinator

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