tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979426466891495702.post1504188251305762193..comments2022-03-24T22:43:54.225-07:00Comments on I'm In The Garden Today: Apiary UpdateJoanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03931005791882603935noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979426466891495702.post-58993792810588676602010-05-02T15:43:49.822-07:002010-05-02T15:43:49.822-07:00Hi Shari! I understand it takes time to get back i...Hi Shari! I understand it takes time to get back into the swing of things after being away.<br /><br />There are a few ways to get bees, but the two most common are...the easiest way is to get your equipment and hive ready, then buy a package of bees from breeders to install in your equipment. You can order a 'package' of bees, to be shipped (UPS, USPS) or pick them up if you live near the breeder. Or bee clubs order large quantities of packages based on club members orders, and you would pick them up at a central local location. A 'package' is a (ventilated, shoebox size) screened box of bees, usually 3 lbs of bees, containing 10,000-15,000 bees, a queen and a can of syrup for them to eat during transit. Or you can try/hope to catch a swarm (a natural division of an over crowded hive) using a bait hive of some sort...there are many, and then take them to your apiary. I put up a bait hive in my back yard every year but haven't caught any yet. If I did catch a swarm and I didn't want another hive I could sell or give them to another beekeeper. Swarms are safe in our cooler climes but I read in the southern states there is too much chance they could be Africanized so baiting is not practiced there.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03931005791882603935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979426466891495702.post-86092439143629837732010-05-01T16:14:48.493-07:002010-05-01T16:14:48.493-07:00Hi Joan! So sorry for the delay on blog reading ye...Hi Joan! So sorry for the delay on blog reading yet again! :) I seem to get a bit more behind every day! <br /><br />I had NO idea that bees produced honey to nourish themselve! <br /><br />Just curious, when you first set up your hive, do you "buy" bees somewhere, or is it kind of a "if you build it, they will come" scenario? <br /><br />Loved this post!Shari B. (FitFeat)http://fitfeat.com/blognoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979426466891495702.post-52768364473539186052010-04-28T08:52:04.354-07:002010-04-28T08:52:04.354-07:00I don't know when we are going to start. Hubs...I don't know when we are going to start. Hubs is the bee keeper, but I am his assistant.<br /><br />between you and him i am learning so much!<br /><br />All I know is that he is for sure on board...but like things in our life..<br /><br />in due time.<br />(like my pool)<br /><br />did I mention i have an AVO tree!! haha<br /><br />that was another "some day" <br />and here it is!<br /><br />i'm off to check out your other bee bloggers! <br />have a great day!Cindyhttp://www.mariposagirl.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979426466891495702.post-6829750491718509032010-04-27T16:15:31.723-07:002010-04-27T16:15:31.723-07:00Hi Cindy!
I'm so excited you are getting bees...Hi Cindy! <br />I'm so excited you are getting bees! And glad you are no longer afraid of them. You may want to expand your education by way of the two beekeeping blogs mentioned in my righthand sidebar. One is in San Francisco and the other in UK. The one in UK had great pix and the UK jargon is different than ours, and their hives are not our standard Langstroth size/shape. It's fun to see what other beekeepers encounter.<br /><br />I have one hive, consisting of 5 boxes now. It will get taller as more honey comes in. I use 'westerns' which are usually called supers. They are 6 5/8" and easier for me to lift when full of honey than the standard 'deep' which you'll likely have if hubs has a good back. A hive of 4 westerns will be approx equivalent to 2 deeps.<br /><br />I do melt down wax when I have it and I've sold some to a massage therapist who also makes her own salves etc. I considered making candles but it's more work than I'm interested in.<br /><br />As for pollen, to collect it you put a pollen trap in front of the entrance for a day or so then remove it for a week or so and so forth so (not sure of the time amounts) as not to take too much from them...I've not tried it yet. I do believe in the health benefits of it tho and buy it periodically. I may try it some day.<br /><br />If you have Dadant or Mann Lake catalogs laying around the house they are great for learning the jargon!<br /><br />When will you get your bees? April is bee arrival/installation month up here.Joanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03931005791882603935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-979426466891495702.post-3872830983199425432010-04-27T14:48:50.471-07:002010-04-27T14:48:50.471-07:00LOVE THIS
between you and my husband I am getting ...LOVE THIS<br />between you and my husband I am getting a feel for the jargon!<br /><br />we are pretty sure we know where we are going to put our "apiary" HA look at me!!!<br /><br />I love how you are trying to balance what you take and keeping them happy and healthy.<br /><br />I was always fearful of bees growing up...and now I ADORE THEM<br /><br />so so vital to the health of our plants, and food.<br /><br />will you ever keep the wax for wax?<br /><br />just curious. also, if your hive ever gets, not sure the word...full..can you use pollen too? <br /><br />how many hives or boxes do you have?<br /> we are planning on having just one box.<br />thanks for educating us on bees!Cindyhttp://www.mariposagirl.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com