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Sunshine Hive inspection…
On Tuesday, Linda and I inspected the Sunshine Hive to assess population levels, honey and brood. The hive had a good population, more honey frames than expected, and slightly low brood levels. The bees’ temperament seemed normal, with no signs of being queenless. We also captured new comb growth in pictures.
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Transferring the bees from Langstroth frames to Layens…
The post describes setting up a new beehive, converting frames, and observing bee behavior near the apiary. After bringing the nuc to the apiary and setting it next to the hive, frames were prepared using a table saw. The process involved moving frames, cutting and attaching pieces, and adding a frame feeder to help the…
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There’s always Plan B, err make that Plan C…
The post emphasizes the importance of planning, drawing from experiences in the military and event management. It then discusses plans for beekeeping, weighing the pros and cons of different approaches. Ultimately, it details the process of obtaining bees from a local supplier, highlighting the journey and the Air Force veteran who provided the bees.
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Field Trip!
In November 2022, after family time, I visited my cousin in south Missouri to observe and help with fall hive inspection. She recommended protective gear, and we inspected Langstroth and horizontal hives, handling bees for the first time. We treated the hives for mites, collected honey, and I got stung. It was a valuable experience.
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Types of Beekeeping…
The content discusses different beekeeping philosophies, focusing on the Langstroth and Layens methods used in the United States. The Langstroth method, pioneered by Reverend L. L. Langstroth, introduced movable frames, leading to easier hive management but requiring heavy lifting. On the other hand, the Layens method emphasizes sustainable beekeeping with minimal management and lower weight…
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Bee’s It Is…
The writer initially felt unprepared for beekeeping but highlighted their advantage of having a Doctorate in a practice-based discipline. They are committed to meaningful research, observation, and drawing conclusions to move forward. While reading an article on seasonal apiary management, they encountered new concepts such as feeding bees sugar water, nucs, honey supers, and brood…