community in Pennsylvania
Honey bee forage in Norvelt, Pennsylvania
Estimated forage here is better than about 95% of sites in Pennsylvania. Against other Pennsylvania sites it stands out most in spring (95th percentile) and lowest in fall (78th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.6 mi SE, grown 3 of the last 5 years); soybeans (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.2 mi W, grown 3 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Norvelt?
- First forage: Mar 1 (dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 1 to Jul 31, peaking early May (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa)
- Fall flow: Aug 16 to Aug 31 (clovers: white, alsike and red, alfalfa, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Norvelt, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Apr 29.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, early trees (maple, willow, poplar), roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): alfalfa, clovers: white, alsike and red, soybeans, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, alfalfa, soybeans; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 28 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.6 mi SE, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Soybeans: about 30 acres in a typical year, nearest 1 mi N, blooms early Jun – late Aug (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 12 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi S, blooms early Jul – late Jul (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Norvelt
Mostly: Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland; Northern & Central Native Ruderal Forest; South-Central Interior Mesophytic Forest.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.35 mi SW; creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.4 mi SW.
How Norvelt ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 81st | 88th | 77th | 58th |
| Pennsylvania | 95th | 95th | 85th | 78th |
| Western Allegheny Plateau | 98th | 46th | 96th | 94th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 59% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Norvelt: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Calumet 1 mi · Mammoth 2 mi · Mount Pleasant 4 mi · Youngwood 5 mi · Bear Rocks 6 mi · South Greensburg 6 mi
All towns in Pennsylvania · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Norvelt (40.205, -79.497); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.