[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………..
There is a lot of talk out there about what is the best beehive for you to use and so I thought I would summarise my findings. Being a beginner I thought it would be useful as I simply do not have any prejudice or bias to any sort of hive and therefore, hopefully I would give each a fair trial!
Most of my thoughts you will find in the following videos but I thought I would just summarise the differences between the modern and often criticised Omlet Beehaus and the traditional and romantic National Hive. The latter is the hive most used in the UK and has a huge following, though I did go a little bit off piste and opted for a gabled roof! Anyway here are my positives and negatives of each.
Good god, I am not sure I can recommend making frames at 6am in the morning. Usually I just about getting away with digging holes or watering at this time of the morning as little can really go wrong. Using a small hammer is certainly not the best thing to be doing before the early morning coffee and my thumbs certainly knew about it.
This weekend feels like quite an important weekend for my beekeeping career. Today was to be the day that I introduced my girls to their new home and tomorrow will be the day that I introduce my traditional hive to a open mesh floor and may have to add a super on top as well. Exciting times. Anyway lets start with the introduction of the hive first.
I feel quite fortunate being able to compare a traditional hive against a beehaus as I think it will be really interesting, especially from a beginners perspective. One thing is for sure though, even despite any instructions the beehaus wins in the construction stakes. Read the rest of this entry »
So it has arrived. I felt a little bit like a child on Christmas morning though I was waiting for the deliveryman rather than Father Christmas……however, it was in fact it was a delivery lady – now you don’t see many of them – and not only that she was Polish. I was in shock. Anyway, It arrived at about 11am and immediately I went out to have a look. It arrived in three boxes and so I went and got a knife and got stuck in…… Read the rest of this entry »
So everything seems to be coming together nicely. My Beehaus is on its way from Omlet and my nucleus of bees are equally on almost ready. Fortunately there has been a little delay in the nucleus and so hopefully I will have the new hive set up in time for their arrival. Read the rest of this entry »
I had a lovely day with the family today with Sebastian meeting up with all his mates and having a whale of a time just larking about. Amazing the transition in just 20 months and now seeing the little characters coming out and long term friendships settling in. Even more amazing was the moment that Sebastian walked up to Jo, bottom lip out and quivering. “Bee” was the word being uttered as his little eyes started to well up a little. Immediately we started to see what the matter was by stripping him off and checking he was okay (just thinking that he was trying to learn the alphabet really). As we took off his sleeve, sure enough a little bumble bee just flew out, completely unharmed. Sebastian very quickly started smiling again and shouting “bee” at the top of his voice. After a little check no stings were discovered and we all concluded that the bee was playing hide and seek for a little while up Sebastian’s arm. Read the rest of this entry »
People have many traits that they take from their parents. I am fortunate to be pretty laid back, quite decisive and a relatively good communicator (or so I am told) however, one of my many faults is impatience. Today was one of those days when I have paid for my own impatience. Read the rest of this entry »
I have just finished the practical session today with my local association and I have to say it was the best session yet. We discovered our new queen which was great to see. It was good to see one quite clearly different to the rest of the bees with her pointed abdomen. It has given me the confidence that I should also be able to spot one relatively easily (I say that now but just wait till I get my own bees!)
There were also several other points of note this week; almost everyone else has got their bees except me, I am struggling to think about holding a bee and I have lined myself up for a swarm. Read the rest of this entry »
needed to share it with everyone. Amy’s blog can be found on her Benefits of Honey blog
