Apiary Application

Summer Smiles Honey Apiary

Owner: Darci Sanner

Farm Address:
2931 Menoher Blvd
Johnstown, PA 15905
Cambria County
United States

daytime phone: 814-525-0306

Application Date: 2011-04-03

General Information

Apiary Location and Position

Some beekeepers seek certification for more than one apiary. Please provide the location (or locations) of the apiary (or apiaries) for which you seek certification.	2931 Menoher Blvd Johnstown, PA 15905
Briefly describe the landscape where the apiary is located. What surrounds the apiary? What are the nectar sources?	I own about 2 wooded acres, that is surrounded by 1,000s of acres of more woods and also field. Natrual sources of nectar come from the many trees and shrubs (oaks, maple, locuts, rhodedendron, mountain laurel, blackberries, elderberry, goldenrod) plus I provide many flowers, herb, fruit, and vegetable plants. There is a pond about 1/4 mile away, plus I do provide water...
Do you own or manage the land on which your apiary is located? (If at least one of your apiaries is on land you own or manage, answer yes.)	yes
Do you agree not to use on this land any synthetic materials that are not allowed under the CNG produce or honey programs?	yes!
Use this space to describe any land management practices you use to support the honey bee population.	By planting late fall and early winter blooming flowers and other plants. I also do not use any chemicals on my land to care for my landscape.
Within each apiary for which you seek certification, do you manage any hives "conventionally", using practices or substances that are not allowed under the CNG apiary standards?	no
Are all hives in the apiary at least 6 inches off the ground?	yes

Hive Construction, Components, and Comb Removal

Do your hives have any paint or chemical treatment on the interior surface of the hive?	no
Do you have, or will you develop, a labeling system and schedule to ensure removal of at least 20% of brood frame per year, such that there is never brood comb present that is more than 5 years old?	yes
Please breifly describe your comb removal practices to date, and your plans for the coming seasons.	I remove old brood comb , at the rate of about 2 frames per super each season, not allowing the brood comb to be more than 4 years old. I date the year on each of the frames so I know

Apiary Transition

Does your hive contain brood comb that A) is from another beekeeper (including from purchased nuc), or B) has been exposed to Tylan, or C) has been exposed to three or more treatments of fluvalinate (Apistan, Mavrik) or amitraz (Miticur, Taktic, or Mitak)?	yes
Will you ensure that, through brood comb replacement or operation expansion, no more than 40% of the exposed comb will be present in the apiaries to be certified, AND that the exposed comb that remains will be marked and removed from your apiary within two years? Your apiary will have transitional status until all exposed comb is replaced.	yes
Please indicate the month and year when you expect you will have replaced all marked brood comb (the comb that was purchased from another beekeeper, treated with Tylan, and/or exposed to three or more more treatments of fluvalinate or amitraz)?	Aug 2011
Has any wax or comb in your apiary ever been exposed to coumaphos (CheckMite+) or fenpyroximate (Hivastan), or more than six indirect exposures of coumaphos (CheckMite+), hydramethylnon or fipronil (Max Force Gel roach baite) as closed trapping for SHBs?	no

General Bee Maintenance and Care

Describe how you maintain your bee population from one season to the next. Do you rely on survivor colonies, incorporate feral colonies, purchase new bees every year, or some combination of these and/or other practices?	I rely soley on survivor colonies
Do you sometimes feed the bees when honey supers are on the hive, or within two weeks before honey super addition?	no
If and when your bees require supplemental feeding, what do you feed them? Please be specific and include all ingredients.	I only feed a sugar sryup solution of sugar and water, pollen patties, and pure pollen

Management of Pests and Disease

Varroa Mite
Please briefly describe what measures you take to suppress the Varroa mite population in your hives.	I follow D.M. Doolittle's approach of removing frames of brood to break the mite's breeding cycle
How do you monitor mite population levels? When and how often?	with the screened bottom board with a sticky board
Before treating any hive for Varroa mites, will you monitor the Varroa mite infestation level to determine whether it exceeds the treatment threshold set by your local network? (If you run a survivor colony, and you never treat, please answer Yes.)	yes
If you choose to treat colonies infested with Varroa mites, will you keep records of treatment methods, along with pre- and post-treatment monitoring results?	yes
American and European Foulbrood
How do you prevent and treat American Foulbrood (AFB) and European Foulbrood (EFB)?	I believe the best way to prevent any disease is to be sure the colonies have the best possible nutrition, and keep remove old equipment and old wax as needed. Also to not contaminate from other apiaries, by only using my own bees for splits..
Nosema
How do you prevent and treat Nosema?	Proper nutrition...and overwintering ventalation
Other Diseases
What has been your experience with other diseases (such as chalkbrood, viral diseases, wax moths, small hive beetle)? How have you dealt with them? How will you deal with them if they recur?	I have not had to deal with this. To prevent wax moths, I lay lavender cuttings over the supers and hang the supers in my attic
Pests
What measures do you take, if any, to protect the hives against pests such as mice, skunks, possums, raccoons, and bears?	I screen in the hive stands and extra screen on the bottom boards, mice guards. My apiary is fenced in wih chainlink and electric fencing
Please describe any other practices you follow to help strengthen the bee population under your care.	I take the least amount of honey, propolis, and pollen possible, to ensure the bees have plenty. Also I have windbreaks, a sunny, but shaded area for my apiary

Colonies Engaged in Pollination Services

Are your colonies engaged in pollination by contract?

no

Local Networks

Are you a part of a local network of beekeepers using natural methods? This could be a formal network like a county beekeepers association, or it could be an informal network of beekeepers in your area with a commitment to using natural methods.	yes
If this is a formal network please indicate the name of the network below. (If it is not a formal network, please simply write "informal".)	informal
If this is an informal network, please indicate below the names of at least two other beekeepers who participate. They do not need to be CNG beekeepers, but they do need to have some commitment to and knowledge of natural practices. (If you're part of a formal network, please simply write "see above")	Darl Susko Ken Hoover

Agreements

Please indicate your agreement with the following statements by entering your name/s in the spaces following the statements.
I/we will only use the Certified Naturally Grown name and label on apiary products (honey, pollen, propolis) that are in fact from the CNG apiaries described in this application.	Darci Sanner
I/we understand that CNG beeswax certification is a separate process (not yet available in 2010), and that the basic Apiary Certification doesn't confer CNG status on beeswax.	Darci Sanner
I/we understand the CNG work requirements: A) To complete at least one certification inspection of another CNG apiary in my area each year. B) To arrange at least two annual inspections of my/our apiary, to be carried out by qualified inspectors as outlined in CNG informational materials.	Darci Sanner
I/we have reviewed the Certified Naturally Grown standards, understand them, and will abide by them. I/we understand that if I/we have any questions I/we may contact CNG for clarification.	Darci Sanner
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