Since the last time we talked a have a little more peace than stress. It has not been easy though. Hard work almost everyday this past week has produced some good results. Another update is soon on the way with pictures of the hard work along with some stories. On the goodside I recieved confirmation that most of the bee suit equiptment has been shipped. Now, I ordered a khaki helmet because it was what I wanted, but they were out and I had to settle for a white one. This was a big deal to me, however, I got a few more bigger problems to deal with rather than the color of helmet, and the time is ticking a little bit faster now, a little bit faster now... HA!
On the not so cool side, I would now like to share a little beehive story of the day.
I was on my way to go sand the inside of my old beehive to kind of give it a new start, a new look. My plan is to sand the entire thing, repaint it and repair it as needed. In addition, I am going to build a landing deck for my bees to take off and land on. Its' gonna be awesome. So, I got everything set up to sand this hive that has been sitting outside for about a 10 days now. I was thinking to myself how cool it would be if I had an organic beehive in their already by random chance. Like some bees that found the cool shaded area and started a home. I was just thinking that in my head to bee funny. Well, I opened it up with some caution just in case their was something in there but I knew their wouldn't bee. Except, there was. There a nest of RED WASPS. I bolted. I am not scared of bees at all, but these red wasps have been buzzing around the house chasing me all week. I am not scared of getting bit, I don't know what it is about these red wasps that bug me, but I do not like them. But I am defintely faster than them. I bolted around the house dodging and darting these wasps to safety inside my house. Just peachy, I am thinking. I am trying to have honey bees and I get red wasps. Dad got the nest out, and this one wasp kept coming back haunting me the entire I was sanding. Didn't get bit, but didn't get much sanding done either. Looks like will have sand another day. Always exciting stuff here on Ben's Bee Blog. Stay tuned, I have feeling I am just warming up...
Winter Wonderland
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Meeting w/ The BeeMaster
VOTE>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
This week I was able to accomplish a major task. I was finally able to set up and attend a meeting with a bee master. This man at one point had over 200 beehives. Needless to say, he knows what he is doing. I took a notepad and a pen. When I arrived I soon realized that this guy was a man, like a man's man, like a farmer, like an outdoor kind of guy. Nevertheless, he was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. We went to look at old bee equipment of his to get a better idea of what I needed, needed to do, and learn some bee termanolgy. He used words like "nuke, deep, super, spilt frame, divided frame, wedge frame" among other words I didn't know but now do. First thing he says, "you got a smoker?" Nah, I said. He said, "well, you gonna need one of those." I told him about my plan about just going down with my beesuit(which I still don't quite exactly have yet....) He said, "well that would work for me or a professional but not you." I said alright. The smoke calms the bees down. I am considering his words of wisdom and currently looking for a smoker. So we go in the old chicken house aka storage unit to get my first bee hive he gonna give me. Holly Moley if this guy didn't have a 100 bee boxes and everything else under the sun. I had hit the jackpot so I thought. So we are looking for a good "deep" code for main home for bees. When he is kind enough to warm me that there is a swarm of bees in those boxes near me and to watch out for them they are kind of honrey. Wonderful, this guy got bees and he isnt't even trying to have them. We find a deep and some frames among other accesories for my new bee hive. Now, how do I say this - these boxes were not clean. Yeah, lets just say that. As I attempted to point the spider crawling out from the box he was giving me onto him as I was concerned he just didn't care and didn't even brush it off. This guy was pretty tough. He showed me about the frames. Very difficult to understand we had to go over frames twice. One time I was looking down thinking, He goes, Listen, Now listen here boy! Don't get the the pre-made frames with comb. Don't do it. I perked my head up and said yes sir, I will not do that. It was a good ole time and I got my first hive and he said when my bees fill that one I can comeback and get another. I was so grateful for this man and knowledge he shared with me. Except for knowledge about how you CAN NOT GET HONEY until the second year. I was HEARTBROKEN when he said this. And I strongly inquired why not and implied that I might do it anyway. He said, "Boy, Listen here, Don't Rob the Honey, that's where everyone messes up and they won't make through the winter." With sadness in my heart and slow powty voice I said "yes sir, I will try not too..." I mean I am going to take honey. I am going to, but prob just like a couple of spoonfulls or something not like a jar or anything.
Days are starting to count down...And I have yet to clear the area, yet to get my beehive set up completly re-built, my labor help has been delayed, I can't find the red clover I need, yet to get complete bee suit, no smoker which apparently I need, need other supplies I do not have, my chainsaw is in the shop, and 10,000 bee are due in around April 12th. Prayers and best wishes are now starting to be accepted with love and happiness. On the positive side, I did order a totally sweet bee helmet.
This week I was able to accomplish a major task. I was finally able to set up and attend a meeting with a bee master. This man at one point had over 200 beehives. Needless to say, he knows what he is doing. I took a notepad and a pen. When I arrived I soon realized that this guy was a man, like a man's man, like a farmer, like an outdoor kind of guy. Nevertheless, he was extremely helpful and knowledgeable. We went to look at old bee equipment of his to get a better idea of what I needed, needed to do, and learn some bee termanolgy. He used words like "nuke, deep, super, spilt frame, divided frame, wedge frame" among other words I didn't know but now do. First thing he says, "you got a smoker?" Nah, I said. He said, "well, you gonna need one of those." I told him about my plan about just going down with my beesuit(which I still don't quite exactly have yet....) He said, "well that would work for me or a professional but not you." I said alright. The smoke calms the bees down. I am considering his words of wisdom and currently looking for a smoker. So we go in the old chicken house aka storage unit to get my first bee hive he gonna give me. Holly Moley if this guy didn't have a 100 bee boxes and everything else under the sun. I had hit the jackpot so I thought. So we are looking for a good "deep" code for main home for bees. When he is kind enough to warm me that there is a swarm of bees in those boxes near me and to watch out for them they are kind of honrey. Wonderful, this guy got bees and he isnt't even trying to have them. We find a deep and some frames among other accesories for my new bee hive. Now, how do I say this - these boxes were not clean. Yeah, lets just say that. As I attempted to point the spider crawling out from the box he was giving me onto him as I was concerned he just didn't care and didn't even brush it off. This guy was pretty tough. He showed me about the frames. Very difficult to understand we had to go over frames twice. One time I was looking down thinking, He goes, Listen, Now listen here boy! Don't get the the pre-made frames with comb. Don't do it. I perked my head up and said yes sir, I will not do that. It was a good ole time and I got my first hive and he said when my bees fill that one I can comeback and get another. I was so grateful for this man and knowledge he shared with me. Except for knowledge about how you CAN NOT GET HONEY until the second year. I was HEARTBROKEN when he said this. And I strongly inquired why not and implied that I might do it anyway. He said, "Boy, Listen here, Don't Rob the Honey, that's where everyone messes up and they won't make through the winter." With sadness in my heart and slow powty voice I said "yes sir, I will try not too..." I mean I am going to take honey. I am going to, but prob just like a couple of spoonfulls or something not like a jar or anything.
Days are starting to count down...And I have yet to clear the area, yet to get my beehive set up completly re-built, my labor help has been delayed, I can't find the red clover I need, yet to get complete bee suit, no smoker which apparently I need, need other supplies I do not have, my chainsaw is in the shop, and 10,000 bee are due in around April 12th. Prayers and best wishes are now starting to be accepted with love and happiness. On the positive side, I did order a totally sweet bee helmet.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Queen Bee
Everyone must have a Queen. No man is complete without one, and neither are bees. As similar to humanity, Queens are essential for reproduction; however, the Queens of bees spend somewhat more time in labor... try like up to 2000 eggs/per day in egg laying season which apparently is in spring. I'm still learning a lot about this bee culture stuff. Moving on, this is why it is absolutely, without a shadow of doubt, imperative that I name this Queen correctly. I can't give her a name like Jennifer, Laura, or Katie. Although all of these names are very lovely, I need a name with Power. With Authority. With Respect. With Love. My Queen must be proud of her name when I call it ( as if she is going to fly out and land on my finger...maybe?), seriously, it must be a name encompassing everything to do with royalty and respect. Since, I ordered an Italian Queen, I thought I should give her an Italian name. Please check the newest and latest and greatest poll and VOTE! Thanks for your help :)
P.S. Last poll results in showing in favor of Ben the beekeeper buying a protective bee-suit. Sounds safe.
Sounds wise. I think I will :)
P.S. Last poll results in showing in favor of Ben the beekeeper buying a protective bee-suit. Sounds safe.
Sounds wise. I think I will :)
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