Hello from Pennsylvania

[Dawn_SD]

@MaggieL

do you make the sponges yourself? If so, do you use the method described in Randy Oliver’s 2017 paper

I do, and I use the materials and methods described in his more recent posting:

Extended-Release Oxalic Acid Progress Report #5 - 2019 - Scientific Beekeeping

I have summarized the method I actually use here:

Bees left hive. Steps to take before adding new hive

If you want to use the sponges, I have a couple of suggestions. I bought the glycerine and sponges needed for it from Amazon and the Oxalic Acid from Home Depot (Savogran Wood Bleach is high purity OA and much cheaper than beekeeping suppliers OA). I cut the sponges in half to make it easier to position them in the hive Randy tells you to dissolve the OA in the glycerine in a small saucepan over low heat. As you don’t want the solution to get above 70°C, I didn’t do that. I used a kitchen sca…

These are the sponges:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07BFBYC9Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This is the glycerine:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004C7MTLA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The oxalic acid is Savogran Wood Bleach from Home Depot. Amazon has it too, but it costs a bit more. It is over 99% pure and is perfectly safe to use for this method.

@MaggieL

do you feel comfortable harvesting your honey during the time the sponge is present?

Randy Oliver is working with the EPA to certify the method as safe to use with a super on. Initial results show no major effect on honey composition (oxalic acid is naturally present in most honey anyway). I am happy to leave the sponges in my hives with super on.