The scale hive is located on a hillside facing east–southeast. It is exposed but sits under an overhang. Neighboring forage area includes farmland, forests, low lying valleys of swamp land, clear cuts, reclaimed mine land, and a 100 acre lake. The area is sparsely populated rural in the rolling foothills of the Appalachians.
Scale:
Fairbanks, 500 lb capacity, 0.25 lb increments, leveled on concrete base, exposed to weather, under a shed roof.
Hive:
2 deeps Langstroth hive, 2 year old queen from a September 2008 feral swarm.
Forage:
April-May: dandelion, red bud, black locust, tulip poplar, mustard, apple tree, alfalfa, wild cherry, brambles, multi-flora rose; June-July: soybean, clover, vetch, ironweed, Aug-Sept: milkweed, black haw, golden rod, blue aster.
