Bees At Work

June 6, 2011

This is my bee keeper at work. We have roof tiles on top of our hive box just to prevent the wind (Tehachapi is known for it's wind) from blowing the tops off the hives. We always try to work with the bees at dusk. They return to the hive for the night and settle in - they also seem to be calmer. The last time Mr. Bee Keeper worked with them, he was stung twice. He decided to "suit up" and also had his smoker at the ready.

Upon opening the hive box, there were some dead bees on the top of the frames (not sure why?). Bees are very clean and will actually haul the dead bodies out and through the opening, dropping them to the ground.

Pulling out the frame, we were quite excited at all the comb the bees have "drawn" on this frame. This first box, known as the brooder box is almost completely built up. In the next couple of days we will add the next level box known as the "super". The super box is where the bees will continue to make honey, which will be their supply for the winter. Depending on their activity and success - if this second box is completed, we will add a third "super" box which will be where they will make honey which is above their needs for winter and which we will (hopefully) be able to harvest.

19 March 2011

"Of Sacred Bees, the Muses' Birds" Charles Butler

-Bees, beehives, honey bees, queen bees, wax, honey - if you care to follow this adventure with me. You read that right, just picked up the beginnings of two bee hives. If you've paid attention to the "bee" news in the last few years - you might have read about the threat to honey bee colonies that are dying due to a mysterious bacteria. Sometimes called, "colony collapse" - it has decimated bees across this country. Many people have taken up the challenge to start hives - thus genetically strengthening the bee population. On the plus side, your hive will produce honey for you as well as bee pollen, propolis, and beeswax (candles). All we need is to provide them a warm, safe place to live with access to water.

Picked up our bee hive boxes today along with a bee suit, hat, veil, gloves, smoker etc. As we get further along we will go through all of these one by one.

We have ordered our first two "starter" colonies, due for pick up in late April, early May. Stay tuned!