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beeskepmaker.jpg

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Date: 08/12/09

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The Altamont Fair featured Ralph Hull in the grange hall demonstrating how to make a bee skep (Ralph is not a member of the club). Ralph grows his own rye for the straw. Ralph explained that in the early part of the 19th century farmers would have between 4-6 skeps; in the fall they would sacrifice the bees in half of the skeps and harvest their honey. The remaining hives would survive the winter and in Spring be ready to swarm. The swarm would be captured and put into the empty skeps to repeat the process.