Junking Up the Place

Posted by liz on December 31, 2009

I mean, if you already have two hives, what’s the big deal about adding a third, right? That’s what I’m thinking. I’ve been watching some YouTube videos about beekeeping (to which I will probably contribute once I know something), and some of those people have piles of hives in small spaces. There’s one guy in particular whom I like a lot…he’s from South America or Cuba or Mexico, I think…I can’t quite figure out where he’s keeping his bees, but in some of his videos his hives are crazy tight and hilariously high, and something about that appeals to me.

But Deb tells me that I can’t keep my third and future hives on the hill behind our house with our other two. She doesn’t want it looking like a junk yard back there. She said maybe I should find a farm and put them there. I’m thinking I can hide them behind the garage.

Here’s a brief “How to Smoke Bees” video starring my new favorite beekeeper…for some reason, I call him “Santiago.” I love this one because of the pink or lavendar pick-up truck parked near these hives. Aren’t we having fun with this?!

UPDATE: Okay, so I’ve learned that this beekeeper’s name is Jorge Gomez, and he keeps his bees in Austin, TX. Which is where my parents live! And I’m in Austin several times each year! I’m gonna make it a point to find Jorge Gomez and visit with him.

Stay Warm, Please

Posted by liz on December 29, 2009

See those black cardboard boxes on yesterday’s post? The ones I used to cover the hives? Not only do those boxes add a layer of insulation, but the blackness absorbs the little sunlight we have here in the Ohio River Valley…and that keeps the bees warmer. My hope is that the warmer they are, the less food they need to eat…because it takes food to make enough energy to stay warm. Hang with me, girls.

Using the Word "Winter" as a Verb

Posted by liz on December 28, 2009

I’m worried about the bees. Perhaps because we have snow on the ground and our temperatures this week should be cold…highs ranging from 11 to 30 degrees. And I’m not sure the girls have stored enough food with which to winter. Weird to use “winter” as a verb.

Last month, I fed both of our hives sugar water, which they initially guzzled down. But then they completely stopped eating it. So, I removed the feeders and left them alone. But now I’m thinking I should have fed earlier. And more. And now I’ve covered the hives with black cardboard boxes and called it all off until spring. There’s really nothing more I can do other than prepare for warmer weather. I hope I haven’t killed them. Then again, I wonder how they would do with no human management whatsoever. And I’m almost of a mind to leave them alone and alone and alone and see how things go.

In the meantime, I am preparing the TwoHoneys business cards and the TwoHoneys labels and fancying up the TwoHoneys website. I plan to build a desire for honey such as the world has never before known.

Winterized Hive

Year: 2009