Bees are fairly self-sufficient once they have their hive firmly established and they start brooding. Until then, they need some checking up on. This weekend, about three weeks after starting our hives, we did a proper hive inspection. Because we are using top bar hives, this is fairly easy - we just removed the top of each hive, pulled a couple of the top bars, and took a look at the comb structure. We also used a smoker to help clear the bees aside so that we could get a proper look at the interior space, but no other specialized gear beyond our veils.
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Our First Bridle Join
This year we are taking our gardening to the next level. We are timber framing. the two actually go together nicely. Through timber framing you can expand your garden, and gardening provides a great opportunity for timber framing. There is a natural synergy between the plants and the wood. The garden has an energy. It is a living, growing organism kind of like our bees, and we are the caretakers. Natural infrastructure supports this living energy.
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Reflections on Beekeeping
You read about the decline of the honey bee. You see the posts on Facebook and Twitter of the foods we will lose without pollinators. You learn that bees are ending up on endangered species lists. You stop using certain fertilizers in your garden to help protect them and still they are dying. If you look around your property and see a lot of open space, maybe you do something else.
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