Monday 12 March 2012

Bees Knees!

Glancing down someone else's blog-roll column the other day I noticed the familiar photo of some borage with a couple of bees hanging of off of it. Under this tiny photo were the words 'last post 7 months ago'! (Disgraceful. Ed.)

And yet this blog has managed to accumulate (up to) 30 followers! Incredible really, but it just goes to show how many of you courageous folk are, or might be, interested in keeping some of these little chaps.

Firstly an explanation is in order (no shit! Ed.)

Being a tight arse, I decided that this wing to the allotment-smallholding plot would be done on the cheap. Ok, I'd forked out for a decent suit (bloody brilliant actually) and the rest of the stuff like smokers, tools, (white wellies ROFL Ed.), but I built my own hives and was due to take delivery of some of my neighbours bees last year, for free.

Well. I had some health crap kicking off, the guy (G.) with the bees had his own business trauma to deal with, and before I knew it, it was winter and no bees. After the dust had settled it was cold and wet. Not a good time to be prising off lids and poking around in a bee hive. Gotta keep them warm and quiet over winter.

Here I am now though, in March, and (f**k me Ed.) I have taken delivery of my very first colony of honey bees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just like that!

Miracle (with trees...)
G. had a few hives over the track from me. All had over-wintered pretty well. The sun was shining on Sunday and on went the bee suit and off went the lids. The air was already busy with bees collecting sticky stuff from heaven knows where, and the first hive we opened (my hive - hehe) was absolutely brimming with bees and loads of new brood and stores.

This particular hive had no super on it. It was just a brood box that had a feeder on top of it over winter. So the deep brood frames (all of this will be explained to those with even less knowledge than I have about this stuff) were full of stores and new brood waiting to hatch. Amazing. And wonderful to see these industrious creatures already banging away at collecting food. Awesome.

New apiary - with new apple trees!
We moved the hive last night.

There's a rule with moving bee hives. Moving up to 2 feet at a time is ok. Or over 3 miles is ok. But in between is a no-no. Bees have some kind of sophisticated map of the location of their hive. They use key geographical markers as waypoints in getting back to base like a tree or a shed or anything that has a bearing on getting back safe and laden with nectar, often after a foraging trip miles away from the hive. Move the hive too far and the bees will just go back to were the hive 'used' to be and, well, expire I suppose.

Now this hive was moved more than 2 feet and considerably less than a mile so some of the older bees will have made thier way back to where the hive used to be. But G. placed another hive in its place so hopefully they have gone in there and started another colony. The remaining bees (the younger ones that have not yet left my hive or were about to) have been in and out of their new home all day gathering resources. I watched 'em. I could have sat there and watched 'em all day. One landed on my hand and said hello to his new Dad.

This is going to be the start of a wonderful relationship.

Tomorrow I will start and get my brand-spanking new bee hive set up and begin transferring the bee-laden frames over to that. G. can have his old hive back and then - I'm in business!

More soon...

23 comments:

  1. That's really exciting - I mean it. I am putting off keeping bees until I die. (can I ask you to get rid of your word-verification? Pretty please?)

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    1. Done! (The word verification, not your death...)

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  2. Enjoyed that post, Chris. Didn't know that you had to place the hive either two feet or three miles apart. I think it's good you make your own hives, (and chicken coops) - highly impressed. Was a brilliant day here Sunday. Loads of bees around everywhere.

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    1. Felt like a piping hot Summer's day here Molly. I even got a sun-tan. If it carries on like this I might even get my legs out!

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    2. If you get anything else out, post a photo for John's sake.

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    3. Not with all those bees flying about. There are Viagra pills for for that sort of thing (not required - yet...)

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  3. I'm living vicariously through you Chris. So don't leave anything out in your new experience of being a bee steward. (And I would so be sitting out watching my bees, too.)

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    1. I will endeavour to record everything for you Janet. I must admit I had almost given up hope of ever getting them. Now they have arrived they have caught me on the hop and I'm having to scramble!

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  4. Well alrighty then I am all ears! Really wanting to get some bees umm and boxes, just know so very little about the whole thing I keep putting it off! Info please lots and lots of info nothing is to simple for those like me, who know nadda about this!

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    1. It's a steep learning curve for me too Tex. I've never been one for 'clubs' and such so I'm glad I have an experienced bee keeper (G.) to help me out. Otherwise I wouldn't have a clue.

      When I get a minute I'll post some plans for the (ahem) 'boxes' so you can make some of your own if you want.

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  5. I remember Hugh Fearnley-Thing talking above hive moving. Interesting.

    I shall be reading about your exploits with great interest. I've always wanted to keep bees myself, but shall now live the dream through your page (if that's OK).

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    1. Beekeepers do move hives, often to pollinate crops, but they are moved over that magical distance threshold on the backs of huge trucks!

      If an idiot like me can manage to do this Cro, I'm sure a capable fellow like you would walk it. In fact a few of the guys down on the plots have seen my recent activity re the bees and have decided to get some of their own.

      The more the merrier I say.

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  6. I am so glad you got your bees! I hope you post regular about them because I really want to do this myself and I can use you as my go to man!

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    1. No problem being your 'go to man', Melodie! ;-)

      Now I have them this blog should have some regular posts (definitely more often than once every 7 months lol).

      I've done some more stuff today so I'll post again v. soon.

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  7. Hey Chris, when can we place our orders!! Love honey! This is all new to me of course and I look forward to learning a thing or two from you and your new family!
    This sounds very exciting and I can feel your energy from here!

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    1. The honey, oh yes. I can hardly wait for that bit.

      And the wax etc. too.

      It's been a long time coming Jim and it's perhaps all the more exciting because of it.

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  8. Bees at last!!

    Don't forget to tell them about Family Events as well. Hope you have happy bees.

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    1. I KNOW!! YAY!!

      I've so much to tell them Gwynneth they will probably tell me to just shut up eventually.

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  9. I'm so excited for you! We're thinking of bees in the future, they are just so cool...I don't even like honey, but think that keeping them would be great. Will be watching your blog intently hehe (in a non-stalker-ish way) :)

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    1. Same for me Carly. I'm keeping them to help the dwindling bee population (in my own small way) rather than for the honey which is a huge bonus!

      Hey, don't forget the wax. Some fab candles for you to make there... :-)

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  10. What fantastic news. Well done and hope it all goes well from here on. (I had a beekeeper boyfriend once so some of the husbandry talk is familiar but mostly the smell of the honey house is well... a turn on). I can tell you that bees love feeding on fallen pears - sucking the juice out unfazed by wasps till the pear is a hollow shell.

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    1. Thank you Lady, it's great news for me and a bit of a shock really (I thought they would never get here).

      My new apiary is rapidly taking shape, the bees are flying (on sunny days) and their little legs are caked in pollen. If only I had the same work ethic!

      More pics and info soon...

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  11. Finally!!!!!!! I'm so excited for you more pics more pics more pics!! So cute with their knees filled with pollen !

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