I decided to change my web host, as the one I was with would not allow adding of even the most basic tools to enhance the site without paying for an upgrade (I had already paid for one upgrade in the belief that this would give me the necessary tools....). Being such a nice host, … Continue reading Change of Web Host
2018 Vintage
After extracting the first batches of honey last week, I gave up waiting for my jar order to arrive, and bottled what honey I could with the jars I still had in stock. When my jars (finally) arrive, I will decant the honey from the storage buckets into the jars and put my "Honey for … Continue reading 2018 Vintage
Extraction Day
It was another hot day, but slightly cooler than of late - 'only' 26° C, and as I have all but run out of supers, I had to do some extracting so I had some supers I could put back on the hives. Extracting is a hot, sticky process however much you prepare. I donned … Continue reading Extraction Day
Another Busy Few Days
I've had a couple of busy days again, nipping round all my apiaries to put clearer boards on hives so that I could remove some honey supers. I took supers off from two sites today, and put the clearer boards on at a third. I will be taking the supers off from the third site … Continue reading Another Busy Few Days
Harvesting Honey
How to Harvest Honey Ethically? I do not favour taking all the honey from the bees. Harvesting honey from a beehive should only be done when the bees have surplus. Beekeepers do not normally get a harvest of honey from new hives their first season, but there are exceptional colonies and exceptional nectar flow years … Continue reading Harvesting Honey
Heavy Flow
We have had a week now where the temperatures are 30°C or so. This has sent the bees into overdrive, with lots of Blackberries and white clover to forage on, and they are filling supers really fast. https://youtu.be/-tq2tX5aJXI Almost all my hives have 3 supers on now, and 2 of those are virtually all capped … Continue reading Heavy Flow
Mixed news in the garden apiary
Another hot and sunny day today here in Dorset, what better weather to be messing about in a bee suit moving heavy hives around - said with tongue firmly in cheek. I inspected the 11 colonies in my garden apiary this morning, with mixed results. Some of the new virgin queen introduced to nucs have … Continue reading Mixed news in the garden apiary
The many uses of beeswax
One of the great benefits of keeping honey bees is the potential of the many homemade uses you can find for the beeswax the bees produce to build their honeycombs. There are dozens and dozens of uses for beeswax. I’ll include the following: Basic Information About Beeswax Great Uses for Beeswax Around the House and … Continue reading The many uses of beeswax
Rendering Beeswax
As part of the normal beekeeping year, beekeepers accumulate wax from replacing old brood frames and from wax cappings at extraction time. Brood Frames Each year it is recommended that a beekeeper replaces a third of the frames in the brood box. It is important that the frames are replaced for several reasons. Old frames … Continue reading Rendering Beeswax
Deformed wing virus (DWV)
Deformed wing virus (DWV) is a highly viral disease transmitted by Varroa destructor. The disease is commonly found in colonies infested with mites. Deformed Wing Virus is regarded as deadly due to its ability to spread fast in any colony. It causes massive wing deformation in bees making it difficult for them to live normally. … Continue reading Deformed wing virus (DWV)