Hail Queen #2

The first week of beekeeping was not the romantic blissed out experience I thought it would be...I thought that a top feeder would be a fantastic and easy way to check on the hives food level without having to disturb them much.  The bees had other plans though and began building comb in the feeder but not in the hive.  Upon checking on Queen #1, I realized that she had been killed and this was confirmed by my beekeeping mentor, Frank of Brambleridge Honey Farm when we saw a ball of bees on the floor of the hive heated up over something...apparently the monarch had been overthrown and they were in the process of kicking her out the door.  This made no sense to me since without a Queen the hive will be dead within the month.

I called the nice people at Brushy Mountain Bee Farm, where I purchased my hive and my package bees and they were nice enough to send Queen #2 overnight express, no charge.  The lady at the post office who already thinks I'm a bit odd, really looked at me strange when I started knocking on the door at 8:30am telling her I was there to pick up a live Queen Bee.  She looked really little and skinny (not the PO lady but the Queen bee) and not too different from the attendant bees she was caged up with.  Frank helped me install her, we left the cork in over the candy side (normally they eat there way to freedom through the candy and out the open hole where the cork once was), and left her for four days.  I was afraid she would starve, as she was almost out of candy but Frank assured me that this one was the charm and that the hive would love her and start to feed her through the screen of the cage.  He was right!!  On day four, when we opened the hive, she was plump and totally out of candy.  Frank says that they only get fat on nectar, not sugar...so this was a very good sign that they accepted her.  The bees seemed docile and so we popped the cork and placed her back in where she walked out.  Hive is now sealed up for another week, so she can get to work laying the next generation of bees for the hive.  Next visit in, I should be able to see eggs and maybe even larvae...yes I'm excited about larvae...sigh...

I am totally enthralled with these little creatures.  I love having them buzzing around my yard.  They land on my hand and arm and are so sweet and calm.  I have not gotten stung yet and last time I worked the hive I went in with no gloves.  I have a feeling that this will be a lifetime love of mine.  I'm already looking at my neighbors vacant lot thinking what a great bee yard it would be....

The Bees are Coming!

So I spent this past winter learning everything I could about beekeeping.  I took a fantastic course with the Lehigh Valley Beekeepers Association that I highly recommend.  It was a four week course that answered a ton of questions and provided us with sources to purchase our bees and equipment.

Our honeybees are in trouble!  This year alone 50%-90% of bees owned by commercial beekeepers were lost and no one really knows why...there has been speculation that chemical pesticides are to blame.  If every household was inspired to learn how to grow a simple vegetable garden and keep one hive of bees, we may have a chance of reversing this tragic loss.  Honeybees pollinate the food we eat, without them we will certainly starve.  Encourage your family, friends and neighbors to stop treating their lawns or better yet, get rid of their lawns all together and grow a beautiful front yard garden reminiscent of an English cottage garden.  Herbs, vegetables and beautiful flowers can fill your home with healing, nourishment and beautiful visual and scent-sual beauty.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is one of the first major sources of food for bees.  Dandelion blossoms have a honey like flavor that make a wonderful jelly, tea or wine.  The leaves of dandelion are mineral and vitamin rich and can be used in salads (I recently saw dandelion greens at the local supermarket being sold as "gourmet" and costing $3.99 a bunch!!) and the root of dandelion is a powerful diuretic and kidney tonic that does not strip necessary potassium from the body.  So get out there and see what is growing in your lawn that is edible and nourishing...it is empowering to feed your family, save $$ and connect with the bounty of the earth in a hands on way.

I recently met Frank Licata, a local Monroe County beekeeper and vice president of the Monroe County Beekeepers Association.  Frank was a helpful source of information, makes lotion and soap with his honey from his hives and offers beginner beekeeper classes and lotion and soapmaking classes locally.  Frank can be reached at
fjlicata@yahoo.com

So my bees will be arriving this Friday, May 17th and I am beyond excited!  It's like the feeling you get as a first time mom, excited and nervous at the same time...I have a feeling that this will be a lifelong love affair and will keep you posted on my adventures into "Sacred Beekeeping"....Spring Blessings to all...