I'm happy to report that my one hive I started with this winter appears to be thriving. Today was warm enough for the bees to be out and about my yard as I began cleaning the greenhouse.
I remember last year, the bear came in mid-April and tore apart my hives, so I decided to electrify my fence today. I wasn't sure I could given that there's still snow on the ground. But I raised the bottom string on my fence above the snow line and put the batteries into the charger and then tested it. It showed that it was charged.
I'm nervous about a bear because last evening, I saw a grey fox traveling through my back yard so feel like animals are coming out of hibernation. It's still a bit early but I really don't want to lose this hive or traumatize them.
My goal this season is to not traumatize my bees!
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Sunday, February 22, 2015
February 22 - the warmest day in weeks!
We had over 40 degree weather today so it was a great day to get out there and shovel off the roof...which I did. At least as much as I could reach until my energy ran out.
I also shoveled out the truck which had been snowed in now for weeks. But I'd like to get it started and first I needed to be able to get into it.
In checking on the bees, I was pleasantly surprised to see bees flying around!
In one hive. I wasn't sure if I had any left with the bitter cold we've had. But I did insulate them well and left them with food so I do hope they can make it just a few more months until spring. I will purchase pollen patties and I also have some of the leftover honey from last fall's extractions. I've frozen it and once I can get into the hive, I'll try slipping it in there. If they survived this long, though, I must have left them enough honey to last them.
I've been doing some reading and am not sure I want to feed them with sugar syrup any more. The article I read was promoting natural habitat ...making sure the bees have enough available pollen and making sure I have the right bees that will survive the climate they are in. That way, they will get stronger and hopefully birth new, strong bees by feeding them their natural food (pollen). Giving them imitation food, although they eat it and like it, doesn't help them build themselves up and acclimate to the environment. Or...something along those lines.
The other hive has animals, probably mice, living in it. Whatever it was knocked out the entrance reducer which I had taped in place. That's the hive that has no more bees so I'm not worried about it but as soon as possible, I need to clean it out. I will add bees in that hive in April or May.
I also shoveled out the truck which had been snowed in now for weeks. But I'd like to get it started and first I needed to be able to get into it.
In checking on the bees, I was pleasantly surprised to see bees flying around!
In one hive. I wasn't sure if I had any left with the bitter cold we've had. But I did insulate them well and left them with food so I do hope they can make it just a few more months until spring. I will purchase pollen patties and I also have some of the leftover honey from last fall's extractions. I've frozen it and once I can get into the hive, I'll try slipping it in there. If they survived this long, though, I must have left them enough honey to last them.
I've been doing some reading and am not sure I want to feed them with sugar syrup any more. The article I read was promoting natural habitat ...making sure the bees have enough available pollen and making sure I have the right bees that will survive the climate they are in. That way, they will get stronger and hopefully birth new, strong bees by feeding them their natural food (pollen). Giving them imitation food, although they eat it and like it, doesn't help them build themselves up and acclimate to the environment. Or...something along those lines.
The other hive has animals, probably mice, living in it. Whatever it was knocked out the entrance reducer which I had taped in place. That's the hive that has no more bees so I'm not worried about it but as soon as possible, I need to clean it out. I will add bees in that hive in April or May.
Monday, February 9, 2015
A neverending winter
February 09, 2015....bitter cold winter, and it's now been snowing for 48 hours. This is on top of snow several times last week. It's white all over. I took color photos today of my house and my beehives. They look like black and white images. Almost.
That much snow on the porch roof is a problem. I think I will need to get out there. I already have an ice dam causing issues at the back of the house. Happy days.
But the snow is at least insulating the bees. They are still getting by. It's been too cold to open up the hive these past few weeks so I need to leave them alone until the cold abates. And it looks like we have even colder weather on the way. And more snow.
It's not very attractive, granted, (nor clear but it was snowing hard outside) but the bees have hay on three sides, a plywood roof, Insulated with cedar shavings to catch any condensation, with food inside...and plenty of snow for insulation too. I think they should make it. At least the hive on the left. The one on the right doesn't seem to have any activity and hasn't for a few months. So I ended up buying another package of bees for the second hive.
 |
| A much clearer shot from the inside the woodshed |
That much snow on the porch roof is a problem. I think I will need to get out there. I already have an ice dam causing issues at the back of the house. Happy days.
But the snow is at least insulating the bees. They are still getting by. It's been too cold to open up the hive these past few weeks so I need to leave them alone until the cold abates. And it looks like we have even colder weather on the way. And more snow.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Hive still has bees
We are nearing the end of January with 10 days to go. I haven't seen any January thaw however for which I was waiting before looking in on the girls.
But if you remember the cedar pillows I put in an empty super to catch any condensation before it drips onto the bees and kills then...I was concerned it needed to be changed. We had a day that was over 40 degrees over the weekend so quickly changed the pillow, which was wet but not too wet yet.
While there, I put my ear down and hear them buzzing below. That was good enough for me. Back on the cover went and I secured the board over the top and tucked in some extra insulation I had added to one side of the hive to block wind during the really cold spell.
Getting the wax ready for candles
For the past year or two, I've been saving any beeswax that comes off the hive. I just put it into a freezer bag and freeze it until I'm ready to clean it and get it ready for use. A few weeks ago, I spent some time cleaning the wax and melting it down.
1) First I wash it in cool water (too hot and it'll melt). Here I'm just trying to remove the honey stuck to the wax.
2) After cleaning, I dried it off as best I could using paper towels or letting it just sit on the towels
3) Melt the wax. At this point, it will have lots of stuff mixed in include parts of bees, whole bees (only a few), pollen and even wood scrapings.
4) Once melted, strain it through paper towels to catch everything but the wax itself.
5) I read that empty milk cartons are good to use because after the wax dries, you can cut away the container. So I used an empty milk carton to try it. It worked great. Only I didn't need to cut it away. The wax, once dried, came out easily into a square that was 1-2 inches think. That's a good size for when you are ready to melt them later on. A half and half container would work too, giving you a narrower chuck of wax to work with for other projects.
6) Put the wax away until candle-making day.
Coming soon!
But if you remember the cedar pillows I put in an empty super to catch any condensation before it drips onto the bees and kills then...I was concerned it needed to be changed. We had a day that was over 40 degrees over the weekend so quickly changed the pillow, which was wet but not too wet yet.
While there, I put my ear down and hear them buzzing below. That was good enough for me. Back on the cover went and I secured the board over the top and tucked in some extra insulation I had added to one side of the hive to block wind during the really cold spell.
Getting the wax ready for candles
For the past year or two, I've been saving any beeswax that comes off the hive. I just put it into a freezer bag and freeze it until I'm ready to clean it and get it ready for use. A few weeks ago, I spent some time cleaning the wax and melting it down.
1) First I wash it in cool water (too hot and it'll melt). Here I'm just trying to remove the honey stuck to the wax.
2) After cleaning, I dried it off as best I could using paper towels or letting it just sit on the towels
3) Melt the wax. At this point, it will have lots of stuff mixed in include parts of bees, whole bees (only a few), pollen and even wood scrapings.
4) Once melted, strain it through paper towels to catch everything but the wax itself.
5) I read that empty milk cartons are good to use because after the wax dries, you can cut away the container. So I used an empty milk carton to try it. It worked great. Only I didn't need to cut it away. The wax, once dried, came out easily into a square that was 1-2 inches think. That's a good size for when you are ready to melt them later on. A half and half container would work too, giving you a narrower chuck of wax to work with for other projects.
6) Put the wax away until candle-making day.
Coming soon!
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
January 7, 2015 -- a cold, cold day ahead
It is COLD outside. Today, if you believe the weather experts, will be about the coldest here. But it's still above, not below, freezing. I guess that's some consolation. I was describing to a friend last night that my entire life in the winter revolves around wood.
Meanwhile, I worry about my bees. I have a chaise lounge cushion that was down cellar so I brought that to the hive yesterday to form a better wind block and additional insulation for the bees. No signs of bees yesterday. I'm sure they were in a cluster in the center of the hive, keeping warm.
The hive on the left was my strongest hive and as of last week when I got stung, they were pretty feisty so I'm hoping they survive this cold spell. The second hive, I think, took a beating in the bear attack last July. I watched the hive during the late summer into fall and it seemed to have less and less activity. I suspected they lost their queen.
I looked into the hive on a warm day a few weeks ago and saw no activity. Perhaps there were bees down below but I couldn't hear anything either. I suspect that hive is empty now.
So what's my plan?
I'm going to try not to buy bees this year. Last year was expensive with new bees, new fence and even some new equipment. This year, IF my one hive survives, I'll feed them as early as I can, even this winter, and try to make it a strong hive quickly. (Of course that's only my goal!)
Then I will divide that hive into a second hive and probably buying a queen for the second hive. If I were going to buy bees, now is the time to get them ordered. If I end up losing both my hives this winter, I'll have to scramble in the spring hoping to find bees at that late date.
- Get up and build a fire at 6AM using wood split and brought onto the porch ready for morning
- Build fire
- Order wood for next year
- Stack new wood out of the way of this year's wood supply during any free time in the day
- Split the wood for tonight
- Load tonight's wood into wheelbarrel and bring it onto the porch
- Midday, build tonight's fire
- With now empty wheel barrel get the morning's firewood
- Back to the woodshed
- Split another load
- Gather whatever kindling and birch bark is available
- Put it on the porch for the morning fire
- Start evening fire
- Try to make room for new wood in woodhouse so I don't have to stack and move it more than once
Meanwhile, I worry about my bees. I have a chaise lounge cushion that was down cellar so I brought that to the hive yesterday to form a better wind block and additional insulation for the bees. No signs of bees yesterday. I'm sure they were in a cluster in the center of the hive, keeping warm.
The hive on the left was my strongest hive and as of last week when I got stung, they were pretty feisty so I'm hoping they survive this cold spell. The second hive, I think, took a beating in the bear attack last July. I watched the hive during the late summer into fall and it seemed to have less and less activity. I suspected they lost their queen.
I looked into the hive on a warm day a few weeks ago and saw no activity. Perhaps there were bees down below but I couldn't hear anything either. I suspect that hive is empty now.
So what's my plan?
I'm going to try not to buy bees this year. Last year was expensive with new bees, new fence and even some new equipment. This year, IF my one hive survives, I'll feed them as early as I can, even this winter, and try to make it a strong hive quickly. (Of course that's only my goal!)
Then I will divide that hive into a second hive and probably buying a queen for the second hive. If I were going to buy bees, now is the time to get them ordered. If I end up losing both my hives this winter, I'll have to scramble in the spring hoping to find bees at that late date.
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
My get through the winter list of things to do
I like to write in this blog even though I've been a slacker lately. It's a good outlet to just put my thoughts down on things that interest me. And since other than family and friends, nature is what interests me, and I don't really like cold, I need to figure out what to do to keep me interested and happy in the winter months.
Here are some things I hope to do this winter.
Secondly, I was pleasantly surprised to find a few Blog comments the other day...they were sent a year or so ago...but they somehow landed in my google account. It was so gratifying to hear that this blog had inspired a woman to not mow as much lawn but instead keep or plant low-growing plants instead. YES! That's what it's all about.
A sharing of knowledge or lack thereof! Keep the comments coming in. They're great!
Here are some things I hope to do this winter.
- Make candles from the beeswax I've saved
- paint some outdoor chairs that are rusting
- pick up a needlepoint of a starfish and complete it so I can use as a pillow or wall decoration in Maine
- Ride 5 miles on my exercise bike at least 4 times a week
- Go ice skating
- Curl up and read good books with a hot drink beside me
- Spend hours with seed catalogs getting ready for spring!
- Clean the greenhouse and wash the seed trays
- Use scrap wood to make structures and/or planters for the garden
Secondly, I was pleasantly surprised to find a few Blog comments the other day...they were sent a year or so ago...but they somehow landed in my google account. It was so gratifying to hear that this blog had inspired a woman to not mow as much lawn but instead keep or plant low-growing plants instead. YES! That's what it's all about.
A sharing of knowledge or lack thereof! Keep the comments coming in. They're great!
Thanksgiving storm
We'll see if it happens, but an 8-12-inch snow storm is expected starting tomorrow.
I'm thankful, of course, for my family and friends but my bee-related thanks are for these things.
I'm thankful, of course, for my family and friends but my bee-related thanks are for these things.
- I came home from summering in Maine 6 weeks ago to enable me to get some stuff done before snow came...which ended up coming very early so glad I did it in time.
- Then before the cold snap about 10 days ago, just before, I wrapped my hives in roofing paper and added bales of hay around 3 sides...again, whew..I just made it.
- I also added the cedar filled pillows that, hopefully, with fingers crossed, will take care of the moisture in the hive. I added the pillows to a super with a screen stapled to the bottom so bees can't get to it. I made two pillows per hive so that as one pillow gets wet from condensation dripping down, I will swap out the wet for the dry pillow. I swapped out the pillows just before the storm but they weren't too wet yet...again, I think that's a good thing.
- I'm thankful I closed up the entrance, leaving just about a 1 inch opening. Last year, I forgot. This is to keep cold out out of the hive as much as possible, while leaving a small opening for bees to get out as they need to (one note on that...I should have a one-inch hole somewhere near the top of of the top deep hive so that, if snow accumulates, they have another opening...also just for ventilation.) I haven't done that yet until I have an empty deep hive. I can't very well do it with bees inside. I've yet to see an explanation on how others do that. I'm thankful I remembered this detail this year.
- I have a bee food source in patty form that I made a year or so ago. So far, the bees haven't touched it in either hive. I hope it's because they have plenty of honey so don't have to resort to that.
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