Three Sisters Farms - Certified Naturally Grown Honey, Soaps, Lip Balm, Beeswax Candles

Six Weeks of Fun

2011-04-19T14:51:00.002-04:00

Finally, the weather has improved enough to give the pups some outdoor fun. It's a chance to learn new sights and smells, whether an oak leaf (great for playing keep away from your mates!) or a large rock. Each is a new experience for the puppies. It gives us a chance as well to evaluate each pups' level of confidence and curiosity.

You'll notice the purple coloring by the tail of the little guy on the left. It's made with a Sharpie pen and allows us to keep better track of each individual. A lab's coat (no pun intended) is naturally repellent and we must recolor with permanent market each puppy on a daily basis.

Puppy Chow Time

2011-04-05T15:17:00.003-04:00

Four weeks old last Saturday and it's time to graduate to 'big dog' dining. Actually, nature took its course in making the decision. Mother Sedona went to nurse her puppies and the suckling of the pups stimulated her to regurgitate her food, which the pups quickly ate up! As in nature with wolves, birds, etc., this is a naturally occurring phenomenon. In our case, it signaled it was time to begin transitioning the puppies to regular dog food.

We feed our dogs Canidae brand dog food. We like this premium brand because its an all ages formulation, meaning dogs from puppy to senior can eat the same food. This eliminates the transition period that some puppies experience going from 'puppy chow' to adult formulation and eventually senior formulation. It's also one of the few dry foods in the marketplace that has high marks for quality and completeness.

So from here on, the pups do the daily dance around the feed bowl--ours is designed for feeding several at once. Most dive in paws first but eventually learn they don't have to stand in their food in order to eat!

Breeder or Pet Store

2011-03-24T14:31:00.003-04:00

Recently, we were in a pet store in West Hartford and noticed it had puppies for sale in the $1,700 to $2,500 range. We were curious... where do the puppies come from? What is the pedigree of the parents? What environment were the puppies raised in? What kind of service does the pet store provide once the puppy has been sold? If one is going to invest in a new family pet a new owner should have answers that they can be comfortable with--and have confidence in.

Our puppies come with an AKC registration which verifies their pedigree and lineage. The parents have had their hips and elbows certified by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals, and their eyes have been checked and registered with the Canine Eye Registration Foundation (CERF), meaning our dogs have a low probability of genetic defects such as hips dysplasia or ocular disorders. We hand raise our puppies, giving them stimulation and loving care from day one to the day they go to their new homes. They're exposed to other dogs, cats, children, vacuum noise, and other household stimulations which help them to become a well-adjusted adult.

We take pride in providing help and advise to our new owners as well as a one-year health guarantee (against genetic defects). The first few months of puppyhood often generate many questions from new owners ("My puppy threw up, what do I do?" or "How do you stop the biting when we try and play?"). We're a phone call or email away. We're proud to have several repeat customers and love getting birthday and holiday cards and pictures from puppy owners!

As breeders, we've invested considerable time and treasure into raising our adult labs and their offspring. We've been breeding since 2002 and have a wealth of experience that goes into each and every puppy.

We do not sell over the internet and we take the time to interview prospective owners to see if our lab puppies are a good fit for the owner and dog both. Labrador retrievers are wonderful dogs but they're not for everyone, and sometimes it takes some reflection upon the prospective owner to understand what's best for them. We monitor the growth and development of each puppy and give guidance as to what family circumstance may be best for each.

Can you get this service from a pet store? Let us know!

First week changes

2011-03-11T14:39:00.003-05:00

When the pups are first born we've got to admit... they look pretty ugly! Little moles with pink faces and feet and slug like in their movement. Now, nearly a week later, these features are turning dark and the pups are looking more 'dog-like'. They're also putting on weight, nearly doubling in size since they were born. Snoozers all, even mother Sedona spends much of her time in the whelping box sleeping, with puppies attached nearly constantly.

Seven "Gems" - Sedona's litter

2011-03-08T11:57:00.004-05:00

Our yellow lab, Sedona, gave birth to seven puppies on Saturday, March 5th. Sired by Legacy's Willcare's Nicholas of Carmel, NY. First pup born at 6 AM, quickly followed by four others in the next two hours; then a long and challenging afternoon of on-again, off-again labor that produced two more healthy pups, for a total of four girls and three boys. All pups are yellow in color, with some having the darker markings that are characteristic of Sedona.

As is our custom, each litter has a theme for which each pup is named. This litter's theme is gemstones, so we have names (and sex) as follows: "Diamond" (M), Amethyst (M), Ruby (F), Peridot (M), Aquamarine (F), Amber(F), and Tourmaline (F).

To learn more please contact us via email or phone.

Frigid Temps are Tough on Bees

2011-02-15T19:59:00.002-05:00

As we look forward to spring, we anxiously await news of the bees' survivability over this long, cold winter. Although honey bees are native to Europe most of the honey bees in Connecticut are sourced from a supplier in Georgia. That means the bees are used to more temperate winters than ours here in New England and many don't adapt (i.e., survive) to the Connecticut cold. Ideally, the bees that DO survive can be propagated the next year so their cold hardy genes gain prominence in our apiaries.

There are several races of honey bees, the most common here are the Italians. We like the Carniolans, which are originally native to Romania and Bulgaria, and thus tend to survive winters better.

Puppies Expected!

2011-02-15T19:42:00.002-05:00

Our yellow (red) labrador retriever, Sedona, is expecting her second litter of puppies, in early March. The pups will be all yellows, as the sire is the venerable Legacy Labrador's Nicholas. He's produced beautiful puppies for us in the past and we look forward to his newest huggables.

If you'd like to learn more or are interested in our puppies please feel free to contact us.

DEPOSITS NEW BEING TAKEN.

New Bees!

2010-04-14T07:01:00.004-04:00

Another Spring, another year to replace bees lost to winter weather and the mites. This year eleven year-old Nadia helped empty packages of bees into the hives. Each package contains about 3 lbs. of bees and an isolated queen. They'll quickly take up residence in their new hive and within 2-3 days will free the queen from her candy-plugged cage. She will then begin laying up to 1,800 eggs per day as the hive prepares itself for the spring bloom.

Real Food, Big Dog!

2010-04-12T23:07:00.002-04:00

A couple of things happened this week in the lives of the pups--good weather meant they could get a 'feel' for the outdoors, and they got their first taste of 'big dog' food!

Puppies are always tentative when they're first exploring new surfaces, textures, and smells, and we were not disappointed. They literally quiver and shake when first brought outdoors, uncertain of their new surroundings (and cooler temps, too!). The lovely 65 degree weather was a perfect excuse to bring them outside and since they were now four weeks old they got to try some moistened kibble for the very first time. Interestingly, they weren't as voracious as we've seen with previous litters. We think it may be the food we're feeding the older dogs: a lamb and rice Canidae vs. the chicken, turkey, fish, and lamb Canidae we've fed them in the past (We switched about a year ago because one of our dogs was having issues with her diet). We may switch the pups to the All Stages Canidae and see how they like it.

As you can see from the second picture, they're becoming a handfull! Our 2-year old Bryce looks on in the background.

Pile of Pups

2010-03-31T17:48:00.002-04:00

We like to remove the pups when we replace the rug in their whelping box home each day. If you recall the photos from three weeks ago you'll see that where there once was ample space between pups is now all pups all the time! We mark the pups by the tail to individually identify them.

Three Weeks of Fun

2010-03-31T17:39:00.003-04:00

The pups continue to grow and grow. As the photo shows, mealtime is now a sit down affair for Mom, and a free-for-all for the kids. Somehow they all find what they're looking for!

Bromley continues to be Supermom, a role she's enjoyed for four years (whether the pups are hers or not!). She faithfully feeds the pups 'round the clock but since the first week now sleeps outside the whelping box. She's not shy about reminding us to feed her--when we let the other three adult dogs out to do their business Bromley will elect to stay behind, waiting for us to head back to the kitchen and the feed bowl. The calories she consumes are immense! She's regained a bit of weight since the kids were born but most of the excess calories continue to flow through to the pups.

Their eyes opened and they began walking right at two weeks. Now they've discovered their voices. Yips and growls are new explorations and this is a vocal bunch! We'll post more photos in the days ahead.

One Week, Twice the Fun

2010-03-18T06:49:00.004-04:00

Now a week old, Bromley's pups continue their exponential (it seems!) growth. Each has doubled in size and weight, from about 16 oz. at birth to rotund, squirmy puppy tipping the scales at two pounds or more. They undergo interesting changes even in the first week of life. Little pink footpads and muzzles have turned black, and little ear flaps extend to twice their original size. Mother's rich milk is constantly in demand leading to plump and blind 'slugs' whose noses work like magnets to find their next meal. Of course, this means Bromley's fuel tank is always in need of filling: her mealtime has gone from a normal twice daily feeding to five or more meals per day. We even supplement those with added ingredients like fresh eggs and cottage cheese. The eggs, straight from our chickens, can be added raw; even the crushed shells can be consumed (an excellent source of calcium). Even with all the extra calories it will be weeks before Bromley's weight returns to previous levels.

Voracious appetites by mother and puppies is normal. Sadly, one of the puppies (Peony) had an apparent birth defect and could not adequately take up food, even when we tried to feed by hand, and it passed away on Day 2. Such occurrences are not uncommon and help explain why dogs have rather large litters. Fortunately, the remaining three girls and three boys appear to be healthy and are developing normally.

We'll post some new pictures in the days ahead; around Day 14 the puppies eyes will open and they'll take their first steps. In the meantime, pictures of 'slugs' just aren't that exciting!

It's Spring! Puppies!!!

2010-03-11T18:07:00.003-05:00

Bromley began giving birth a little after noon today. So far the deliveries have been without incident. Three girls and two boys with at least a couple more to come. Our theme for this litter is "Spring Flowers". Thus, we have the first born, Crocus (F), followed by Dogwood (M), Daffodil (F), Dandelion (M), and Peony (F). Unfortunately, a sixth puppy was stillborn--not unexpected in large litters but still somewhat saddening... we'll post again when Bromley's deliveries are complete.

This is an all yellow litter but as you can see the yellow spectrum can range from fairly white to a foxy red. The dark reddish color of Dogwood is partly due to wet hair from his recent birthing. All are weighing in at a healthy one pound. In the past, we've seen puppies range in weight from 5 - 18 oz, with 14-15 oz the average weight of a lab pup.

It's Gotta Be Today (Bromley's litter)

2010-03-11T09:32:00.002-05:00

Yesterday, March 10th, was Bromley's earliest possible due date (62 day gestation) and though she is HUGE she made it through the night without any signs of giving birth. She was reluctant to eat her entire meals yesterday, with her stomach crowded out by all those pups. Today is likely to be the day: she did not want to eat at all, initially, and then only after her sibling rivals were sniffing around her dish did she grudgingly finish her small serving of kibble.

As dogs approach the birth phase they will get into a nesting mode and will try and find places to dig a den. This morning when we took her outside to do her business Bromley found a suitable den site and began digging under two large boulders, clearing out leaves and dirt. Once, one of our other dogs that was expecting, Sedona, returned repeatedly to a place under a bush next to our house over the course of a week. Before she was done, Sedona had excavated a hole two feet deep! Fortunately, we got Bromley to stop after a minute or two of digging in the dirt. Now back inside, she's taken to digging through a pile of blankets. At least it keeps her mind focused!

Our experience with birthing puppies over seven years has been that most litters are born at night. We have had two that occurred during daylight hours. My guess is she'll start giving birth sometime later this afternoon.

Puppies expected mid March 2010

2010-02-23T14:04:00.002-05:00

So six weeks have gone by since we had hoped to have puppies from our Sedona and we're happy to report that Bromley is expecting pups! She's due March 10th. The irony is that she's had a litter on that date before, and one of our cats was born on that day... someone else sharing that birthday is Kyra, our oldest daughter. What are the odds?!

Bromley is Sedona's mother and her pups will be an all yellow litter. Legacy's Willcare's Nicholas is the sire and he's produced nice pups with our labs in the past so we have high hopes and expectations that this litter will be brimming with cute, cuddly, and magnificent pups.

Where art' thou, puppy?

2010-01-27T17:51:00.004-05:00

Our much anticipated litter from Sedona did not materialize as we'd hoped and expected. Nor, as that sentence may suggest, do puppies appear magically. As with people, occasionally dogs can exhibit signs of fertility without actual fruition (no pun intended...). In Sedona's case we witnessed a false pregnancy and thus, no puppies this time around. Fortunately, we have a backup plan.

Sedona's mother, Bromley, who just LOVES puppies gamely stepped to the plate, raised her paw, and will be the surrogate mother, or in reality, the real mother, of our next litter. We expect her puppies around March 10th. This, too, will be an all yellow litter. Legacy Willcare's Nicholas is the sire. He's fathered litters for us before and produces outstanding kiddoe's. We have our fingers and paws crossed.

Puppies expected late January 2010

2009-12-01T21:53:00.002-05:00

Our yellow lab, Sedona, is expecting puppies to be born Jan. 25, 2010, give or take a few days. This will be her second litter (the first was in Feb. 2008). We anticipate another beautiful litter!

Bee Bedtime

2009-11-12T09:39:00.003-05:00

The winds of autumn blow and the cold of winter is approaching and the bees will soon settle in for a long winter. It was a pretty good season for the bees: lots of moisture, moderate temperatures, and moderate mite pressure. Moving indoors for the winter, the bees remain in their hives during the cold and will venture out briefly for 'cleansing' flights whenever the thermometer breaks 50 degrees F.

The picture, above, is of a swarm that took up residence in one of my abandoned hives. The apiary where these gals settled in had been a dismal failure and I'd left the boxes for an eventual cleanup. The property owner saw me in the grocery store and alerted me to our new residents which I promptly rehoused and fed sugar syrup in the hopes of helping them survive the winter. They had built up this comb on the inside cover in the void of the hive which had half the space occupied by honeycomb frames. There was no honey to be found so they were grateful for my contribution. If the weather permits we will give them a couple more frames of filled honeycomb to complement the converted sugar syrup that they're processing belatedly into honey stores.

The population size is relatively small so it is uncertain how well they will do during the cold season. A late season swarm rarely survives the winter but with our help we hope to improve the odds.

New Litter Coming Spring 2010

2009-10-12T12:14:00.004-04:00

Our usual winter litter has been delayed as we wait for our Sedona's heat cycle. We have a list of anxious puppy-owners-to-be. Contact us if you'd like to learn more about our puppies.

Honey Season Coming to Close

2009-10-12T10:55:00.002-04:00

Our bees came through in fine fashion this year, producing a record crop of the most outstanding tasting honey in Connecticut! We had three harvests, in mid July, early August, and mid September, each with distinctive colors and taste

Our mid-July harvest was our earliest ever, coming two weeks sooner than usual and was the most remarkable honey we've ever had: very pale yellow in color, it was made up of significant amounts of locust honey which bloomed profusely in the first week of June.

Three weeks later, wild raspberry nectar provided a beautiful addition of light-to ruby red honey that when blended with the earlier honey produced a rich but mild honey with a hint of berry flavor.

Finally, in September, the bees had finished ripening a deep red amber honey consisting of Japanese knotweed, jewelweed, and tulip poplar nectars--our darkest honey yet--that was more complex and richly flavored than the two harvests from earlier in the summer.

TASTE makes our honey memorable and preferred by non-honey lovers three-to-one!

Lavender Blooms = Luscious Honey!

2009-07-10T07:59:00.005-04:00

Years ago, Stasia and Glenn traveled through Provence in mid-July at the height of the lavender harvest. We brought back a few seeds and started our own 'field', a few plants to remind us of that magical week in France. Since then, we've planted more and our own harvest, on an infinitely smaller scale, is under way.

Our lavender is in full bloom now, sending up tall spikes of fragrant flowering buds. The honeybees and bumble bees are hard at work moving up and down the rows lighting on a flower for a brief moment before moving to the next spike. The soft buzzing drifting through the mounds is something to behold.

We use our lavender in our infused lavender honey, combining the dried buds with our wildflower honey to make a uniquely flavored treat. This year we're also selling fresh bunches of lavender at our farm market venues. And, we make several wonderfully rich handcrafted soaps and a skin cream, each with the relaxing scent of pure lavender. Together, they spell July in Connecticut!

Finest Honey Yet

2009-07-03T22:42:00.003-04:00

Okay, as the beekeeper we may be a bit partial but this year's honey crop is the best tasting honey our bees have ever made (well at least for the last 10 years)! Never seen our honey as 'white' (or light) as this year's crop. While we've had a pretty extensive and lengthy clover bloom it seems like a significant amount of honey came from the incredible bloom from the black locust, a tree that exploded with creamy white/yellow flowers for about 10 days in early June. Along every major road we traveled the normally low key locust flaunted its dense pea-flower clusters, and really popped out from the deciduous crowd it hangs with.

Some reports suggest up to a third of one's honey crop in Connecticut can come from the locust tree. The book, ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture, by A. I. Root, describes locust honey as "water white with a mild flavor and good body... bringing premium prices due to its high quality." This was the best bloom of locust in at least the past ten years and is dependent upon good weather; rain or cold weather can end the bloom prematurely. Amazing, that with all the rain we've experienced this spring and early summer, our window of good weather came just as the locust came into flower.

Some of the hives had frames of wild raspberry honey too! Pinkish in color and tasting like raspberry syrup its taste can still be detected when blended with the other frames of white honey collected thus far. We look forward to bringing in more tasty honey in the weeks ahead as the bees finish the ripening of this year's honey.

Dogs Gone!

2009-07-03T22:30:00.003-04:00

What a fun litter this one was! With only four puppies we saw a very different dynamic: less sibling rivalry and more 'brotherly love'. Usually in the last weeks we have them the noise level from the whelping box grows as the puppies begin to explore the social framework of being canines. There's a lot of ear biting, tug-o-war, and chase play as puppies learn to live and play with others. In this smaller litter, there was less competition and a calmer atmosphere.

Our last two pups to go, Mo and Eenie, both males, found themselves going home with loving families. Eenie moved west... to Glenmont, NY (near Albany) and Mo went East... all 15 miles to Waterford, CT. Alas, shortly after they left we had several calls from others looking to take Mo or Eenie home. As usual, we plan to have a late Fall litter and the story will go on...

Best Honey Crop Ever!

2009-06-23T09:48:00.002-04:00

We're looking forward to our best and biggest honey crop ever! It's been a strange season weatherwise but it's been quite agreeable to the bees. Cooler and wetter than normal but not so wet as to wash out all nectar, our bees have built up quickly and are currently bringing in clover and wild raspberry, making for a very clear white and then pink honey in the combs. We expect to make our first harvest very soon--about three-four weeks earlier than normal. Soon available at our farm markets!!!

Eight Weeks and Homeward Bound...

2009-06-23T09:22:00.003-04:00

How fast pups grow! Now at 10 lbs., our pups have achieved the ripe old age of eight weeks... and 'Minie' was the first to go to her new home. She moved just up the road here in Essex where she'll enjoy a loving family.

Our remaining three, from left to right, Mo (M), Meenie (F), and Eenie (M) are having fun without their sister--heck, same helping of food three times a day but now split among three. Yippie! Meenie will be leaving us today for her new home in Chester, CT. A very excited family will be enjoying their FIRST DOG ever! Always a special moment for us, placing a pup with a family who has never experienced the joy of a lab licking your face, holding the ball waiting to play retrieve, or nuzzling against your outstretched hand while you sit watching TV.

Honey Crop Looks Promising

2009-06-05T09:58:00.002-04:00

This year's honey crop is shaping up to be our best in years!! Weather has been cooler than normal but we've had good rainfall at appropriate times to keep good ground moisture and promote consistent flowering. The cool weather in early May truncated the dandelion bloom, or so it seemed, but the flowering of willows, maples, and oaks brought consistent sources of pollen and nectar to the bees during the critical early buildup of bee brood in the hives.

Right now we're seeing a healthy bloom of clover and an amazing abundance of black locust flowers! This tree can be a significant contributor to honey production and this looks like one of those years. In contrast, last year's locust nectar was washed out by eight consecutive days of rain and really set back honey production for the season.

Japanese honeysuckle is just starting and wild raspberries will not be far behind. This is the peak of flowering and we're hoping the bees enjoy nature's bounty as much as us!

Puppies @ 5 Weeks!

2009-06-05T09:27:00.003-04:00

Hard to believe the pups have reached the ripe old age of five weeks! They're now eating solid food (much to mother Mingus' relief--she's not the doting mom the way our Bromley and Sedona can be) and growing by leaps and bounds. This photo is of "Meenie" at 4 weeks.

Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Mo...

2009-05-05T09:48:00.000-04:00

It is our tradition to give pups temporary names while they reside with us. Each develops its own personality and by keeping track of them individually we're better able to match puppies with prospective owners as well as communicate the qualities observed during their 8 -10 weeks the puppies are in our care.

This litter was unusual in that the pups were born early, a bit smaller than our other litters in both size and numbers. Our daughter, Nadia, proposed their names based on these facts and we all agreed they were a good fit: Eenie, Meenie, Minie, and Mo. The first two named are our black male and female, and the latter two are the yellow female and male, respectively. Though each started out small we have no doubt that they'll quickly grow into lovable fuzz balls of boundless energy!

New Pups born to Mingus!

2009-05-02T23:44:00.002-04:00

Our dam, Mingus, gave birth to four pups on Sunday: two yellows, two blacks, a male and female of each color! All are doing well and are growing fast. The litter came a bit early (by a couple of days from Mingus' due date) and the pups were on the small side. Fortunately, they have big appetites and are growing by leaps and bounds. Check back soon for pictures and more updates...

Glimpse of Spring

2009-03-19T16:30:00.002-04:00

This week brought the first sustained period of 'warm' weather this year: temps in the 50s for a couple of days. That was enough to bring the bees out of their hives and out for some early foraging. From the pale color of pollen many were carrying, it would seem they found flowering willows somewhere nearby. I saw this on both sides of the Connecticut River where we have apiaries. On our farm we've tapped a few maple trees and the bees had discovered the sweet sap too! Though it may only be about 2 percent sugar that was enough to attract honeybees (as well as a few ants).

The weather also allowed us to inspect the hives, get them some sugar syrup and pollen substitute, and check the general conditions of our bees. Alas, it was another traumatic winter and we suffered pretty substantial losses. Not totally unexpected given the health of the bees going into the winter late last year. Fortunately, the hives where we installed mite resistant queens did pretty well. These may be the building blocks for establishing hardier stock.

Currently, most beekeepers in Connecticut source their bees from a supplier in Georgia. Southern bees get a jump start on the season and allow us northerners to replace bees lost in time to get a crop in the same year. The downside is these bees aren't proven in our New England climate so losses tend to be greater. This year we hope to develop a few starter hives (called "nuc's") from our survivor stock so that we can build on their genetic success. In the meantime, we'll be getting some packages of Georgia bees at the end of March and beginning of April.

Pesticides and Bees

2009-02-22T20:55:00.003-05:00

Many beekeepers have experienced horrifying losses of bees in the past two years due to a mysterious malady dubbed "Colony Collapse Disorder". This year, one beekeeper in Florida reports his 1,000 hives in December have dropped to only 50 colonies in just a month's time. Here in Connecticut there has been little if any reporting of CCD thus far. While there is no confirmed explanation for CCD, many beekeepers are starting to question some of the newer classes of pesticides being produced and used on the nation's food supply. A class of pesticides derived from tobacco, known as 'Neonicitinoids' are being used as a replacement for 'hard' pesticides used on cherries and apples, for instance. Neonicitinoids are used in seed treatments (soybean and corn) and as foliar sprays and are systemic, meaning they are absorbed by the plant. The German chemical company, Bayer, is a leading producer.

Could these substances be making their way into the nectar or pollen that bees feed on? Low levels of exposure could become toxic as these materials are brought into a hive on an ongoing basis and absorbed into the beeswax. Believe it or not, toxicology studies are submitted to the EPA by the producer, rather than an independent third party. If the company presents data showing the substance is safe and effective, the government apparently can accept and approve the use of the chemical. Ironically, Germany last year banned the use of neonicitinoids for agricultural use.

Meanwhile, I found this press release interesting:

EXTRACT
NRDC Sues to Get Public Records on Pesticides
WASHINGTON - August 18 - The Natural Resources Defense Council filed a lawsuit today to uncover critical information that the US government is withholding about the risks posed by pesticides to honey bees. NRDC legal experts and a leading bee researcher are convinced that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evidence of connections between pesticides and the mysterious honey bee die-offs reported across the country. The phenomenon has come to be called “colony collapse disorder,” or CCD, and it is already proving to have disastrous consequences for American agriculture and the $15 billion worth of crops pollinated by bees every year.

EPA has failed to respond to NRDC’s Freedom of Information Act request for agency records concerning the toxicity of pesticides to bees, forcing the legal action.

“Recently approved pesticides have been implicated in massive bee die-offs and are the focus of increasing scientific scrutiny,” said NRDC Senior Attorney Aaron Colangelo. “EPA should be evaluating the risks to bees before approving new pesticides, but now refuses to tell the public what it knows. Pesticide restrictions might be at the heart of the solution to this growing crisis, so why hide the information they should be using to make those decisions?”

In 2003, EPA granted a registration to a new pesticide manufactured by Bayer CropScience under the condition that Bayer submit studies about its product’s impact on bees. EPA has refused to disclose the results of these studies, or if the studies have even been submitted. The pesticide in question, clothianidin, recently was banned in Germany due to concerns about its impact on bees. A similar insecticide was banned in France for the same reason a couple of years before. In the United States, these chemicals still are in use despite a growing consensus among bee specialists that pesticides, including clothianidin and its chemical cousins, may contribute to CCD.

In the past two years, some American beekeepers have reported unexplained losses of 30-90% of the bees in their hives. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), bees pollinate $15 billion worth of crops grown in America. USDA also claims that one out of every three mouthfuls of food in the typical American diet has a connection to bee pollination. As the die-offs worsen, Americans will see their food costs increase.

Despite bees’ critical role for farmers, consumers, and the environment, the federal government has been slow to address the die-off since the alarm bells started in 2006. In recent Congressional hearings, USDA was unable to account for the $20 million that Congress has allocated to the department for fighting CCD in the last two years.

“This is a real mystery right now,” said Dr. Gabriela Chavarria, director of NRDC’s Science Center. “EPA needs to help shed some light so that researchers can get to work on this problem. This isn’t just an issue for farmers -- this is an issue that concerns us all. Just try to imagine a pizza without the contribution of bees! No tomatoes. No cheese. No peppers. If you eat apples, cucumbers, broccoli, onions, squash, carrots, avocados, or cherries, you need to be concerned.”

Chavarria has spent more than 20 years studying bees, and has published a number of academic papers on the taxonomy, behavior and distribution of native bees.

NRDC filed the lawsuit today in federal court in Washington DC. In documents to be filed next month, NRDC will ask for a court order directing EPA to disclose its information about pesticides and bee toxicity.

The Message brought to you by Bee Culture, The Magazine Of American Beekeeping www.BeeCulture.com
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Our bees have little exposure to farm chemicals in part because there's not much farming in our area and because we purposely place our bees away from agricultural areas. We do not use our bees as crop pollinators for the same reasons. Still, I hope Bayer will open up its testing data to outsiders and beekeepers--our nation's food supply demands it.

Our Next Litter: Puppies in June 2009

2009-02-22T20:53:00.002-05:00

We're hoping our black lab, Mingus, is pregnant and if so we'll have a yellow-black litter ready to go in mid June. We have three requests thus far. If you're interested in a puppy, please be sure to contact us.

Snowflake heads West!

2009-02-03T20:15:00.002-05:00

Last but not least, Snowflake left us Friday for her new home in Ridgefield, CT. Now known as "Chloe", she has a "big" brother pug named Bailey who will be showing her the rounds now. Whew! Our 1-year old lab, Bryce, will be a little lost without Snowflake as a constant playmate, but our loss is Chloe's gain: she joins a family with two children and of course Bailey who, as you can see, will soon be 'little brother'!

We're looking forward to our next litter in late spring. In the meantime, check back here for updates on our bees, labs, and whatever else we think of to fill these pages!

"Snowflake" a Keeper!

2009-01-28T17:23:00.003-05:00

Long our favorite from this most recent litter, "SNOWFLAKE", now 13-week old female, is learning the ropes around the house. Due to other commitments we refrained from advertising her availability until today and the time with us has proved fruitful and wistful at the same time. She's readily trainable--she's comfortable with a crate at night, has learned to 'sit', 'stay', and 'wait' for her bowl of food. We have four other labs, and everyone eats at the same time--even the youngest! One thing we all love is her luxurious coat. We keep joking about getting her a part in 101 Dalmations: Cruella Deville would die for the softness of Snowflake's fur! Alas! it will be harder to depart with this pup than the others... she's grown on us. A real "keeper" for a lucky owner!

CAICOS - 1997-2009 "The Matriarch"

2009-01-27T17:06:00.004-05:00

It's an end to an era... regretfully, our grand dam Caicos passed away today, ending a wonderful life she gave us these past 11+ years.

Caicos Bill Leigh of Penbeck, arrived in Massachusetts on Oct 20, 1997. In early December of that year she joined our household and wiggled her way into our hearts. Maybe it was going to the bathroom on Kyra on the trip home from the breeder's, or her stealing of sandwiches and lunchbags from the construction crew that built our addition 10 years ago, or her 'skidaddle' scamper around the yard or... any and all of these events made Caicos a special dog.

She was a great swimmer and diver -- she loved jumping off the Connecticut River Museum dock for tennis balls and even this summer she found the strength to dive into the pool for frisbees and balls, a true lab retriever. Caicos had a penchant for rocks, with the ability to find rocks we never knew existed beneath our yard. Frustrating for us but, looking back, it brings a chuckle to see the twinkle in her eye and the dirt on her tongue as she caressed each rock between her front paws, licking it clean.

Caicos became known as the Matriarch, giving birth to several litters of puppies that fanned out across New England and brought happiness to so many families, including ours, for we kept two of her offspring, our Bromley and Mingus. Caicos loved puppies and even after she stopped having her own she still enjoyed climbing in the whelping box and playing nursemaid to her 'grandpups'. The puppies would jump on her, pull and bite her ears and she enjoyed every minute, only voicing disapproval when a wayward pup would try to muscle in on Caicos' food bowl while she was eating!

Caicos enjoyed trips to Vermont, going for hikes, romping in the snow, and swimming in the ponds and rivers around Bromley Mountain. Here in Connecticut she loved the beach, chasing after sticks thrown into waves or after seagulls strutting on the sand. She wasn't our first lab but she had a lot of 'firsts' for us. We're saddened by our loss but gladdened in having had her a part of our family for all these many years. Rest in peace, Caicos.

One Snowflake remains

2009-01-08T15:17:00.002-05:00

Nearly all of the pups are now living with their families, with Kris Kringle being picked up in Vermont to join his new family as "Willie" in Connecticut. Thus, we have only Snowflake still available. And what a doll she is! She's having the time of her life with her extended family of five labrador retriever aunts, sister, grandmother, and mother. They all get in a good 60-90 minutes of fun before Snowflake retires for a morning snooze and the lunch. Then another round of play time... and so it goes. Turns out she loves the snow (we've been in Vermont for the past 10 days)--living up to her name!

Down to Two!

2008-12-24T10:07:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, four puppies went home to spend the holidays with their new families! Yea! What an exciting way to spend the remainder of 2008... and yesterday, one of the three remaining females, Mistletoe, went to Windsor, CT. The amazing thing about this family is that they had owned a SISTER of our matriarch, Caicos, (and grandmother to the current litter). Now, what are the odds of that? They got their 'Breeze' (or Bries?) twelve years ago whereas our Caicos was born about 11 years ago--but the same parents!!! So, it was touching to see them get a grandniece of their dog (which sadly passed away in February).

St. Nicholas will be picked up the day after Christmas, and Kris Kringle will join his family after the holidays. That leaves Star and Snowflake, two lovely little girls that are a bundle of fun.

Of note, last week we had a couple looking at a puppy but they were reluctant to make a decision and decided (at the time) they weren't ready; yesterday they called back--but the puppy they were interested in had been picked by another family. Selecting a puppy is an involved decision. But there seems to always be another family or person ready for a puppy; perhaps things were meant to work out this way...

And Then There Were Three...

2008-12-22T11:37:00.002-05:00

Three very lovely girls are still looking for that perfect match... we have "Mistletoe", "Star", and "Snowflake" each ready to go a loving home. We've had two calls today so by the time you read this the pick may be down to one. But, oh, each is so cute and cuddly that the best may be saved for last. Other than coloring the base of their tails each day with a Sharpie® to distinguish them you might look for Mistletoe's round belly--she's seems to make her way up to the food bowl quicker than the others! Right now, in reality, they ALL love to eat!

Snow Way!

2008-12-20T22:13:00.007-05:00

Yippie! It's snow time for the pups. The nearly 9 inches of snow on Dec 19th was quite an experience for these little guys, who weren't sure what to do with all the white stuff. At first, they were tentative and a bit afraid but once the fun began these little guys plowed their way through... (By the way, the smudge on St. Nicholas' forehead was a result of poking around under our parked vehicles!)

We've taken to feeding the pups outside--more convenient and less mess for everyone concerned. It's a riot, releasing them from their whelping box enclosure for feeding time. It's a yellow stampede for the kitchen door and then a race to the three bowls at the edge of the driveway. These guys have it down now. Anytime we open up the gate they race for the door. They're also learning to relieve themselves OUTSIDE--they're so anxious to get to the food that there's no stopping inside for 'business'.

And of course, once play and dinner is done there was time for a nightcap courtesy of Bromley.

Ivy grows on Madison

2008-12-12T15:29:00.002-05:00

Our white-haired "Ivy" will be joining her new family in Madison, CT. She's going to have a blast with the three boys in her new family. It wasn't easy deciding between her and the other females... they're all so cute and cuddly that each will be a 'best pick'. It turns out the holiday break will be a great time for families to get their new puppy--winter vacation and a puppy? It doesn't get much better than that! Okay, throw in a good snowstorm over break and now we're talking!!!

HAPPY Holly!

2008-12-11T13:38:00.003-05:00

The first puppy pick has been made and it is... Holly! Lucky girl, she gets to reside right here in Essex, with her yard right next to the Connecticut River. What better home could a lab want? Other prospective owners will be making their selections this week.

In the meantime, PLAYTIME RULES! With a break in the cold weather the pups have had a chance to check out the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors. The side lawn, to be exact. Yippie! Twigs, leaves, cold grass and most importantly, lots of space to romp! (It's also makes 'clean up' easier for us, if you know what we mean!). Alas, the weather turns colder going into the weekend...

Happy Holidays!

2008-11-30T13:21:00.005-05:00

Little Snowflake got a visit from Santa following our viewing of the Macy's Day parade. She gave him a kiss but was a bit startled by the result. The pups have become 'little dogs' with their individual personalities starting to develop. They're now playful with each other and with us and are beginning to romp when they venture outside the whelping box.

They've also started eating solid food this week. We feed them Canidae, our favorite dog food. It has four protein sources and no grain. We find that feeding this food from puppyhood on minimizes the development of food allergies. In fact, we ran out of Canidae a few weeks back for our adult dogs and in the emergency went to the grocery store and picked up some Purina ONE. Big mistake. By the end of the week every one of our five dogs had developed ear infections. Don't know what's in that kibble but it was most disagreeable to our dogs.

Four Weeks and Time to Play

2008-11-25T00:06:00.003-05:00

Four weeks old... already?! Now the fun begins. Our adult and teenage dogs are now allowed by Bromley to play with the young 'ens in the whelping box. Sedona's mothering instinct came into play as the babies tried to nurse from her (just like Bromley did for Sedona's pups). Meanwhile, Bryce is at home with pups crawling up and over and all around her. That is, until she finds her nyla-bone and then she's all business.

This week will be a transition for the puppies and for us, too. At four weeks old they're ready to transition to solid food. Bromley's probably ready too, though of all our dogs she is the last to wean her pups. But with the puppies doubling in size nearly every week she's maxed out her capacity to share calories.

Three Weeks!

2008-11-20T21:36:00.003-05:00

What a difference a week makes! Eyes open and beginning to roam, these little guys are summed up with one word: CUTE! This is little "Snowflake" one of five females in this litter. They're finding their voices, too! Tonight they enjoyed romping with our 10-month old lab, Bryce, in the whelping box. Even Aunt Sedona got into the act, crawling in to let the pups phantom nurse. What a family affair...

Another Sedona Pup

2008-11-17T08:16:00.004-05:00

Here's "Kipper" who was also known as "Jerome" in our Arizona-themed litter this Spring. He's also the brother of "Phoenix", shown in our last posting. A handsome guy, weighing in at 49 lbs., who loves to swim, according to his owner, Sabrina. Kipper's father, Nicholas, sired our newest litter and we expect these pups to be just as beautiful. Keep those photos coming!

Growing Up Pups - Past Litters

2008-11-16T22:25:00.007-05:00

We love hearing from owners of our puppies and getting pictures is even more fun. Here is the fox red female "Phoenix", from Sedona's litter last Spring. A spitting image of her mom!

Today, we heard from the owners of the pup we called "Matsimoto", son of our MIngus. That's him on the left. Beauty, eh?

Two Weeks Already?!

2008-11-16T22:07:00.004-05:00

Their eyes have opened, their snouts are black, and these little guys now stand to eat. Each pup now weighs some 3 lbs. My how they've grown! Check out some more photos at: http://web.me.com/penkofflidbeck... look for Bromley Pups. Also note that we changed Rudolph's name to Kris Kringle at Nadia's request. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Happy Holidays! Litter is here!!!

2008-10-28T12:34:00.003-04:00

Just in time for Christmas?! Bromley's long awaited litter arrived last night over the span of nine hours. Three males and five females were born to the proud parents of Bromley's Yankee Doodle and Legacy's Willcare Nicholas, a.k.a. Bromley and Nicholas. All pups weighed in at about 1 lb.

The puppies will be eight weeks on December 22 so we thought what a better theme than the " Happy Holidays". You're looking at Rudolph. Yes, his nose is pink but his fur is red. Not much to look at yet but just wait--his eyes will open in two weeks and he'll multiply in size twelve-fold between now and Christmas.

Puppies Due Oct. 23-25

2008-10-17T09:48:00.002-04:00

Our yellow lab, Bromley, is showing signs of motherhood in a big way, and we mean BIG! The last week of maternity is always interesting, and she is suddenly showing significant girth. Stasia and Anastasia have been taking her on morning walks to help keep her physically strong and prepared for whelping. The final week will consist of shorter walks and a lot of resting up. Bromley enjoys puppies more than any other dog we know.

Praise for our Pups

2008-09-16T11:53:00.002-04:00

We work hard to raise the best labrador retriever puppies possible, focusing on good temperament, gentle dispositions, and strong 'English lab' features. Recently we heard from one of our new owners, and this is what they had to say:

"We have enjoyed watching Roscoe grow from a small puppy into a well behaved young dog. He has enjoyed becoming the favorite puppy of all the neighborhood kids, and a regular on the ferry to Nantucket. I have enjoyed receiving countless compliments and words of praise from fellow travelers who are amazed at his gentle disposition and doggy model good looks. I am asked almost every week if I plan on showing him, and one man even asked if I would contact him if ever planned on breeding Roscoe (he was too late, he had already been neutered). I was told by one man, who trained police dogs for a living that Roscoe was one of the best behaved Lab puppies he had ever seen. On one faithful day Roscoe even received praise from the rich and famous, when Trey Anastasia (of the band Phish) and his wife and kids fell for the pretty yellow puppy sitting next to them on the ferry." --Keith N.

Roscoe was born in November 2007 to our black lab, Mingus, and Black Dux Legacy's Shain. We're always excited to hear about our 'babies' and to see pictures, too!

New Litter Due in mid-October

2008-09-16T11:46:00.002-04:00

Our "super mom" yellow lab, Bromley, is expecting her litter about October 16th. She was bred with Legacy's Willcare's "Nicholas", who has sired a previous litter for us with excellent results. We're taking reservations for this litter. If you're interested in learning more about our puppies and our practices, please contact us.

Cottonwood to Cheshire

2008-08-17T20:35:00.003-04:00

Little Cottonwood proved to be popular after all. She was shortly off to her new home in Cheshire, CT, after our last post and until today we've received several inquiries. Alas, we've been very busy with our farm markets the past month and only now have a few minutes for an update.

Our next litter is in the late planning stages, with our 'super mom', Bromley. She loves her pups, and as many saw from the last litter, is willing to step in for nursing duties--as well as grandma duties, too. We're hoping to have a mixed yellow/black litter but that will depend on whether we can find a suitable mate.

We have a list of several potential owners, so feel committed to a Fall litter. Stay tuned!

Cottonwood -- One of the 'gang'

2008-07-09T00:30:00.003-04:00

'Cottonwood', the last heroine in our Sedona litter, is enjoying life as a 'real dog' now that her litter mates have gone on with their new lives. What do we mean? Instinctively, dogs like to live in packs and she's at home hanging out with the rest of the gang. When puppies are together they tend to roam and explore (and sometimes wander!); alone, they find comfort in being one with the pack. Thus, even though she's the last, she's the easiest to care for. Well, no longer confined to the puppy enclosures, i.e., the whelping box or puppy pen, she gets to be with the big family, that is, her mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt, and cousin. Where's Cottonwood? Just look for one of the big dogs and you'll find her right nearby.

We often have prospective owners looking to replace a recently deceased 'best friend'. Sometimes they're looking for a puppy to immediately fill a void or start anew; others find they need the passage of time to dull the loss before beginning again. In Cottonwood's case, we've had that happen twice in the past week! Someone falls in love with those coal-black eyes but then someone (the husband, in both cases!) decides he's not quite ready... and so, Cottonwood waits for her prince to rescue her and bring her to his castle. Someday, soon, she will live happily ever after...

A First: Pup Heads for Cuba

2008-07-03T08:49:00.003-04:00

Little Cedar, one of two females remaining from Sedona's litter, is heading for Guantanamo Bay to join her new family, a couple serving in the US Navy and stationed at the naval base there. She's very excited about the move, and has picked out her favorite bathing suit. We thought of packing some sunscreen and shades but will leave those to her new owners. Lots of splashing in the waves await this lucky pup!

Thus, we have our little Cottonwood as last female available from this litter. She has the whitest fur of the group, a bit smaller than the others but catching up rapidly. We still think she looks like one of those little seal pups you see in pictures from northern Canada!

Schnebley now calls Westbrook home...

2008-06-28T16:51:00.003-04:00

Our last caballero, Schnebley, was picked up today and will call Westbrook his new den. No doubt he'll go to work with his new "dad", Lee as a painter's helper or will join them for a fishing trip in search of stripers in Long Island Sound. Only two girls left, one of which may go home later today.

Copper follows Phoenix

2008-06-28T16:45:00.002-04:00

"Copper" selected her new family today, after they found her to be the one continually returning to them when they were trying to choose one of our three remaining female pups. Lo and behold, she's moving to Simsbury, too! Maybe they'll becoming playmates at the local dog park or go shopping together at Simsbury's new Farmer's Market held on Thursdays, 3 - 7 PM. We hope so since we participate in the market as vendors of our organic honey, skin products, and beeswax candles. It's always fun to see "our" offspring in their new settings and to follow them as they grow.

Phoenix moves to Simsbury

2008-06-26T08:37:00.002-04:00

Our gorgeous redhead, "Phoenix", relocated north to her new family's home in Simsbury, CT, leaving the 'Land of the Sun' for the happy homestead complete with pool and a very excited family ready to spoil her with all the affection and toys a young puppy deserves. It was not an easy choice for Virginia and her daughter and son: "Cedar" was nearly the twin of Phoenix in so many respects that we offered to "flip the pups" while they called heads/tails... whichever landed the way they called it... fortunately for the pups Phoenix won their hearts and we never got to test the coin flip with dogs theory. Perhaps it was Phoenix 'smile', so much like her mother, Sedona, that won them over.

So now, it's down to three sister pups, all of which have 'dates' with prospective owners today through Saturday. As the doting 'parents,' we screen the suitors and are looking forward to another match made in heaven. That likely leaves one... will she be our Cinderella? We'll find out: another caller has an appointment for Saturday afternoon. If the slipper doesn't fit, our damsel pup will assuredly be rescued by another charming suitor.

DON'T BUG ME! a best seller

2008-06-25T08:49:00.000-04:00

Our newest product, DON'T BUG ME! natural insect repellent made its debut over the weekend and was an instant hit... selling out completely by late Saturday. Stasia wanted to develop a more pleasant smelling and EFFECTIVE bug spray than those found on the market and she SUCCEEDED.

We joke about it being "GIRL SCOUT" tested... during a camporee in May Nadia's troop got to try the new spray and reports were: NO BITES. Containing a variety of essential oils in skin nourishing jojoba oil, DON'T BUG ME! is effective against mosquitoes, ticks, black flies, and 'no see-ums' for 4-6 hours. Since then, we've tested ourselves in the twilight hours when mosquitoes are feasting and can say not only are there no bites but you can see the mosquitoes approach with 3-4 inches of your skin and then fly away... it really repels!

The nice thing is DON'T BUG ME! contains no DEET or synthetic chemicals and is safe for use on children and animals. We're very excited about our bug spray... it's made with quality ingredients that cost a bit more but we have the peace of mind that it is SAFE and EFFECTIVE!

It will soon be available at our online store (we had to reorder all the ingredients)... Look for it there or at our farm market stands by July 4!

Adios to our Three Caballeros

2008-06-24T21:28:00.003-04:00

Well, the boys are spoken for... Yesterday, "Tucson" rounded up his new owners and rode high in the saddle of his new owner's Honda into the sunset, heading for greener pastures in Madison, CT. It was love at first sight for both parties. It didn't hurt that Tucson turns to mush when you hold him on his back and rub his belly! Tucson's new owner, Mary Ann, was a bit hurt that we nixed her plan to feed him pizza (the crust ends, of course!). Hard to resist pleading puppy eyes but we don't recommend human food for dogs. Well, a little crust here and there can't hurt, right?

So, now it's an all-girl party for this litter! Strange, as we often have high demand for female pups and this time they're the last to go. Two are likely to go in the next couple of days, and we expect the final two to be on their way to new homes by weeks' end. This has been a fun litter but, in all honesty, mix summer with puppy and that recipe begs for individual/family time with new owners!

Pictures from New Homes

2008-06-23T09:22:00.005-04:00

We love receiving pictures of our pups in their new homes and this one is a doozy! Now known as KIPPER, (a.k.a. Jerome in Sedona's litter) this little guy is all decked out for the upcoming July 4th weekend. Surrounded by toys and cared for by a loving couple, he's doing well. He had a brief bout with a loose stool for a couple of days--possibly brought about by a change in drinking water (chlorinated vs. our well water) but a couple of additions of Pepto-Bismol has returned his situation to normal. The new owner has had a few questions for us along the way and Kipper's transition from litter mates to best friend seems to have gone well. Thanks to Kipper's owners for sharing his photo!

NEWS FLASH! Nicholas Wins!!!

2008-06-20T15:45:00.002-04:00

The sire of our latest litter, Legacy's Willcare's NICHOLAS won Best of Winners from the Bred-By Exhibitor class yesterday and got his first Championship points. His owner, Kevin Bergeson, is justifiably proud. Maybe he'll walk in the footsteps of Sedona's grandfather, Broad Reach Ruff Stuff ("Colby"), #1 AKC champion in 2001 and 2002 for North America.

Eight Weeks and Ready to Go!

2008-06-20T15:18:00.004-04:00

Time flies when you're having fun! Our pups just turned eight weeks and are on their way to their new homes. 'Jerome' was the first to go, heading for nearby Deep River, CT. His first night without his siblings apparently went fine. A few trips outside overnight to do his business and the rest of the time he was a snoozer! As for the rest of the gang, it seemed like, "Great! More chow for the rest of us!" This picture is of "Cedar" a female with some nice cedar color. She's still available and looking for a new home...

Bee Time

2008-06-12T10:40:00.002-04:00

It was a tough spring with weather below normal aggravating life for the bees and beekeeper. The cool weather kept the bees in their hives and slowed the onset of the spring bloom and nectar harvest. The result was the loss of several more hives, on top of those lost over the winter. Not a pretty picture. Fortunately, we've replaced the lost hives and expanded our operations with the goal of increasing our honey production this year. We continue to suffer or enjoy, depending upon your perspective, from annual sellouts of our honey. This last year our Lavender Honey was a big hit and we look forward to offering it again this year. We planted significantly more lavender from which we'll harvest buds for infusing into our wildflower honey. Those plants are young but look to add some nice flowers in a couple of weeks. Our older plants have a profusion of buds that will give us a good start on the harvest.

As for honey production, we have a couple of hives that are filling fast with honey while most are slow to take off this year. It's too early to tell how this harvest will turn out but it's a bit discouraging at this juncture. The locust is about to bloom and the clover appears to be in full bloom--a very important nectar source for us. We have about three weeks remaining of the Spring/summer blooming period before we hit the dirth of summer. Sometime in late August the first of the goldenrod will appear and the bees will be back at work racing the calendar to bring in the fall flow.

Six weeks and Time for the Vet

2008-06-05T22:35:00.007-04:00

How time flies when you're a puppy! Sedona's brood is now six weeks old and they got their first shots...all received a clean bill of health from our veterinarian. Even little 'Cottonwood', who started out her life at a wee 5 3/4 oz. tipped the scale at over 5 lbs. Of course, her big brother, Schnebley, nearly broke the scale at 9 lb. 7 oz. By the end of the visit this litter came through and promptly snoozed through the remainder of the visit. An interesting twist this time around was the inclusion of a measles vaccine with the traditional parvo/distemper shots our pups usually get. It turns out the measles vaccine works to bolster the puppies' immunity against distemper during the time the puppies immune system is adjusting to the post-nursing phase of life. The mother's milk provides antibodies that suppress the effectiveness of the distemper vaccine; the measles virus is apparently similar in structure to the distemper and the vaccine is not suppressed by the mother's milk. Thus, an additional measure of protection is provided by the measles vaccine. No, the puppies won't develop little red spots and turn itchy!

This picture reveals our snoozers following their check. Note the coloration by the tails... how else can one keep track of an all yellow litter?! We use Sharpies to mark each pup. This helps us distinguish each one so we can better track weight, personalities, etc.

2008-06-02T10:54:00.001-04:00

A stroll outside on a beautiful spring day is a must for every puppy and brings a smile not only to their faces but ours as well.

Sunshine on our Shoulders

2008-05-26T23:06:00.000-04:00

Nothing beats a day in the sunshine. Taking advantage of some nice warm weather, the litter gets time outside to run around and then can doze in the luxury of a Little Tykes playhouse. Getting seven squirming, excited little guys to pose for their mug shots isn't easy, as you can see here!

Sedona Seven

2008-04-27T20:55:00.005-04:00

Congrats to our newest mother, Sedona! She gave birth to seven healthy puppies on April 21. Every puppy arrived squirming and ready to take on the world, even the littlest one, nicknamed "Cottonwood".

Of course, being Sedona we had to give this litter an Arizona theme. So names include Copper, Cottonwood, Tucson, Schnebley, and even Cedar. Well, cedar may not seem Arizonan but Nadia insisted on the name, and almost every puppy has a reddish coat like mother Sedona, so even red Cedar fits!

Schnebley? The town of Sedona was named for Tom Schnebley's wife so we had to have a Schnebley (there's a landmark in Sedona named Schnebley Hill). Besides, it's a great dog name, don't you think?

Ten Days to Puppyhood!

2008-04-13T15:01:00.002-04:00

Hard to believe another litter is on the way. Our Sedona (reddish yellow lab) will experience birthing for the first time. The stress meter goes up a bit with a first litter and we're a bit anxious about how she'll do. Thankfully, she's a strong, healthy mom-to-be and has been an observer of several litters born to her mom (Bromley) and aunt (Mingus) so we're confident she'll do well. Stasia, on the other hand, pegs the stress meter. Each of the newborn pups are her 'babies' too!

The sire of this litter is Legacy's Willcare Nicholas, who's father is Am Ch BISS Willcare's Prestige. Both Sedona and Nicholas have excellent pedigrees with a substantial number of AKC champions in their lines. Sedona is a granddaughter of Legacy Labrador's Broad Reach Ruff Stuff, a.k.a. "Colby". He's a Best in Show and Multiple Best in Specialty Show American and Canadian Champion. Colby was #1 Labrador Retriever in the country for 2002 (All Breed) and 2003 (Breed & All Breed). And was the PEDIGREE AWARD WINNER for Labradors in 2003. While we take pride in our breeding program our main interest is providing individuals and families with the best quality puppies. We do this through extensive hands-on socialization so that when they are placed in their new homes they will become a welcome, well-adjusted addition to your family.

If you're new to our blog we invite you to browse through our archived posts to learn more about our litters and our philosophy for raising labrador retriever puppies.

Someone Please Tell Mother Nature It's Spring!

2008-04-09T21:31:00.002-04:00

Enough with the cold weather already! Here it is the second week of April and the bees have been able to get out for a meal only once! This has been a tough winter-into-spring for the bees. By mid-March the weather has usually begun bringing on 50 degree days--the minimum most bees need to get out for foraging. Since they haven't had that opportunity their winter stores are exhausted and some hives are facing starvation. I've tried to get some sugar syrup onto the hives when it's warmed up a bit but they need the warmer weather to even move to where the syrup is, and they haven't had that opportunity.

As a result of the long cold spring, and perhaps because of the up-and-down temps all winter, we lost about half our hives this winter. I recently spoke with another eastern Connnecticut beekeeper who's experienced similar losses. I attribute most of the loss to the difficult weather and the fact that most of the dead hives were populated last Spring with new bees from the South. Oftentimes, these bees don't have the genetic makeup to survive New England winters. Compounding the problem was the extended drought of last August and September, when the bees began consuming rather than collecting honey. Despite our efforts to feed the bees in the Fall some went into the winter short on supplies. One other factor could be the possible existence of Nosema, a disease growing more common. The only registered treatment for nosema in North America is fumagillin, a natural extract from the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus.. Randy Oliver, a California beekeeper, has some excellent articles on nosema and some treatment options. Ideally, I should have our hives tested to determine if nosema is a problem.

Fortunately, we have ordered some replacement hives, known as packages, and some will be arriving today. Packages are made by shaking into a box about 3 lbs. of bees from an existing hive. With the addition of a caged new queen one has the ingredients for establishing a new hive. Once the package arrives the queen in her cage is installed in an empty hive filled with honeycomb frames and the bees are gently shaken into the hive box. The remaining bees in the screened package will pick up the queen's scent and will make their way into their new home. The lid is replaced, a small amount of sugar syrup is installed in a feeder jar and then one waits. A few days later, a check on the hive will reveal the queen has been released by the workers from her cage--they'll have chewed out the candy plug that separates (and protects her) from the colony until they've accepted her as their new leader. From there she will begin laying eggs and the new hive will begin its life here in the Essex area.

This process will continue over the next few weeks as we get additional packages. Until this year, we've had to drive to a supplier in Greenwich, NY, to obtain our packages. Fortunately, I've discovered a new source for packages right here in Connecticut. That's where we're getting our first shipment of packages from. The remainder were ordered in late January from the New York supplier. Given the high rate of hive failure experienced by beekeepers nationwide in recent years, one has to get orders in early in the season in order to be assured of new bees. Many suppliers run out quickly as beekeepers discover in Spring the extent of losses exceed their expectations.

Ideally, I'd like to get in the position of developing our own additional hives. That thought will be covered in a future posting.

Eleven weeks and all are home

2008-02-24T16:54:00.004-05:00

We're happy to announce that all of Mingus' pups have homes (as of 9 weeks of age), from Boston to the Eastern shore of Maryland and Connecticut in between. Her pups are always a joy for us, a very mellow group and this was no exception. In fact, we kept 'el Capitan', to join our pack! It'a always fun and personally rewarding for us to see the pups and their new families together. Some are getting a dog for the first time and others are replacing a companion recently lost. Regardless, bringing a puppy home is the first step toward many years of happy and sometimes crazy times ahead. Congratulations to all you new owners!

Our next litter is expected in April... we'll keep you posted right here.

In the meantime, we highly recommend Cesar Millan's books and DVDs from his "Dog Whisperer" show on the National Geographic Channel. And for new puppy owners, we also suggest "The Art of Raising a Puppy" by the Monks of New Skete. Check 'em out:

Seven Weeks!

2008-01-16T12:15:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe how fast time goes by! Now seven weeks old, these guys/gals have become chow hounds. They go crazy when food arrives and it disappears within about a minute--typical lab style! The next 45 minutes are spent in play time, chasing around the kitchen, sniffing out new smells, finding flower pots, stray papers, you name it, to sample, dig, or keep away from a litter mate. They're a roll-ie poll-ie eight lbs. each, except for little Sacagawea who still doesn't quite look like a lab! She's spry and bounces, the fastest lab pup on the planet without the added bulk of her brothers and sisters. Despite her diminutive size she's very popular, desired by at least three prospective owners!

Three Yellows

2008-01-14T15:18:00.002-05:00

Here are some pics of Lewis & Clark, and Yosemite, at six-and-one-half weeks. All the pups are becoming much more playful, requiring a full hour of up-and-at-'em running around (in our kitchen since it's wintery outside) after mealtime. After that they retire to the whelping box and pen for sleeptime until the next go-around.

First Vet Check a Success

2008-01-11T12:38:00.000-05:00

Now six weeks old, our pups got their first checkup at the vet's office today. All went well, with each getting the first of the series of three puppy vaccinations they'll need the first year.

They now tip the scales at between 6 to 7 lbs., with the exception of little Sacagawea who comes in at a whopping 4 lbs. More on her later.

The accompanying photo is of "Clark", one of the two yellow males in this litter.

New Pups! Theme: Pacific Northwest

2007-12-03T11:29:00.000-05:00

We welcomed six black and yellow puppies from our black lab, Mingus, early on November 29th. Labor began around midnight and by 8 AM she was done (or so we thought). About six hours later she birthed a stillborn pup, which caught us all by surprise. Nonetheless, the six we have are healthy and growing fast!

As is our custom, we've named this litter after a recent vacation destination. Last summer we traveled to northern California to visit San Francisco, Yosemite, and the Redwoods, and then continued up the coast of Oregon and Washington. Thus, our three male and three femaile puppies have the temporary names of: Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea, El Capitan (F), Yosemite (F), and Wizard (M) (after the island in Crater Lake).

Our smallest puppy, Sacagawea, was born with some intriguing markings reminiscent of the first labrador retrievers that arrived in England in the 1840s from Newfoundland. Known as "St. John's" labs, these early emissaries had white paws, a white chin, and white chests to contrast with their black hair. It is not uncommon for black labs to be born with some white markings but they often diminish or completely disappear. We're not sure what will happen with Sacagawea but it seems clear that her heritage extends back to the St. John's labs.

OPEN HOUSE SALE - Dec 8

2007-11-30T12:48:00.000-05:00

Our Third Annual OPEN HOUSE SALE is set for Saturday, Dec 8, from 12 - 6 PM. We hope you can stop by to do some holiday shopping and will sip some warm mulled cider and enjoy some good cheer.

We'll have our kitchen and dining room filled with our handcrafted soaps, skin creams and lip balms (winter's here--time to stock up!), beeswax candles, and our organic honey. This year we also have our own infused organic lavender honey. Consider stopping by our website to place an order online or simply to get some ideas of what we have for sale.

Parking will be on the grass and along the road, if you can't find a spot near the door. You may also be able to take a peak at our newest litter of lab puppies! We hope to see you there! Driving directions can be found at our website.

Raspberry Honey!

2007-06-20T20:53:00.001-04:00

We're enjoying a great Spring and the weather has been nearly ideal for the bees. We enjoyed our highest winter survival rate ever for our bees with only a 10% loss of our hives, and the bees came on strong as the spring bloom got underway.

Early nectar and pollen sources included willows, maples, oaks, and dandelion followed by Russian olive, clover, honeysuckle, and raspberry. Yes, raspberry has been a fantastic nectar source this year as you can see by the picture, above. Beautiful in color and great tasting, we've never experienced anything like it in our eight years as beekeepers. We're seeing it in hives on both sides of the Connecticut River. Meanwhile, during a drive back from Hartford today I noticed the sumac is starting to bloom. That signals the last significant nectar source for the spring/summer period. By early July, a dirth of nectar and pollen will begin until late August when we'll begin seeing purple loosestrife, goldenrod, and eventually, asters.

We're happy to report our organic honey was showcased in the June/July issue of "NUTMEG", a beautiful food and lifestyle magazine 'from West Haven to Westerly' (contact NUTMEG Publications at 646.320.8959 for more info). We hope to have our first harvest in mid-July, assuming the bees finish 'capping' the honeycomb. This occurs when they have evaporated the honey down to about 17 percent moisture content. At that point the pH of the honey will keep it from spoiling--nature's only naturally preserved food!

For ordering info be sure to visit our website Three Sisters Farms.

Let the Picks begin!

2007-06-20T20:37:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe our pups are now seven weeks old! They're showing their age--increasingly independent and curious, they're now willing to embark on new adventures away from the pack to explore the new and unfamiliar. Great if you're a puppy; not so fun if you're the person in charge of keeping an eye on them. It's not uncommon to have several puppies go in different directions--all at once.

Our new puppy pen is a great place for the puppies to get some fresh air, romp on the rocks and childrens' playscape, and generally get as dirty as possible by rolling in the dirt! Once this litter is gone we'll plant grass!! In the meantime, with the weather so pleasant the pen is a great place for them to hang out. The most fun is when we open the gate and take off on a game of Catch-the-breeder. Nothing like eight little yellow guys running flat out trying to catch us as we trot around the yard.

We've had several puppies selected by their new owners. Wow! Only one week until they go to their new homes. Chase It, Sunset, Pig Dog, and Everglade are now 'taken', and we hope to have the remaining new owners make their selections this weekend. We still have a couple of females available--with a new ad in the paper, they'll be finding new homes soon, too.

We've got the Munchies!

2007-06-05T23:09:00.000-04:00

The pups had their first 'real meal' on Saturday, a few days later than we've started in the past, but the pups didn't seem to mind. Bromley, as always, has been a great mom and continues to nurse her babies willingly (oftentimes by four weeks the mother has initiated weaning--not Bromley!), thus there's been no need to thrust food on the little guys.

The puppies have their first several teeth and are just beginning to use them--on ears, tails, etc., which accordingly, results in screeches and whimpers from the unlucky recipient of the teething. When starting them on solid food we soak regular dog kibble in water until it is mushy soft (about 20-30 minutes). We've started this litter with two serving plates for sets of four puppies each. So far, there's been little pushing as they've each done a good job lapping up their fill. With some litters there's a frantic rush to eat but this group has been pretty mellow so far.

And 'mellow' is an appropriate label for this group of puppies... very easy going, content, no whiners or whimperers in this clan. They still do a lot of sleeping but enjoy getting a chance to play and explore when we let them out. The recent rain was a damper on their outdoor fun but today they enjoyed scampering about and interacting with Grandma Caicos, Aunt Mingus, and half-sister Sedona, along with Bromley mom. We're just beginning the fun puppy phase!

They're ALL 'Runarounds'!

2007-05-29T19:57:00.000-04:00

Hard to believe our little gang will be four weeks old tomorrow (5/30)--time is flying by for us, with puppies, beekeeping, soapmaking, homeschooling, moving daughter home from college for the summer, school plays, recitals, etc. (Don't ask me about our lawn--groan...) Fortunately, this litter has been pretty easy to care for up until now.

Meanwhile, they've all become 'runarounds', as one of the puppies is formally/informally named already. It's like they woke up this morning and discovered the word, PLAY. Of course, puppy play means charging into each other, testing out new (and sharp!) teeth on each other's ears, romping, exploring, and basically discovering the world around themselves. The easy days of puppy rearing are behind us. Some last longer than others, though after about 5 minutes they one by one slip off to a corner or a cool spot and return to their prolonged slumber. As puppies, dogs spend a good 90 percent of their time sleeping and G-R-O-W-I-N-G.

At four weeks we'll start them on regular dog food. Up until now the mother nurses them as needed. Looking at their rolley-polley size, Bromley seems to be handling the task well. Even with six feedings a day, she's yet to catch up to her pre-pregnancy weight--the puppies really pull the calories out of their mother! With little puppies a little preparation is necessary when introducing regular dog food: our dry kibble is soaked in water for a good half hour until it swells nearly triple in size and is soft and mashable. This gruel is tasty for most, something strange and new for some. We'll let you know how this group takes to it. Check back soon--we'll have some fresh pictures!

Two Weeks!

2007-05-18T15:41:00.001-04:00

This is a group of snoozers. Alas, all good things come to an end. It's been an easy litter for everyone so far. Bromley's a very attentive mother and has done a great job taking care of her little pups. We keep her fueled -- some six feedings a day and she still seems thin -- as those little guys grow seemingly exponentially.

With two weeks come two major events in the life of a puppy. Their eyes open for the first time and they begin standing and walking. How convenient! They can begin to see where they're going! Still, dogs rely first and foremost on their sense of smell. Up until now they've lifted their noses and sniffed their mom whenever she enters the whelping box. Her scent pulls them close and they instinctively begin to suckle. It won't be too long before they'll get a taste of solid food (usually between week 3 and 4)... and then OUR fun begins!

First Week Update

2007-05-10T11:23:00.000-04:00

The puppies continue to grow -- now about double in size from their birth weights. All are doing well, keeping mom, Bromley, busy with frequent squeals for meals. She's begun taking time away from the whelping box, but only for a few minutes here and there. With this litter she's developed a habit of scrunching up the rug that covers the floor of the whelping box. The rug is there to help keep the pups warm, along with an infrared light. Bromley has issues with the rug. Several times a day we find she has gathered it up and pushed it (and a few pups captured inside) away from where she wants to sit. Okay. We've turned off the light to cool things a bit - but she still scrunches the rug! Our concern is that a covered puppy will be stepped on. It's a constant battle between Bromley and us rug smoothers...

Play Ball!

2007-05-05T21:55:00.000-04:00

Bromley can hardly wait for the rest of the team. Counting her, the family could field a team for the big game. Now, if we could only get them to play with their eyes open!

Eight is Enough

2007-05-03T17:41:00.000-04:00

Whew! Starting around 6:30 PM, Bromley gave birth to eight wonderful yellow puppies -- three boys and five girls. Honestly, we were expecting a few more, given her extreme girth prior to birthing. Size is deceiving until you realize that each of the pups of this litter were about 10 percent larger than our previous litters at birth. Each pup weighed between 17 and 19 ounces--pretty hefty when we reflect on some litters where a few of the pups tipped the scales at a scant 9-1/2 ounces! Looking at it another way, Bromley added about 30% of her pre-pregnancy weight.

Fortunately, all went well for Bromley, despite the loss of her last birthed pup -- a nearly four hour labor for that one! Altogether, two puppies were stillborn. It's always a mystery as to why but it's probably one reason why dogs have such large litters--the law of averages perhaps.

Sometimes a puppy is whelped (born) and seems to lack any sign of life. It's tempting to give up on 'em. We had an extreme occurence this time. One of the puppies appeared lifeless... no sound, no sign of breathing, no movement at all. However, leaving the placenta attached, Stasia worked nearly 30 minutes to bring forth the familiar cry of life that a puppy gives when the airway is cleared and it is able to vocalize his/her disagreement with all the rubbing/massaging from its human attendant. We affectionately dubbed this one "Lord's Prayer", as you'll learn more, below. Fortunately, puppies are resilient and he's doing well.

The theme of this litter is 'Ski Trails of Bromley', after the Vermont mountain for which 'mom' is named. As such we have given temporary names to the puppies: There's 'Pig Dog', 'Run-Around", 'Yodeler', 'Spring Trail', 'Sunset', 'Twister', 'Chase-It', and of course, 'Lord's Prayer'. Come to think of it, some of these would make nice dog names, don't you think?!

Wow! She's big!

2007-05-02T14:04:00.000-04:00

Our Bromley is huge! Poor thing--she's got the 'just come on out!" look in her appearance and in her eyes, suggesting to us that she'll deliver her litter within the next 24-48 hours. She's reluctant to take food and is clearly feeling the puppies impinging on her ability to get around. More signs that birthday is coming. In recent days to make her more comfortable at night, we've let her sleep outside her crate so she can spread out, walk when needed, etc.

The whelping box is set up, with a fresh coat of paint, ready for delivery day. Stay tuned!

Puppies in May!

2007-04-27T20:50:00.000-04:00

Well, it's nearing the end of April and our Bromley is about to become a mother once again. It's her favorite thing in the whole world. Really. We've never had a dog that loves puppies as much as Bromley. She enjoys them from beginning to end, even allowing nursing in the eighth week. Ordinarily, once pups transition to solid foods (around three to four weeks old) the mother starts to lose interest (or endurance?!), and by the time they leave she's almost anxious for the little ones to go. Not Bromley. She seems to miss her little 'uns once the leave.

For the moment, Bromley looks enormous, more so than at the same time with previous litters. It's hard to know if she'll have more than her usual 11 pups or if she's just carrying differently this time. We'll soon find out.

This litter will be all yellow. She's bred again with Bluckdux Shane, an AKC junior champion. They produced absolutely gorgeous pups last time, and we're looking forward to a good group this litter as well.

Happy New Year!

2007-01-07T20:34:00.000-05:00

Bromley's litter is now into it's third month, and all pups have homes. "Peter Pan" remained here in Essex, just a few blocks from us, and was happy to be with his new family for Christmas. (Can there be a more spoiled pet than a new puppy at Christmas?!).

Our next litter will likely be sometime in March, with blacks and yellows, ready to go home by late May, if all goes well. Feel free to contact us via our website: http://threesistersfarms.com.

And then there was one...

2006-12-12T13:13:00.000-05:00

What a difference a week makes...

This weekend almost all the little guys went to their new homes, stretching from Elizabethtown, New Jersey, to Glastonbury, Connecticut. Quite a whirlwind, considering it takes from 2 - 3 hours to process each departure (we spend a lot of time with the new owner going over the care and nurturing of the new puppy). Now, there's only Peter Pan. Our 7-year old remarked this morning, "Of course, it's Peter Pan--he doesn't have a home in the movie, either!"

One Down, Eight to Go

2006-12-04T22:19:00.000-05:00

Now eight weeks old, our little guys are about ready to go to their new homes. This group of pups has shown great personality. "Sleeping Beauty", aka Miss Independence, loves to explore and is quite confident in her personality. Gorgeous and a head like a male (destined to be a 'blocky beauty'). "Beast" (M) is still a bit needy in that he will stand up and ask to be held when the others are bedding down for their naps. "Mickey Mouse" was the first to go, leaving today for his new home in Old Saybrook, CT. He'll be remembered for his unexpected dip in our fish pond! Yes, Mickey the Man, as Glenn liked to refer to him.

Snoozers!

2006-11-20T22:25:00.000-05:00

Puppies are active for 10 minutes and then can snooze for a few hours--unless a brother or sister intervenes and bites an ear! These guys are now nearly six weeks old.

Solid Food, Scamperers

2006-11-07T14:03:00.000-05:00

The pups are growing into their personalities. Now four weeks old, their eyes and ears have been open for about two weeks and they now pick up on sights and sounds outside the whelping box. Solid food is now on the menu and they love to be carried into the kitchen to tear into their chow. Here, they're waiting anxiously to be picked up and carried to FOOD!

Today was warm enough for them to get a taste of the outdoors. This is always an anxious experience for a new puppy. New sights and sounds, as well as textures and obstacles await. The most surprising is the step off the porch (it's a long way down when your legs are only three inches long!); really, it's more a stumble than a step. After a few minutes one or more pup invariably finds its way through the fence cordoning off our fishpond. Only 10 minutes into the adventure, "Jack Sparrow" is shivering and ready to return to the warmth of the INDOOR whelping box!

Bromley's Litter - 10/7/2006

2006-11-07T14:01:00.000-05:00

Our Bromley gave birth to nine healthy pups, six boys and three girls, all yellow. As is our custom, each litter has a theme and the pups are named accordingly. This year we traveled to Disney World and so our pups are: Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, Beauty, Beast, Tinkerbell, Peter Pan, Jack Sparrow (Pirates...), Prince Charming, and Snow White. To distinguish each yellow puppy from another we mark the base of their tail with a colored Sharpie pen.

All pups were born healthy and were fairly uniform in size, at just about 1 lb. each.

Nearly Six Weeks! (Mingus Litter)

2006-06-23T09:52:00.000-04:00

As summer begins, our little rompers are earning their nicknames. They love to chase our two ducks, giving their feathered friends a good run for the money. One pup will chase a duck only to be distracted by mother, Mingus, who happens to be standing with a couple of nursing kin below her. Soon another pup spots the quacking duo and attempts to catch up to the wadders before they escape to the baby pool. Quite a sight.

The litter will be six weeks old on Sunday, and they continue to grow, now averaging about 12 lbs. each. They're fed three times daily with our favorite kibble, from Canidae. We like this brand because it is an all-ages balanced food. No need to transition from puppy chow to adult to senior fare. This makes it easier for the owner. All you have to do is use portion control. As a puppy grows it will consume twice the daily requirement of a two year old adult. After six months, feedings are reduced to twice daily and portions can be gradually cut back. We monitor the weight of our dogs, insuring they get plenty of exercise, but adjust their portions to maintain a healthy size.

We've moved the puppies outdoors during the day. Their favorite hangout is around our kids' playscape. They can find a cool shady place to burrow and snooze, or they can play tag around the legs of the playscape itself.

We've been quite busy with other tasks but will soon update our site with new photos.

Eyes Right!

2006-05-29T22:34:00.000-04:00

Those of you with some military experience (hey, even watching your local Memorial Day parade may qualify) recognize the title as the command given to parading troops as they pass an American flag flying to the right of their formation. However, now that America has an all-volunteer military, you may instead understand the title to refer to eyesight. And, in this case, you're right! Two weeks after their birth, our pups are beginning to see their world for the first time.

They eyes start out blue but will darken to brown in the coming days and weeks. Next up: walking!

Introducing our NEW litter -- Aloha from Hawaii!

2006-05-25T08:30:00.000-04:00

We had a welcome treat on Mother's Day when our black lab, Mingus, gave birth to EIGHT gorgeous pups. Perfect symmetry: Four black, four yellow. Four males, four females. Two black males, two black females. Two yellow males, two yellow females... what are the odds of that?!

Mingus had an easy delivery. Pups weighed between 13.5 and 17. 5 ounces. As is our tradition, our litters are given temporary names around a theme. This year, to honor our recent trip to Hawaii (Glenn returned to his roots after 29 years!), we decided to give the puppies temporary Hawaii-like names. I say "Hawaii-like" for a reason, as you will see.

We have Plumeria (flower used in making leis), Nene (Hawaiian goose), Hanauma (after the famous snorkeling bay), Guava (well, we visited a guava plantation), Macadamia, Matsumoto (a famous brand of "shaved ice" - Yummy!), Pearl Harbor (we have a black pup with a pearl of white on her chest), and of course, Humuhumunukunukuapua'a (also known as the Hawaiian trigger fish -- you may find us calling this one simply "Trigger").

Hawaiian Trigger fish

Web Page Opens Up the World

2006-01-20T18:01:00.000-05:00

Since we established our website (Three Sisters Farms) I've been amazed at the power of the web and its ability to extend the distribution channel of the business. We've had inquiries from as far away as Gambia and Russia from people who would like to retail our honey and/or soaps. The biggest stumbling block for a small business is overcoming the steep shipping costs associated with small quantities. I talked with a business owner today whose manufacturing operations are in Thailand. Her company fills eight containers per week just with one product! In contrast, shipping a small case of soap to Russia would cost us over $3.00/lb., thus likely snuffing out a wholesale relationship with prospective vendors there.

What's really funny is the cost of shipping with the 'majors'. You know, the UPS, DHL, and FedEx's of the world. A 6 lb. shipment with one of these guys reaches as high as $333 for a 4-6 day delivery window. Are these guys kidding?!

Wind Sends Chills Up the Hives!

2006-01-20T17:33:00.000-05:00

Yikes! Winter weather can play havoc on one's hives. Often it's the extended cold spells that can result in disaster. Bees need to take cleansing flights every few weeks or they can suffer dysentery and death. The fabled January thaw is welcome indeed. This winter has been mild and the bees have had more opportunities than normal to venture out to do their business.

What's changed this winter is the violent ping-ponging of the temperature. Last weekend the weather went from upper 50s to near zero in 24 hours. From rain to snow just as fast. Well, on Wednesday the rapid change in barometric pressure brought winds that exceeded 60 MPH in some instance that helped fell power lines and trees across the state of Connecticut. I got a call from Jerry, who has graciously given us space for one of our apiaries, with a heads up that the wind had blown over a hive.

My initial thought was, "Oh yeah, it's the stack of empty boxes that I had next to the row of hives I checked on Monday." When I arrived to the bee yard I was horrified. Before me lay the entire row of hives, all spilled over onto the ground and partially submerged in water. A tiny drainage was overflowing with runoff from the downpours earlier in the day creating a soggy bog where my hives had stood. Maybe the bees are nestled inside... and then, I noticed there were no bees flying. The temperature had dropped from a balmy upper 50s to the upper 40s. Oh my goodness, perhaps I've lost all four hives!

My first action was to restore the base foundation. Apparently a gust of wind had caught the tightly clustered group of hives like a sail sending them sprawling forward and into the streamlet. Once the wood beams were righted I began rebuilding each hive one deep hive body at a time. To my relief, the first hive's occupants had clustered in the upper hive body. The size was not large but clearly the queen was still there. And then the next, and the next, were returned to their former position. Only one of the five clusters was empty! An hour later, the temperature had dropped to more seasonal norms - high 30s. Whew! If Jerry hadn't called when he did we would likely have lost all the hives.

It's only mid January, and our hive count is already down 30 percent.

Bad Luck Day

2006-01-13T16:53:00.000-05:00

They say Friday the 13th is Bad Luck Day. Most of the time I think the idea is bunk. But not today. I inspected the hives for the first time since November and it was not a pretty sight. Four dead outs. I'd fairly expected a couple of hives to be lost, as their numbers were a little weak going into the winter. But four?! Most likely these hives had succumbed to varroa mites, the scourge of modern beekeeping.

My immediate reaction was, "What could I have done to prevent this?" Working the hives organically limits one's options to some degree. Still, I should have been more faithful in applying the 'Dowda method' of treating hives with powdered sugar. Named after Florida's State Bee Inspector who developed the strategy, sprinkling bees every 10 days with powdered sugar helps the bees fend off the mites. I'm also tempted to try another approved method: formic acid. A multistrategy, integrated approach is necessary to offset the debilitating effects of the mites. Our customers love our organic honey and we're determined to increase production to meet the demand. Clearly, it will take a full court press on the beekeeper's part to keep the colonies healthy enough to coexist with the mite problem.

Fun on a Sunny Day

2005-11-19T10:09:00.000-05:00

It may be cold outside but when the sun is shining, it's time to get out and see the world. And that's what our guys did this morning. "Mammoth", a.k.a. "Collins" and "Bryce" discovered the chicken coop for the first time. Both hen and pups eyed each other curiously for a few moments. If only these digital cameras were more responsive (need fresh batteries, I think).

When out together puppies waste no time finding mom, and today was no different. As the weening process progresses the mother dog becomes more tolerant and eventually gives in to the play atmosphere. Mingus isn't quite there yet but, as you can see, she doesn't have much choice.

Meanwhile, here's a look a few other little guys from this litter:
That's "Zion", (M) and "Yellowstone" (F)

We still have three pups available... why not bring some playful joy into your home this holiday season?

Wow! Six weeks already?

2005-11-19T07:37:00.000-05:00

Hard to believe how fast time goes by, and how quickly little pups become big pups! At six weeks it's time to see the vet for first shots. In customary fashion, our litters arrive in the office as little snoozers. What a mellow bunch!

We've been very pleased with the temperment of Mingus' litter, especially with people. You can pick up any puppy and hold it on its back and it will just stare into your eyes (or give you a lick!). No thrashing or flailing about with these guys. Why? We think a lot of a dog's temperment is derived from how it is raised early on. From the very beginning we work with our pups to condition them to human contact. They're very comfortable with us now. So when they arrived at the vet's office, this is what he saw:

Don't get us wrong, they're not always like this. In fact, they're reaching the stage where they like to play for up to 45 minutes before hitting the snooze button. There's a fair amount of puppy snarls as they chase each other's tails and romp with their Aunt Bromley and Cousin Sedona.

Online Store Open!

2005-11-16T22:13:00.000-05:00

Whew! We did it! Our NATURALS business (soaps, lip balm, honey, etc.) got off to a good start this summer as we expanded into shows and fairs. Now, our website is up and so is the
online store. All of our products, from our organic honey to handcrafted soaps are available for purchase.

We have some exciting new soaps, and even gift "Bath Tubs".
Customers have a variety of shipping options (though we're still working out the kinks for the USPS option), or can arrange to pick up their items.

JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS!