TOPSHAM

As the season turns to spring, Holly Spicer turns her attention to her bees.

“People don’t realize how much goes into beekeeping,” she said. “I call it the most fascinating and frustrating thing I’ve ever done.”

Spicer, president of the Sagadahoc County Beekeepers Association, spent a recent Monday morning checking on one of the bee colonies she maintains in Topsham. Fortunately, the hive survived the winter, which is a challenge for beekeepers.

Experienced in the art now with eight years under her belt, Spicer’s passion was sparked from gardening.

“I’m a gardener, just around my house,” she said. “I’ve always been fascinated by bees in particular.

“I didn’t think that I could keep them at my house because I live in a tight, small community,” Spicer added, “but I took a class and realized you don’t need much room.”

Bees need about a three-mile radius to forage.

Spicer also attended Rick Cooper’s bee school in Bowdoinham, bought bees from him a month later and now has bees in three locations. In addition to Topsham, Spicer has two hives in a friend’s yard in West Buxton and one at her home on Great Island.

When she checks her Topsham location again in two weeks, Spicer anticipates up to 1,500 more bees to be present at that time.

Even with proper training and a desire to learn more, she recalled a bit of tension her first time working around a large number of bees. To get started, beekeepers will typically get a box containing about 14,000 bees and a queen.

“I had seen it done the morning I went to pick up the bees,” said Spicer. “I was a little nerve racked.

“There’s so many ways to do most everything in beekeeping,” she added. “What you do one year you may not do the next, you’re always trying new things.”

Spicer was able to set up her new colony on the first try, but realized she had set up too much space between the dividers in the box that make up a hive. That meant she had to put her hand down into it to clean out the comb that had developed in the open space.

“I had to open up the hive again and put my hand in to pull some of that out,” said Spicer. “I did not like having to do that. That made me nervous.”

Beekeeping is more than just a hobby, because bees are essential to Maine’s agriculture.

Jennifer Lund, a Maine state apiarist and bee inspector, said they help pollinate the state’s blueberry fields.

“Bees are important to the state of Maine and, really, the whole world,” she said. “A lot of migratory bees help with blueberry pollination.”

Maine beekeepers are combating the issues of increased loss each year. In Maine, Lund said the weather plays a factor, but is not the greatest threat to bees. That would be the varroa mite, a tiny mite that attaches itself to bees and weakens the immune system. Infected bees can transfer it to their young, infecting a hive.

“When the varroa mite came in, it changed the game; it’s like a tick to a human,” said Lund. “Only the equivalent for a human would be the size of a six pound cat.”

She said 70 percent of the bee losses they see are due to the varroa mite. Hives can be treated with natural compounds to keep the mite away, but it continues to pose a serious threat to the state’s bee population.

“Twenty years ago, we didn’t see this amount of loss,” said Lund.

The varroa mite is just one of the topics the Sagadahoc Beekeepers Association discusses. The association currently has 67 members of all experience levels willing to work with others on the beekeeping journey.

“The people in the bee community are so incredibly helpful,” said Spicer, who is a member. “They’ll do anything they can to help you.”

Spicer noted that it’s nice to have a hobby that pays for itself. A good honey season also means a good wax season, and she sells beeswax candles, honey and skin remedies made from the product.

And while some people may fear bee stings, Spicer sings the praises of bee venom therapy as a pain reliever. She was introduced to it at a national conference six years ago, afterward trying it for her lower back pain.

“I have not had pain in my lower back since then,” said Spicer. “I had done all of these different things trying to get rid of this low back pain, I’ve never had to re-do it.”

Club member Russ Kinne echoes the praise of bee sting therapy. He started beekeeping eight years ago when his photography profession led to an interest in bees. In addition to being the subjects of his photography, Kinne has used bee stings to help with pain.

“Some doctors may tell you differently,” said Kinne. “I take two stings on my hands, I believe it helps with arthritis.”

Spicer encouraged anyone with interest in the practice to get involved. For residents of Sagadahoc County and surrounding communities, Spicer also wants people to know her club is available to take care of bee swarms. They established a “swarm team” to take care of troublesome swarms.

“As a beekeeper, you don’t want to lose a swarm, because half of your field force takes off with the old queen looking for another home,” added Spicer. “It means your production stops.”

For more information about the Sagadahoc Beekeepers Association, visit mainebeekeepers.org/sagadahoc-county-beekeepers.

chris@timesrecord.com