Craig my friend, glad to see such bounty! And to read below that you're sharing with your sister to make mead, oh man, that's most excellent news!

IDK if I reintroduced myself yet, this is @nateonsteemit, just with a dedicated account for my agricultural venturing.

I found a pattern in one of my homesteading books to build a hive with store bought lumber and, to the wife's chagrin, I think I'm gonna do it! The local farm store sells bee tending equipment and hives, but their hives are poor quality and expensive, so I'm gonna go with the more durable and more affordable option I've found. It's not a proper langsroth hive, but for home use and a completely uncommitted newbie like I am with all things, it'll suit just fine.

I sadly noted this year the complete lack of bees. I think I saw one bumblebee and maybe three honeybees. There was even a shortage of our usually plentiful native pollinators like ants, mason bees, and wasps, and I'm resolved to remedy all of that with a honeybee hive, some mason bee nests, and more bird houses. Probably bat houses too, but don't tell Melissa. She'll blow a gasket learning that I'm doing bees and bats.

Continue the good work friend, I hope y'all are well all the way over there. Blessings for your new year!