The hive in the distance. Gotta go dig it out. Some wading and digging and it’s done. The new dead bees at the entrance means the bees in there are still alive, trying to clear out the die-off. They’re well insulated now in that blanket of snow, as long as the hive gets some ventilation. …
Category Archives: bees
Bug to Beer. And Growing Ginger and Turmeric
Bubbles! The Ginger Bug is bubbling so I’m moving on to the next stage of brewing a good beer: adding the culture to the base (water, more ginger and sugar/honey) and letting it ferment away some more. I’m making a little less than a gallon, about 6 wine bottles, I should say. DH made some …
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How are the Bees Doing?
Right before we left for India and for quite some time while we were away the weather was bitter cold. Aside from the winter crop in the hoop house (all doing well), the weak spot on our property where cold matters is our bees. I decided early on in the game not to medicate, feed …
We’re Back
New Delhi street view Well, we made it there and back again, but we’re not in good shape. The trip is 32 hours door to door, in 3 airplanes, through 4 airports and too many security checks. Disturbed sleep or near-total lack of it in my case (very light sleeper and insomniac), irregular eating of …
The Skinny (1) on Honey: Antioxidants
(Oh no, it’s another series!) Amie and Mama and their first honey harvest ~ I’m so sore from my workout yesterday. I was shredding leaves for two hours and also moved the contents of one (full) outside Earth machine to the Earth Machine inside the hoop house. Going by last year’s experience, this compost won’t …
Reinstate the Boy Scouts Beekeeping Merrit Badge
Go here to sign the petition! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
HUMONGOUS Pumpkin Haul
Today we came home from Amie’s cello lesson to this: We could not believe the size of that giant pumpkin! There were also bags of more pumpkins, goopy pumpkin guts, and a couple of gourds. The latter I would have to cut up somehow, they’re so hard, or maybe I’ll try drying them for bird …
Wintering the Hive: Last Inspection and Homemade Mouse Guard
I did a last inspection today – 69 F, no wind, no rain, just lovely. The bees were foraging, so it was safe to open up the hive without risk of chilling the bees. They were quite defensive, and did not take kindly to my stapling my home made mouse guard to their front entrance. …
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Dandelion Harvest, Defensive Bees and Garden Blankets
I was bummed to find that there are not a lot of dandelions on our property. One of the first exercises in one of my herbal medicine books is a dandelion tincture. I had to skip it because I couldn’t find any at hand. Today I went to Amie’s kindergarten school to pull the weeds …
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Colorful Garden, and a Hive Update
Tricolor pepper harvest Fat buds and flowers on my two Sochi tea plants. Mushrooms in my schroom bed, but are they the anticipated King Stropheria? ~ I did a quick inspection of the hive today and found an amply supply of honey, nectar, and brood in all stages of development. There were lots of newly …