Gained A Beekeeper

The other night the girls were at dance practice and I needed to do a few jobs with the bees. I mentioned to my son I'd be going out. Previously he's always been dead against the bees, said he wanted nothing more than the honey! But that night he seemed keen, asked if he could borrow a suit and came straight out with me. 

 Like the girls he took to it straight away, didn't seem scared at all and was really keen. 

He got straight into doing jobs and asking lots of questions - not all of them I could answer!

A week later I had all three of them helping me. Was a great moment to be managing the apiary together - I just need to convince my wife to come out with us now! 

A Small Swarm - Landing On A Cross

The other day I had my evening planned to perfection. I had a talk quite far away (the other side of stroud) and I always like to leave in good time so I'm not rushing and I'm there nice and early. 

Then I got a knock at the door, our neighbour looks after the church, locking and unlocking it each day. He'd seen a swarm of bees. Now really I'm not next in line to get the bees from the church, having already had some and my friend who normally gets them currently being out of bees. So we, Eldest and I, walked over and had a look, all the while I tried to ring my friend. 

Beehive inspection - first of the year

So we did our first inspection at the start of the month, on a nice warm Monday evening. 

 We filmed it, but I've only just got it edited and up on YouTube. It's more for our records and my memories, but some might like to watch it, 

Beehive Inspection At Hartpury College

 Last week we were really fortunate to be invited to have a look at the apiary at Hartpury college. 

It was part of the children's beekeeping course I'd expressing interest in for the girls, but the first time we'd been able to come along, far too late in the season now, but it makes for a good start for the course next year. 

A Swarm In April is worth? A Barrel of Maple?

 Just before I picked up the children from school on Tuesday I saw that the garden was full of bees. A Swarm in April! 

I went and got the children and told the girls to suit up. The warm landed in our neighbours garden, but before we could get set up they took to the air again. Luck was with us and they landed on the fence. 

Making A National Super From Scratch

 A part of beekeeping that really excites me is making a lot of the things I need from scratch. Last week I got my new router table organised and I thought I'd have a mess around with it.

The first thing I made was a super for a national hive. This is the box you put on the hive when it's producing lots of honey. Hopefully I'll need lots of them!

Last Beekeeping Lesson - Malvern And Upton Beepkeepers

 So last Thursday (the 5th) was the final beekeeping lesson for beginners at our club this year. 

It's been a really fun year when it comes to learning about beekeeping and I feel like I've landed on my feet with this club, so I was a little sad to see the season finish. 

First Hive Inspection With Both Daughters

Last weekend we had a break in the weather and decided to quickly get outside and do an inspection on our two hives. 

I was keen to make sure the bees had settled into each hive from the two swarms we caught last year. 

The girls were really keen to come and help (the boy not so much). So they donned their suits and came with me. 

Have a watch of the video to see how they get on. 

It was a really lovely thing to share with them. Both very enthusiastic and really keen to learn. 

Young Beekeeper - Collecting Swarms With Middlest

 So last week I collected two swarms on my own. Well I say on my own, but I actually had some help...

 

I had a phone call in the middle of the day from Lesley who got me my first swarm (which unfortunately didn't stick around). She said there was another swarm in the church yard, she was away so I should get it! 

The Most Important Bit Of Beekeeping Equipment

So along with the beekeeping trainings course I've been going to every week, I've also been slowly acquiring what we need to actually keep bees. 

I've ordered a hive that I need to assemble (I'll also be making some), a smoker and feeder. But I've also got the most important thing - 

 

Some bee suits for the children. They're keen to get involved and I'm keen to have them help me. So I thought it should be one of the first things we got. That way if we do stumble upon a swam we'll be able to gather it up and give it a home. 

Both girls seem really keen with the beekeeping, the boy not so much! But it will be up to them if they get involved. The girls seem to have the idea of using any wax for making wax wraps to sell (which will go alongside what I do really nicely), and hopefully they'll come up with some other projects as well. 

Hopefully I'll get to assemble my hive soon, it's been a busy couple of weeks with orders and talks, but hopefully I'll get to do some smallholding jobs the next few days and this may be one of them. I think the children might like to assemble the hive with me as well. 
 

Beekeeping Lessons

 Last Thursday was the perfect evening for a beekeeping lesson. The day had been warm and sunny and the evening felt long, a perfect spring evening. 

The lesson started with them letting a captured swam "walk" up to their new hive. They shook out the skep and let the bees walk up a board into a national hive. It happened in a matter of minutes. apparently once the queen goes up they all follow. 

Making a Bee Hive Stand - National Hive.

The bee keeping course I've signed myself up for starts in just a few weeks and I'm really looking forward to it. In the meantime my friend, who did the course last year, has bought herself a second hand hive and is getting ready for this years bee keeping.  

The set she bought was lacking one thing though - a stand. 

Warre Bee Hive

 During the first lockdown last year I decided that I needed a simple project to keep me creative, a project I'd wanted to do for a long time! - A beehive!

And more to the point a Warre Hive.