For various reasons–a cold snap, mites galore–we lost our bees this year.  The upside? We were able to disassemble the hive with the 2011 apprenticeship team, teaching the “newbies” about beekeeping without thousands of angry ladies flying at our faces.  The honey, stored for the winter and just thawing out of the comb as April turns warm, was rich and delicious.  We’re leaving three frames for the colony we’re bringing in on April 17th, and the rest will be jarred and available on Sunday, April 24th, our first market.  We raise a toast (covered in butter and honey!) to you, dear bees!