Recently I wrote a short blog article about Presents to give a Beekeeper and in that piece I wrote a small section about beekeeping books I would recommend. Though I had only received it a few days previously, an excellent beekeeping book review in the BBKA news and my initial impressions as I felt it and looked through it, meant that it had to be included in my recommendations for great books for beekeepers.
As with other Beekeeping Book Reviews let me just give you the fundamentals of this book. It is written by a passionate beekeeper and professional photographer, David Wootton. You can find his Photography website here. Therefore, as you can imagine being a photographer, the images throughout this 146 page book are by far the best photos you will see in a Beekeeping Book.In fact, the images throughout this beekeeping book review have been reproduced with David’s permission so I hope you like them. Read the rest of this entry »
It is that time of year again and yesterday my wife and I put up the Christmas Tree and decorations what a fabulous time of year. We have just been to Winter Wonderland and seen beekeeping stalls over there and so that has been my inspiration! It again got me thinking about what gifts you could buy a Beekeeper. Having looked around there seems so many different ideas that I felt I had to write a small blog about it. Therefore here are my ideas for beekeeping gifts this Christmas:Read the rest of this entry »
I often say that it would take a lot to suggest to anyone that I am the fountain of all knowledge when it comes to beekeeping but I say that I am the World’s leading expert at being a beginner. Therefore I thought I would write a small piece for all your potential beekeepers out there who maybe considering starting to keep bees next year.
What exactly do you need to start keeping bees? There is quite a lot of discrepancy when you read all the books on starting to keep bees and what equipment you need but, in reality, there is a basic set up and then there is a slightly more comprehensive suggestion. Let me start with the basic set up. Read the rest of this entry »
I think it is pretty amazing that this national show has been going for the last 80 years. When you think about it, the first must have been back in 1931 if my Maths is correct. I wonder what it was like back then and how it has changed over the years?
To answer my own question however, a resounding YES. It almost feels like an institution which I think is both a good and bad thing. It is very traditional in its approach and there are some very serious looking people parading around in laboratory coats not to mention the countless people with their membership lapels, akin to seeing people who have been at the races for the day. However, I quite like all of this tradition being a slight traditionalist and I think it adds an aura of respectability about the place. Something that can be lost elsewhere and has its own merits. I will say it was in complete contrast to The London Honey Show a few weeks ago but that can only be a good thing. Different cities, different audiences, different opinions, all good in my mind.
Since the start of this blog I have always saught to question every element of beekeeping. It does seem that there are plenty of ways to do the same
Which Beehive should I pick?
job and equally there are many opinions about which way is the right way. This is part of the reason that, when I started beekeeping I decided to trial different beehives.
For example read my comparison between a National Beehive and an Omlet Beehaus. Well I have decided to expand my apairy and, in doing so, am going to expand my variations of hives. I have floated the idea around several beekeepers to rather surprising reactions generally looking at me rather strangely as if to say “are you alright?” or “is one type of hive not enough?”
Perhaps the concert wasn’t a great idea. Perhaps the copious amounts of the new beer from Fullers (Honey Dew; I felt it was rather apt when I should have been revising to have a few more than usual to see if it would help) and perhaps the 2am finish was also not the best preparation for my first beekeeping exam.
Waking up with a foggy head I had to launch straight into my 2 year old’s football session followed by lunch at his favourite cafe feeding him and my youngest. To that point I still hadn’t managed to do any preparation for the Beekeeping exam to be taken at 2.30pm. I was beginning to get a little bit concerned especially considering the comments from the last blog about advice on taking your beekeeping exams. Read the rest of this entry »
I count myself very lucky as recently I got the opportunity to give Charlie Dimmock a crash course in becoming a beekeeper and filmed it all for a DVD. It was great fun and a remarkable amount was covered in a short time but given the time of year we managed to cover, swarming, honey extraction, the history of beekeeping, diseases, managing a hive, equipment you may need to become a beekeeper and, quite simply, the how much fun it is to keep them!
Some pictures are below of the filmcrew who were a great bunch so my thanks to Jennie, Mat, Ryan, Steve, Camila and Hugo for a great time.
Hope I didn’t put her off beekeeping but the DVD is out at the end of the summer should any of you want to buy a copy of it.
[google1] I read this fantastic guest blog by Amy Leigh, a newbie beekeeper from San Diego, and felt I needed to share it with everyone. Amy’s blog can be found on her Benefits of Honey blog
We’ve come up with a list of 15 beekeeping innovations throughout history that has developed the industry to what it is today.
Let us know what you think and please feel free to add some more onto the bottom of the list………..
[google1] I always have a nightmare with propolis (aptly named bee glue which is a substance made by bees from the sap of trees) and it gets everywhere but especially on the gloves. In the interests of preventing a transfer of disease and also to keep everything look clean, it is best to try to get the propolis off the beekeeping gloves.
It has been so hectic lately that I have simply not had time to put any blogs together to discuss my stings, my new suits, my battles with the inevitable swarms and the fantastic weather we have been having. Therefore I thought I would play a little bit of catch up with my latest challenges dealing with a Spring honey extraction.
There was such a strong honey flow that I have almost broken several vertebrae lifting various supers off my hives (though I have to say the Omlet hives split supers have been a joy to deal with). I total I would say I have about 3 supers to extract. Read the rest of this entry »
beekeeping books I would recommend. Though I had only received it a few days previously, an excellent beekeeping book review in the BBKA news and my initial impressions as I felt it and looked through it, meant that it had to be included in my recommendations for great books for beekeepers.
what a fabulous time of year. We have just been to 
