To maximize the health of his hives, Vorisek said he takes some different approaches. To reduce over-foraging, for instance, he spreads his hives around different areas with no more than four in any one location. And in the winter, he keeps the hives indoors and supplements the bees’ food sources with sugar candy.

“It’s a lot of work, but well worth it,” he said. “This year is so much better than the last two or three years.”

You can go

Vorisek’s Backyard Bee Farm is hosting a honey demonstration Aug. 19 at 3 p.m. at the Crawford County Fairgrounds office pavilion. The demonstration is free and open to the public and includes a planned visit from 2007 Pennsylvania Honey Queen Rachel Bryson.

Antique hives on display at Baldwin-Reynolds

Visitors from around the region experienced traditions in rural culture first-hand Saturday at the Baldwin - Reynolds House Museum’s third annual Rural Heritage Day.

Vorisek’s Backyard Bee Farm of Linesville displayed some of the old basket-like skep hives that were used in local honey production until the early 1900s. Various other relics of rural life were on display outside, including 1920s-era working engine powering a New Holland corn grinder and a 1912 Galloway powering a 1917 F.E. Meyer and Bros. water pump belonging to members of the Pioneer Steam and Gas Engine Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania.

Inside the museum were various other Crawford County historical artifacts, as well as food and craft demonstrations. Heritage Day coordinator Josh Sherretts has said the event is designed to highlight various aspects of rural life around the region.

To find out more about cultural events at the Baldwin - Reynolds House Museum, call 333-9882 or visit www.baldwinreynolds.org on the Web.

Ryan Smith can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at rsmith@meadvilletribune.com