HIGH 58 LOW 38   Clear blues skies after a full day of heavy rain.

I spent Sunday morning checking the bees. I had merged two small warms in to one hive and have been watching to be sure that they were “putting up” enough honey for their winter food.

It was a clear and dry day, which is pretty rare in late October, so I rushed out to take a peek at the bees. The bottom box was completely drawn out in comb full of honey. The second box was halfway full. I added an entry board on top of the second box so that feeders with honey water could rest on it and the bees could fly up to get the honey without going outside in the wet and cold. I placed a third box around it and then placed the lid on top. Over the lid I placed a large piece of plywood so that there is a good overhang to prevent water from seeping in to the hive. On top of everything is a large rock to deter predators foraging for honey.

In a week or so I will check the feeder jars and add wool roving to the top box. It will act like an attic by insulating the hive and absorbing condensation. I will need to replace this every few weeks if it gets damp.

My goal is to help this hive stay strong and multiply so that in the Spring I will be able to split it in to two hives.

I am excited for the prospect of more bees in our garden and more honey in our lives. Until then, I will nurture this hive and keep is safe during the winter.

I spent Sunday morning checking the bees. I had merged two small warms in to one hive and have been watching to be sure that they were “putting up” enough honey for their winter food.

It was a clear and dry day, which is pretty rare in late October, so I rushed out to take a peek at the bees. The bottom box was completely drawn out in comb full of honey. The second box was halfway full. I added an entry board on top of the second box so that feeders with honey water could rest on it and the bees could fly up to get the honey without going outside in the wet and cold. I placed a third box around it and then placed the lid on top. Over the lid I placed a large piece of plywood so that there is a good overhang to prevent water from seeping in to the hive. On top of everything is a large rock to deter predators foraging for honey.

In a week or so I will check the feeder jars and add wool roving to the top box. It will act like an attic by insulating the hive and absorbing condensation. I will need to replace this every few weeks if it gets damp.

My goal is to help this hive stay strong and multiply so that in the Spring I will be able to split it in to two hives.

I am excited for the prospect of more bees in our garden and more honey in our lives. Until then, I will nurture this hive and keep is safe during the winter.

*I have to give photo credit to my friend Steve. He took this picture at another farm and sent it to me. My hands were full when I was tending my bees that day.  :-)

Summer has come and the sun is warming the land. The milk is flowing and the hens are laying. We have tomatoes and cukes on the vine, every berry one could imagine and greens a plenty. This is a time of abundance and joy.

As I sit with my morning cup of tea, the calendula flowers are bright and cheerful. The bees are foraging for nectar and there is a slight buzzing all around.

I am thankful for the beauty in my life and these simple moments when a cup of tea is my world.

High 77   Low 49  It is finally clear, blue and sunny!

Our young Buck Harpo and his sister Shug are for sale. If you are looking to increase your herd or want to start one, these two herbally raised Nubians are the way to go! Both have good form and come from very good milking stock. Born March 21, 2010. $100 Harpo/$150 Shug

Summer is here! The newest version of our newsetter is available. If you haven’t subscribed, now is a great time!

http://songcroft.com/index.php/the-songcroft-self-sufficiency-newsletter/

Farm Camp begins August 22nd. Register now to reserve your spot. http://songcroft.com/index.php/farm-camp/

The registration for the 2011 Self Sufficiency Apprenticeship Program is already starting to fill up. If you have been sitting on the fence, now is the time to register. We have filled up for the past two years in a row! http://songcroft.com/index.php/the-songcroft-school-of-self-sufficiency/

Yesterday we finally broke 75 degrees and it feels like summer is here. It was our seventh day this year without rain. Folks here are happy to see the sun out. It is suppose to be in the mid 90’s by tomorrow.

Although the sun’s arrival is definitely welcomed it will prove to make gardening a bit of a challenge in that a sudden change can be hard on plants. Growth has been slow at best this year. Corn in the valley is only about a foot tall and the farmers are frustrated. Our garden is no exception. The only things that have really enjoyed this long wet season with its deep chills have been the fava beans and weeds. They are about 5 feet tall.

When the weather switches rapidly from a cool damp stage to dry and in the mid 90’s, plants are going to bolt. This means they will think it is their last hoorah before fall and they will go to seed. They will no longer put their energy in to growing lush foliage or fruit but instead focus on sending seed out so that their genetic material will be around the next year.

This week will keep me busy weeding and trying to keep the seed I planted for fall and winter moist enough to germinate.

Also on my radar this week is making sure all of the animals have enough water. Sudden changes in weather can be hard on them too. The goats and rabbits have automatic waterers, which will be very helpful. They chickens will need to be checked on at least twice a day until I get their water system done (There is always something that needs do’in). The bees will also enjoy water set a bit closer to them as our creek will likely dry up this week.

Speaking of bees, I checked the new swarm today. The queen was present but she doesn’t seem to be laying much. It has only been a week so I will give her a bit more time to see if she starts laying better. There has to be enough workers and drones to keep the honey coming in so they set up enough to get them through winter. Otherwise, I will be feeding them in fall.

Okay, it’s time for me to get out there and get some work done. (The earlier in the day the better when it’s real hot.)

You can watch the bees go in to the hive here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyulhSpe3z4&feature=channel

Some days I wake up thinking that I am going to get all of the things on my checklist done. I know that might seem like a tall order but I often come fairly close. Well, this morning I was up bright and early. I had a list and Brian was home with the kids. I was going to get a whole list of errands ran and chores done too!

Then I got a phone call from a friend.

Don’t get me wrong. This was not an unwanted call. In fact it was quite a pleasant surprise. This friend of ours, Alex, is a great guy and our entire family likes him (even though the kids have nicknamed him the Ringmaster of the Nerd Circus) But this morning Alex had a special problem that he called me to help him out with.

He had a colony of bees in his wall.

To make a long story short, I ended up bringing him my bee suit and a bee vacuum and talking him through the job. I left him to do it because he had to cut away a large portion of his wall.  In the end, poor Alex has a huge hole in his wall that he now has to repair but that isn’t even the most challenging part. He has to remove as much as he can of anything “bee” or he may end up with more bees or worse, wasps!

He brought the bees to me this evening. There must have been at least six pounds. They are all in the hive now and seem to be doing okay. The vacuum methods can stress the bees so I hope that they survive.  We are also not sure he got the queen. All I can do is wait. I will know within a day or so.

In the mean time, enjoy this video. I will update you with more as soon as I am able.

Sorry it’s been a few days since I have written. Life has been busy here!

Two days ago, I was out working on the new chicken coop roof (I swear there is a conspiracy against me so we don’t get it done) when I hear a noise. I stopped working and followed it to a hemlock tree. Sure enough, it was a swarm of honeybees.

Being the adventurous gal I am, I climbed the tree to catch the swarm. Needless to say, It took me several attempts but I got it. Climbing a tree with loppers and a pole pruner is no easy task. The branch was way out there and I could barely reach. When my hand was on the branch, I could actually feel the breeze from all of those bees beating their wings! I was extended out as far as possible, balancing with my hands full.  (Don’t try this at home kids)

I tried to trim the branch off but the shaking only encouraged them to fly up higher. So I climbed higher.

The next attempt also made them fly higher. So I climbed higher.

I was able to shake them in to a pillow sack. It wasn’t the best way to catch a swarm but I couldn’t hold on to the tree, balance, cut a branch and not let it fall all at once.   Besides, I didn’t want to cut the tree anymore.

I climbed down the tree with the bees in the sack. It weighed about four pounds. (That’s a lot of bees! )

I put them one of our empty hives. They were looking good yesterday. I hope they stay and make us some honey!

Oh, and that’s just a small slice of what’s been happening here! Stay tuned…