Registered Buckfast Breeders since 1990
Buckfast bees originated in England by a monk known as Brother Adam at the Buckfast Abbey. In 1919, Brother Adam succeeded in producing a strain of bee that was a good honey producer, disease-resistant, and gentle. The bees kept and raised at Munro Honey consist primarily of Buckfast stock.
As participants in the Ontario Resistant Honey Bee Selection Program (ORHBS), our beekeepers are dedicated and diligent breeders, working in tandem with the Technology Transfer Program to keep our stock disease-resistant.
Meticulous record-keeping, regular colony management, and proper scheduling are all requirements for a successful bee breeder. Much like Brother Adam, our beekeepers annually select, test, and breed for colony potential, honey production, gentleness, overwintering ability, and mite-resistance.
Our beekeepers and the ORBHS consider the breeding program to be very important for the success of the beekeeping industry. Stock selection must occur each year to develop successive generations of bees with desirable traits, which must be maintained for a good breeding program.
A single honey bee colony can produce more than 100 pounds of extra honey. This is what is harvested by the beekeeper.
The majority of the hive is worker bees (female) with a few drones (male) and only one queen.
A colony of honey bees in the summer will have 80–100,000 bees.
The average life of a honey bee during the working season is about six weeks.
It requires 556 worker bees to gather one pound of honey.
There are five products that come from the hive: honey, beeswax, pollen, propolis, and royal jelly.
Royal Jelly is fed to a worker egg to produce a Queen bee. It is said to have cell rejuvenating properties.
Propolis is a sticky substance that bees produce from the buds of trees. It’s referred to as "medicine from the hive" because of its anti-bacterial properties.
Pollen is gathered on the bee’s legs when they land on a flower for nectar. Pollen contains many nutrients including amino acids, minerals, vitamins, and enzymes.
Beeswax is produced by the bees. This sweet-smelling, golden-coloured wax has various uses including candles, cosmetics, and polishes.
For information about beekeeping or upcoming workshops and courses, check the University of Guelph website or The Ontario Beekeepers Association.
The Ontario Beekeepers Association website has some helpful info.
Provide bees with a continuous bloom of flowers in your garden.
Choose plants free of pesticides and use non-chemical solutions for getting rid of pests and weeds.
Set out a source of water. A birdbath or any other dish will work but be sure to give them a landing spot.
Whoever makes Munro’s queens knows what they are doing. The bees are so calm and easy to work with. I am amazed at how prolific they are. They’ll just explode in population. Great honey yield and I’ve never had a problem with diseases when I order from Munro. I’d recommend them to any new beekeeper who’s wanting to get a good start at a small operation or business venture.
