These pages will be chronicling the fine pursuit of honey bee keeping. This endeavor is part of our overall desire to be as self-sufficient as two late middle aged people can be, who don't live on a farm.
It took us two years to go from the idea stage to the action stage with the honey bees. I had attended some bee keeping workshops, and was totally daunted by the terminology used, the amount of diseases and other problems to recognize and treat and avoid, etc. So I never really sallied forth. Paul was enchanted with the idea of keeping bees, so the following year he came with me to some workshops and took control of the reins.
He ordered the hive, and smoker, and other parts necessary and the bees. I can't remember what kind of bees we have. Some kind of russian hybrid. They're truly very docile.
Throughout the summer we nurtured the new hive, I made the sugar water, LOTS of sugar water, and he fed them and checked them. Because they were a new hive we didn't check for mites, as we were told mites wouldn't be a problem so soon. Until October, when I checked and the count was a little bit higher than I felt was safe, but was too late in the season to treat.
Each check on the hive showed an increase in numbers, amazing to me, and healthy activity. I have high hopes that they will survive this winter and were okay as of a couple months ago. The hive appeared to have enough honey, and Paul supplemented with sugar.
If the bees survive this winter, early next summer we will add another empty hive for their expansion, and we will be able to start taking the honey and wax. If they don't survive, we will have to start over with a new colony. Fingers and toes crossed
Elfscooter
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