May

Wow! I have not posted ever since I wrote all those things in April I was going to do next. Well I did and I am and there's more to do. So that's what happens in May. There's some cool vids of the new bees (mason and honey) being installed coming next. Apples, peach, strawberries, comfrey, rhubarb, horseradish, lavender and on and on are all in the ground. More to get there, more to sow, honey...

Episode-236- 7 Essential Supplies For Spring Beekeping

2014 is my fourth beekeeping season. Right now the top bar hive seems like it will make it into spring no problem. However, getting them out of spring will be the challenge. It's been a long much too long winter and the bees will need to work hard in between the early rains to gather pollen, nectar, build and raise brood and support themselves. There will also be another colony of honey bees to...

Episode-234- Insulate The Top Bar Hive For Winter

As winter drags on through month four it seemed like a good idea to reflect on how I prepped the top bar hive back in October. In the warmer fall weather it was easy to avoid tasks such as this one but experience and knowledge of Mother Nature;s tendencies prevented me from being lazy. I am glad I took the steps to insulate this hive because it has been a rough winter for this area. The other...

Honey Bees Get Some Sun Before Snow

January 20, 2014 outside the thrive hive top bar hive and there is a lot of activitiy. The temperature went up to 12 degrees Celcius (54 F) just ahead of another snow storm coming our way. This one looks like a keeper although the ice from last December lasted a week after the snow melted. The busy bees are a great sign as they are getting some fresh air before tis too late. Newbees are taking...

January

As the snow falls on this secondary of January 2014 I must get off my tail and firm up plans for spring. It may seem like a far way off but in just four weeks I will have to start seeds if I wish for a productive crop starting with green onions and parsley. Then it won't be long before tomatoes and peppers and lots of other stuff are growing under lights in the green room. Before that and more...

Episode-227- Part 2 Check The Top Bar Hive Before Winter

Here is part 2 of the November 2nd pre-winter check of the top bar hive. In this video you will see more of the honey stores these bees have prepared for the long cold winter. A good clean up job of old unused comb and the addition of fondant will help these bees through the winter. At least that's the plan. We'll see how it goes. The update I provided on December 22 describes what I saw and did...

December

December has just begun and we were greeted unusually warm weather for then first few days but that quickly changed to cold rain with an impending ice storm on the way. I want to see how the bees are doing. I haven't seen any in several weeks and I hope that just indicates they are tucked away and clustered for the winter. The Do Not Disturb sign is posted and I must respect that. But that is...

Honey Bees Gathering At The Chamomile

I was fortunate enough to catch these bees hard at work getting ready for a cold weather front to hit our area. All that's left this year is the top bar hive which I have affectionately referred to as the thrive hive. However, things have been challenging for it lately but the battle with Varroa Destructor and small hive beetles seems to have waned and the bees are frisky, protective and well...