I attended a beginning beekeeper summer check-in class in mid-June, and terms like dearth, robbing, and right sizing were explained. At the time, I didn’t realize how quickly I would experience all these things! Today’s post is about dearth, and the importance of feeding a new colony, something I kind of learned the hard way!
Tag Archives: Save the bees
The Secret Lives of Bees : How Honey Gets Made
I know it’s been awhile since I wrote about my bees, and although this post shares info about bees, it’s not about my bees. But don’t let that stop you from reading. I promise the link to the article I’m sharing is worth a read!
Thankfully my bees are doing great! I quickly checked on and fed them over the weekend. I was very excited to see how much comb they’ve built and they continue to grow. The Verbena hive already has lots of honey stored for the winter! The Cosmo hive is younger so they have some catching up to do!
I’ve had less time to write because I’ve been working as a volunteer analyst with LymeLight Foundation, and that project continues to need my full attention until the end of this week. I’m grateful to be able to assist a group that gives kids grants for treatment.
Here’s the post I mentioned from Serious Eats on how honey gets made. I hope you enjoy the information and pictures as much as I did. Next week, I will have a post about my bees!
Hive Check with Pictures of Lorde!
Last Sunday I finally got the chance check my hive! This was my first time opening it since I removed the top feeder, and I really didn’t check much that time. I’ve been reading more about beekeeping, and one book recommended not disturbing the hive for more than ten minutes. Umm, that’s not much time for this newbee!
My goal for this hive check was to look for Lorde, make sure there weren’t any ants in the hive, check the brood, look for eggs, see how much comb they’d built, and feed them. Over all, things went well. My skills working with the hive are improving…I only killed two bees this time! Injuring, and killing bees is part of being a new beekeeper, at least that what the book said! I have to move much slower than I realized when removing, and replacing the hive boxes. Those boxes are already heavy, and they aren’t even full of honey!
There was lots going on in the hive, and thankfully there were no ants, or mites! I was surprised that very few bees had moved up to the top box, it was almost empty. I saw some eggs, and some capped brood. Capped brood have larvae in them, and soon new bees will hatch. There was also a little bit of honey, and possibly the start of a queen cell. I’m not really sure if that’s what it was. Next time I check the hive I’ll see if it’s still there.
Here’s pictures of the process, enjoy!
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Honeychick Homestead 