1500 K Street August ‘26 Hive Update
Meet our new Lead Beekeeper, Pat!
“It is great to be part of the UpTopAcres family all supportive of farming and giving back to the environment. I am joining the UTA Team as the new beekeeper. I want to congratulate James Sleigh for his work in keeping the bees and wish him the best in pursuing his career goals.
By way of background, my beekeeping experience began in the early 1980s, when I was snowbound during a major Northeast storm. A beekeeper welcomed me in for the night, and the next morning I saw his snow-covered hives in the backyard. That moment sparked my fascination with honey bees and the important work they do. Today, I manage more than 50 colonies across Northern Virginia, including Arlington, Fairfax, and western Loudoun County. My work includes pollinating a berry farm, selling honey and wax at local farm stands and markets, and providing educational experiences for children and adults. I look forward to meeting you and caring for your bees in support of our environment.”
Do you know the difference between worker honey bees during the spring and summer and worker bees who survive the winter?
Honey bees during the spring and summer typically live between 45 and 60 days. Because of all the different activities of raising brood, caring for the brood, and foraging during the height of the honey flow, they have shorter lives. Conversely, honey bees raised in late summer to early fall are known as winter bees. These bees retain a great percentage of their fat bodies and consequently have a longer lifespan, another essential element for the colony to survive the colder winter months ahead. Their thicker fat bodies also help insulate them and their hive mates during the winter.
Busy August
I’m excited to join the Up Top Acres team and help care for the honey bees. Thank you to James Sleigh for the smooth handoff of the colony at 1500 K Street. Before James returned to school, he and Charlotte Duke harvested honey in mid-August, so honey delivery should be coming soon!
On my first visit, the colony has seven frames of brood and a total of 20 frames of bees. A good strong population of bees in preparation for the winter months ahead. I also did a Varroa mite check, the parasite that feeds of adult bees and capped brood that can be detrimental to a colony’s survival. The good news is when I tested for the Varroa Mite there were only 2 mites in 300 bees tested, well below the 1% threshold.
Next steps for my visit in September are to continue to monitor the Varroa mite population and make sure the colony has between 40 to 60 pounds of honey going into the winter. Right now we are in good shape with mites and winter stores.
Good news! All of the honey has been extracted from the frames and is being jarred. We should have the jars ready for you by next month. Stay tuned for updates!