about smokers

one of the most difficult things that a beekeeper must master is how to get a smoker working really well. it's really quite an art. we use three materials in the smoker as you see in the photo above.  first is pine spills, followed by sumac blossoms, and good old oak leaves. the key is to start a fire low down in the smoker and then stuff it with your flammable materials, but not too much, as to suffocate the flame. it really takes quite the touch. when you get it going well, the smoker will last the whole time that you are in the hives. if you don't get it going well, you will be relighting the smoker over and over again. what a pain!  check out the video of lawrence getting one going!