💥 Headed up for Sourwood Honey 2023!!!

In this video we’re taking bees to the North Carolina Mountains in search of the elusive Sourwood Honey Nectar flow that’s about to begin!

[@myron2386]

Good luck! I'll look forward to an update on how it goes! I'm in north Florida and may make this run next year. We're stuck in our dirth with strong hives now.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

It’s definitely a risk, with so many variables, it’s easy to strike out

[@thetruthisoutther1]

I'm having to feed my bees cause of all this bad weather and the power company mowing all the wildflowers down the power line and then the road mowing crew cut 3 or 4 miles of honeysuckles that was beside the road.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

We feed a lot during the summer

[@todddowell2483]

What town is near where you put them? I plan to put some in Low Gap, NC at an elevation of 1450.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Not far at all!!!

[@jamesdavis3600]

I noticed you’re using plastic excluders in this video rather than metal ones. If you’ve used both do you find the plastic ones perform as good as the metal ones? Have you experienced queens slipping through the plastic excluders? Thanks

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I’ve only used plastic, and never had a queen slip through.

[@tjones2ful]

Someone told me to put a playing cards by the entrance.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Lol. Was that me?

[@KajunHomestead]

Dang bears sure do cause slot of extra work and expense . Good luck with the flow.👍🏻👍🏻

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Tell me about it. Having already been attacked once this season, I’m good on losing anymore hives to Yogi this year

[@chroniclesofthecreeks]

Is there a maximum elevation for decent sourwood flow?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Nope. It varies year by year and is unpredictable. 1200’-3600’

[@fuzzynuggetsbees]

Great video! Like seeing how you have your bear fence set up. Good luck with your sourwood- sounds exciting!

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Thanks for your support!

[@noahG82]

I just found out my late July/ early August flow here in north central WV is mostly sourwood. This will be my 5th year of keeping bees and am hoping to isolate that flow for the first time! What do you usually get per lb on sourwood in bulk? I expect to have 50-60 production colonies and 60-80lbs per hive

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

It all depends on how pure it is. I don’t bulk wholesale, but most guys get $7/lb. We only direct market or wholesale 1lb jars by the case, and get $25/lb.

[@BJJandBS]

Do you sell your honey anywhere in FL I might be able to give it a try?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Sorry we don’t

[@claybunner1059]

I’ve been told you need at least 1.0 joules to keep bear out? That’s what I had to buy. Lot of work hope it goes great for you.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Hopefully we won’t have any Yogi bears

[@jodygucwa8892]

Good luck with the flow. We have had dry weather here in Michigan. But the nector is flowing good. Extracting are first honey this week. Have a great day.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

We’re also extracting this week! Beat luck!

[@slmey3r]

This is true sourwood? not like slash anything else in it?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

There ended up being a bit of Persimmon in it which stained it a bit darker. But it made some dang good honey!

[@ronaldkoenig7057]

Good luck with the sourwood flow I recently bought some at Bob Binnies store very good!

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Thanks!

[@scottoneal1443]

By far my favorite honey.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Oh yeah!

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

It’s been storming here in upstate South Carolina. I have a yard in North Carolina that I’m going to take some supers for sourwood. Best of luck!!! Duct tape works great to patch pants!!!!

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I know but I forgot it!!! I was like wtf!?

[@Peter_Gunn]

The bees seemed to not enjoy their trip to the mountains

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Not at all!!!

[@georgetaylor9154]

that's what i was thinking. im curious about how being bearded while driving went for those colonies.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

@@georgetaylor9154 They all go in once you get going down the road. Same as other truckloads of bees

[@sidelinerbeekeeper]

Pretty cool man, hope you fill those boxes. I lost my father last September, we used to work together also. He owned the commercial scallop license, and I bought the boat. He always helped me out with my silly ideas, too. That bear fence is overkill, but no harm over doing it.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Thanks for the encouragement! So sorry to hear about your father. I know you have some great memories with him!

[@CCCRApiary]

I would love to hit the sourwood flow next year!

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Get to it!

[@randyneese7902]

I’m in the foothills, hoping to get a little sourwood but it’s going to rain all week so not promising. Thanks for your video.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I hope you get some!

[@kevinlyons919]

Did you make a video of your extraction process?

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

Not going to. Too much scrutiny from armchair warriors.

[@kevinlyons919]

@@Ashby_Farms_NC 👍

[@bennybeekeeper]

Ashby, on behalf of your father and all those who love you please don’t film while you’re driving, especially when it’s raining. Thanks for the video. God bless.

[@Ashby_Farms_NC]

I hear ya, I hear ya!