The Beekeepers Report -- September/October 2026

Our hives thrived this summer and required little intervention beyond routine inspections and management. We had large, strong colonies that flourished throughout the season.

One autumn highlight was entering our honey at Hallockville Museum’s Country Fair Honey Contest! While we didn’t bring home a ribbon this year, we were happy to participate, celebrate our bees’ hard work, and be part of an event honoring Long Island’s agricultural heritage.

As autumn settles in on the East End, our bees’ focus has shifted to preparing for the colder months ahead. We’ve been monitoring honey stores, bee populations, and overall colony health to make sure each hive has what it needs to get through winter.

As temperatures drop, the bees cluster together to maintain warmth. We need to ensure each colony has a strong, healthy cluster with accessible food stores above it, since the bees gradually move upward through their reserves during winter. Empty spaces within the hive can make it harder for bees to reach their food, so we condense boxes and frames as needed.

In the coming weeks, we’ll prepare our winter emergency feed boards and quilt boxes to help prevent starvation and manage moisture, two significant challenges the bees face during winter.

The effects of poor fall management often don’t become apparent until late winter or early spring, which is why these preparations are so important.  To keep up with Nature, you really need to think ahead.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you to our hive sponsors—Anne and Charles Curran, Dawn Ford and Fran Carbone, Diana Hendrickson, Donna Cattano and Israel Simoes, Kathy and Brian Dunn, Pat Iannone, Pat Sanders, and the Sisters of St. Joseph—for their continued support. We also extend our sincere appreciation to Chris for his guidance, expertise, and dedication to our apiary program.

Devan Kuettner Beehive Manager