Happy Easter and Honey Super Part The Second.

Now the bees are smoking....

Ok they aren't smoking we managed to smoke the hive so they calmed right down. Just so you know this shows some real close ups of bees so if you aren't too happy with insects watching this might not be your best idea.

What you see happening here is bees realising that they are being held over the main colony and without being encouraged at all walking down into the new honey super. Other bee keepers speed up the process by tapping the board so the bees fall off but we are really trying to look after our bees as gently and naturally as possible. Bob stood holding the board for about 15 minutes while they made up their mind and slowly trooped off back where they'd come from.

We loaded all the frames into the super and they look pristine and beautiful. In a few months no doubt they'll look exactly like all the other frames we have. Bees like things homely.

If the weather continues to be fairly mild we may get some early honey. I have to say I can't wait. However there are those out there, people who have seen me cook and decorate, who may feel that transferring honey from comb into jars is a job best left to the better organised. 

We put the crown board on top of the honey super and put the roof of the hive back. It doesn't really look that much bigger but we know there are possibilities in there. There is breeding going on, there are new bees hatching and soon there will be honey. The question is, will there be enough honey for us to share this year?

Easter is for many the celebration of the resurrection of Christ. In the pre christian/pagan calendar it is celebration of new life and fecundity. The harvest yet to come. The celebration of all that is possible. Our chickens have proven to us that a great deal is possible. The bees have shown us that a new skill is learned quickly where necessity dictates.  Introducing both into our lives have brought us the gifts of new friends and a greater appreciation of what is possible!.

So raise with us a glass, a mug, a cup or a bottle to what is possible and what is new.

Watching in hope

Katherine