Beekeeping......oh my........what have I done?
I am 30 years old, I have been married for 3 years and am a new father to a fantastic little boy. Surely there things that I should be doing at this age which don’t involve little yellow and black insects that can hurt you if you get too close to them or are remotely clumsy (which at 6ft 5 I have an amazing ability to be). My wife things I am loosing my mind, my little boy looks at me rather strangely when I say I won’t be able to do bathtime this evening as I have my evening class on beekeeping. My mother blames my father for these sorts of ideas (he is after all a Morris Dancer) and my colleagues think I have just simply lost the plot.
It is therefore surely not a surprise to you all that I often reflect on precisely what it is that I am doing! If I am honest I cannot really remember what it was that sparked my interest in bees this year. I could focus primarily on the plight of the honey bee so often quoted this year in the press and last. Sadly the honey bee is in trouble and is dying out in increasing numbers all over the world (with the exception of Australia surprisingly) to mystery illnesses. I could also focus on the fact that I am increasingly becoming fascinated in elements of the self sufficient lifestyle and therefore love gardening and growing vegetables on the allotment (I know, I know, I am only 30 years old!). The old romantic in my however has idealistic notions of taking my little boy up to the allotment and each Saturday going to check the bees with him just to teach him about the world and where everything that ends up on his plate comes from. I really hope this day comes though and my idealistic thoughts turn into reality.
Read more here
I am 30 years old, I have been married for 3 years and am a new father to a fantastic little boy. Surely there things that I should be doing at this age which don’t involve little yellow and black insects that can hurt you if you get too close to them or are remotely clumsy (which at 6ft 5 I have an amazing ability to be). My wife things I am loosing my mind, my little boy looks at me rather strangely when I say I won’t be able to do bathtime this evening as I have my evening class on beekeeping. My mother blames my father for these sorts of ideas (he is after all a Morris Dancer) and my colleagues think I have just simply lost the plot.
It is therefore surely not a surprise to you all that I often reflect on precisely what it is that I am doing! If I am honest I cannot really remember what it was that sparked my interest in bees this year. I could focus primarily on the plight of the honey bee so often quoted this year in the press and last. Sadly the honey bee is in trouble and is dying out in increasing numbers all over the world (with the exception of Australia surprisingly) to mystery illnesses. I could also focus on the fact that I am increasingly becoming fascinated in elements of the self sufficient lifestyle and therefore love gardening and growing vegetables on the allotment (I know, I know, I am only 30 years old!). The old romantic in my however has idealistic notions of taking my little boy up to the allotment and each Saturday going to check the bees with him just to teach him about the world and where everything that ends up on his plate comes from. I really hope this day comes though and my idealistic thoughts turn into reality.
Read more here
Why would you drive with hives!
Posted 07-02-2010 at 07:49 PM by jamesdearsley
Sunday 7th February
Jo and I have just staggered back from a fanatastic wedding in Oxford. Not only was it at Blenhiem Palace, the birth place of Winston Churchil, which was stuning, but it was, far more importantly and of far more historical importance, the first night we have been away from Sebastian, together. It was quite surreal and yet quite lovely to actually have time together – we got exciting going into Beaconsfield Service Station for example knowing that we could sit down, have a coffee and read the paper! We have obviously reached that age where even a motorway service station is enjoyable!
I was in the bad books as I decided to extend my trial of whiskey (I have never liked whiskey but really want to “learn” how to drink it!) last night and promptly went through three or four samples at way past bed time. I Just love the ideology of whiskey, the heavy tumbler, the ice, a roaring fire and a traditional drink that is steeped in history! The pub had all of those elements last night and so I couldn’t escape it especially as our friends Ian and Darren are seasoned whiskey drinkers! A couple of hours later and feeling as if I could say I was a whiskey drinker, I stumbled away from the bar. Great wedding Sarah and Ben, congratulations.
Seb loved being away from us by the way. He had a great time with Nanny, not realising we had gone away. Typical!
Since I last spoke wrote there have been several developments. I have now had time to read through the plans for the beehive; oh my god it looks complicated, there is no way I will be able to build a hive perfectly. The pressure was increased markedly when I was doing my research and a read that a hive should have absolutely no holes or gaps anywhere if you want your bees to survive through the winter. Apparently, if there are these gaps, it generates a draft which makes it harder for the bees to keep the constant 35 degrees needed to protect the brood. No pressure then James!
There was also a really funny comment in the plans and my eyes just went out on stalks when I thought of the consequences! It states that the National Hive is preferred by many because “more hives may be packed on commercial vehicles or the domestic car” – yes that was the domestic car! Now I had heard that this may occur but I didn’t believe it. Who would be crazy enough to put a beehive in their own car! Can you imagine if just one of the little insects got out and the carnage that could cause, let alone all 60,000. I then read on a little further........”and up to 8, transported in estate models” WHAT!!!! One hive was mad eight would be bonkers! Imagine if they all got out, 480,000 bees flying around the car; what on earth would other drivers be thinking!
So I will be sending my plans to my father to just pass on some of the panic and get prepared. I have to find the cedar wood to start with as this is what is recommended. Where on earth am I going to find that?
I have also now started to ramp up the Facebook work – I have not got a clue what I am doing! I have joined lots of groups now and set up my own “The Beginner Beekeeper Group” to see if I can help others by showing that it can be done whilst hopefully getting more mature and experienced beekeepers to help us all out. I seem to have acquired 25 people following already which is nice. I hope they know what they have got themselves in to!
I have posted lots of comments on other peoples “groups” because apparently this is what I should be doing as it raises exposure for my own (and also this blog) so hopefully I can meet some nice people along the way.
Anyway, jobs for this week:
• Panic and find out where to buy Cedar wood
• Panic and try to find a mentor in the local area (apparently this is really important to beginners – I think I will need more help than most!)
• Panic and write letters to my farmers to see if they mind putting the hives on their fields
• Panic and then just simply relax
Jo and I have just staggered back from a fanatastic wedding in Oxford. Not only was it at Blenhiem Palace, the birth place of Winston Churchil, which was stuning, but it was, far more importantly and of far more historical importance, the first night we have been away from Sebastian, together. It was quite surreal and yet quite lovely to actually have time together – we got exciting going into Beaconsfield Service Station for example knowing that we could sit down, have a coffee and read the paper! We have obviously reached that age where even a motorway service station is enjoyable!
I was in the bad books as I decided to extend my trial of whiskey (I have never liked whiskey but really want to “learn” how to drink it!) last night and promptly went through three or four samples at way past bed time. I Just love the ideology of whiskey, the heavy tumbler, the ice, a roaring fire and a traditional drink that is steeped in history! The pub had all of those elements last night and so I couldn’t escape it especially as our friends Ian and Darren are seasoned whiskey drinkers! A couple of hours later and feeling as if I could say I was a whiskey drinker, I stumbled away from the bar. Great wedding Sarah and Ben, congratulations.
Seb loved being away from us by the way. He had a great time with Nanny, not realising we had gone away. Typical!
Since I last spoke wrote there have been several developments. I have now had time to read through the plans for the beehive; oh my god it looks complicated, there is no way I will be able to build a hive perfectly. The pressure was increased markedly when I was doing my research and a read that a hive should have absolutely no holes or gaps anywhere if you want your bees to survive through the winter. Apparently, if there are these gaps, it generates a draft which makes it harder for the bees to keep the constant 35 degrees needed to protect the brood. No pressure then James!
There was also a really funny comment in the plans and my eyes just went out on stalks when I thought of the consequences! It states that the National Hive is preferred by many because “more hives may be packed on commercial vehicles or the domestic car” – yes that was the domestic car! Now I had heard that this may occur but I didn’t believe it. Who would be crazy enough to put a beehive in their own car! Can you imagine if just one of the little insects got out and the carnage that could cause, let alone all 60,000. I then read on a little further........”and up to 8, transported in estate models” WHAT!!!! One hive was mad eight would be bonkers! Imagine if they all got out, 480,000 bees flying around the car; what on earth would other drivers be thinking!
So I will be sending my plans to my father to just pass on some of the panic and get prepared. I have to find the cedar wood to start with as this is what is recommended. Where on earth am I going to find that?
I have also now started to ramp up the Facebook work – I have not got a clue what I am doing! I have joined lots of groups now and set up my own “The Beginner Beekeeper Group” to see if I can help others by showing that it can be done whilst hopefully getting more mature and experienced beekeepers to help us all out. I seem to have acquired 25 people following already which is nice. I hope they know what they have got themselves in to!
I have posted lots of comments on other peoples “groups” because apparently this is what I should be doing as it raises exposure for my own (and also this blog) so hopefully I can meet some nice people along the way.
Anyway, jobs for this week:
• Panic and find out where to buy Cedar wood
• Panic and try to find a mentor in the local area (apparently this is really important to beginners – I think I will need more help than most!)
• Panic and write letters to my farmers to see if they mind putting the hives on their fields
• Panic and then just simply relax
Total Comments 6
Comments
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Dont write letters to the farmers go and call on them at least then they can see you face to face. You may be suprised as to their response.Posted 07-02-2010 at 08:16 PM by VEG 
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Fair point Veg, probably a lot better than a letter........will amend my weekly aims! Hope all is well with you.
JamesPosted 08-02-2010 at 08:22 AM by jamesdearsley
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A beekeeper I know had a hive come apart in his car.
Elephant man. Unconscious for 24 hours.
I have a trailer :-)Posted 14-02-2010 at 03:49 PM by svsummers
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Been there, done that. Used to get 4-6 hives in the Volvo Estate, and tie them up with rope would you believe. One September evening after loading the hives at the heather site and heading off for a well-earned pint, the inevitable happened going round a sharp bend. The bees roared out, and me and my pal dived out the doors after slamming on the handbrake. After a few minutes we donned our bee suits and drove home (still thirsty). The bees just quietly went back in during the journey and we slid the boxes back together when we arrived.
That's when I began to get serious about hive clips and the like.
G.Posted 14-02-2010 at 11:23 PM by gavin
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Gavin,
I nearly laughed out loud at that description! Svsummers, I nearly, no I did, wince at your comment!
I suppose this is somthing that I will do at some point!
Hope all is well with the pair of you?
JamesPosted 18-02-2010 at 08:11 PM by jamesdearsley
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Yes, thanks James. I've been fine since I discovered ratchet straps!
G.Posted 18-02-2010 at 10:35 PM by gavin
