community in Vermont
Honey bee forage in South Shaftsbury, Vermont
Estimated forage here is better than about 85% of sites in Vermont. Against other Vermont sites it stands out most in spring (94th percentile) and lowest in summer (47th). Biggest nearby bee crops: alfalfa (nearest 0.2 mi SW, grown 3 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 0.4 mi N).
When is the honey flow in South Shaftsbury?
- First forage: Mar 1 (early trees (maple, willow, poplar))
- Main flow: Apr 16 to Jun 30, peaking late May (early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of South Shaftsbury, 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 May 15.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): clovers: white, alsike and red, summer-flowering shrubs, summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), 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, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard); extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Whole season (March to November): early trees (maple, willow, poplar), summer-flowering trees (locust, linden), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; 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 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.2 mi SW, blooms late Jun – early Sep (grown 3 of the last 5 years)
- Corn: about 8 acres in a typical year, nearest 0.4 mi N, blooms late Jul – late Aug (grown 5 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 South Shaftsbury
Mostly: Laurentian-Acadian Northern Hardwoods Forest; Laurentian-Acadian Pine-Hemlock-Hardwood Forest; Eastern Cool Temperate Pasture and Hayland.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.14 mi NW; pond, lake or river 0.26 mi NW.
How South Shaftsbury ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 66th | 81st | 63rd | 51st |
| Vermont | 85th | 94th | 47th | 82nd |
| Northeastern Highlands | 91st | 96th | 61st | 89th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 79% 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 South Shaftsbury: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
North Bennington 3 mi · Old Bennington 4 mi · Bennington 5 mi · Arlington 9 mi · Pownal Center 10 mi · North Pownal 10 mi
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 South Shaftsbury (42.9406, -73.1946); 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.