http://www.nationofchange.org/scientists-discover-key-molecule-linking-neonicotinoids-honey-bee-viruses-1382712918
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Scientists Discover Molecule Linking Neonicotinoids to Honey Bee Viruses
Italian scientists think they've found the molecule that links honey bee immune systems with pesticides . . . let's hope they're right.
http://www.nationofchange.org/scientists-discover-key-molecule-linking-neonicotinoids-honey-bee-viruses-1382712918
http://www.nationofchange.org/scientists-discover-key-molecule-linking-neonicotinoids-honey-bee-viruses-1382712918
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
First Harvest
At the NCBA Beginning Beekeeping Class, they cautioned us not to expect to harvest any honey our first year. I pulled out five heaping frames today. I am so excited, and so proud of the bees. It's been a great year for bees in Fort Collins.
I went up to Copoco's to get a gate valve and a food grade 5 gallon bucket, a scraper, and a a bucket filter. It's not worth renting/borrowing an extractor for just 5 frames, so I tried scratching open the supers and letting it drain out. But since it's September and already cooled off a bit, the honey isn't viscous enough to drain out. We've got loads of flies this time of year too, so I decided it was best to scrape out the comb and honey all together. It will destroy a lot of work by the bees, but I want the honey that badly.
The scrapped out honey and wax makes a lump that looks a bit like creamed corn. The golden honey drains out pretty quickly. After it was mostly drained I took the wax that was left and left it in a strainer overnight to let gravity do it's work. This separated some more honey, which I ran through the bucket filter to combine with the rest of the honey.
I got some half pint and jam jars (4 oz). It's one of the lightest honey's I've ever seen, nearly water white on the color grade. And it tastes AMAZING. I think because I don't have to over filter it or heat it (because I'm not planning on selling it at this point), the honey is very raw. And FRESH!! It was in the hive just a few hours ago and was capped in the last week or so. It's AWESOME!!
I wanted to start beekeeping because I know honey bees are in trouble. Being a gardener and someone who appreciates the earth, I want to help them. I really love being able to grow and preserve food for myself.
To keep bees is to see the hand of God. The more I work with them, the more they teach me.
I went up to Copoco's to get a gate valve and a food grade 5 gallon bucket, a scraper, and a a bucket filter. It's not worth renting/borrowing an extractor for just 5 frames, so I tried scratching open the supers and letting it drain out. But since it's September and already cooled off a bit, the honey isn't viscous enough to drain out. We've got loads of flies this time of year too, so I decided it was best to scrape out the comb and honey all together. It will destroy a lot of work by the bees, but I want the honey that badly.
The scrapped out honey and wax makes a lump that looks a bit like creamed corn. The golden honey drains out pretty quickly. After it was mostly drained I took the wax that was left and left it in a strainer overnight to let gravity do it's work. This separated some more honey, which I ran through the bucket filter to combine with the rest of the honey.
I got some half pint and jam jars (4 oz). It's one of the lightest honey's I've ever seen, nearly water white on the color grade. And it tastes AMAZING. I think because I don't have to over filter it or heat it (because I'm not planning on selling it at this point), the honey is very raw. And FRESH!! It was in the hive just a few hours ago and was capped in the last week or so. It's AWESOME!!
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| Levi & Rocket's Honey 2013 |
To keep bees is to see the hand of God. The more I work with them, the more they teach me.
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Winterish
We've had a fairly cold week, and a few inches of snow. It's actually our first week with a hard freeze. I've been a bit concerned with the bees, and I haven't had a chance to do an inspection because it's been either too cold or very overcast.
Today I jumped at the chance to do an inspection when I heard it was in the 60's. Sure enough when I got out to the hive, the poor girls were crowded around the small opening of the entrance reducer. They're still working hard and coming back with loads of pollen. I pried out the entrance reducer before I got the smoker going just to give them a chance to unload.
The two top supers showed significant improvement. It's been at least two weeks since I moved the empties out and took off the third one. There's a lot of newly capped honey. It even looked like they were laying down more comb. And there's still a lot of uncapped nectar, which I don't want to take out of the hive, since I can't harvest it.
I wore a white suit today for the first time today. They seemed to be a lot more relaxed. I smoked them pretty good, but the white suit seemed to really help. I don't know if it's sting proof, but i suppose I'll find out sooner or later.
I wasn't able to get the frames out of the hive bodies. they are so caked with propolis, when i tried to pry them loose, it was actually the hive frame that cracked first. They seem really healthy. I looked down into the top hive body and it looked completely full of honey. I looked under the bottom hive body too, and it looked really clean too. I didn't separate them since I had no idea where the queen might be.
I'll have to do some more research, but I think they are looking good heading into winter. I'm planning to wrap the hive with some kind of insulation, perhaps styrofoam, to help them keep warm. I'm really pleased to see how well they are doing and so proud of their hard work. It's been a fantastic year to start beekeeping in the Rockies!
Today I jumped at the chance to do an inspection when I heard it was in the 60's. Sure enough when I got out to the hive, the poor girls were crowded around the small opening of the entrance reducer. They're still working hard and coming back with loads of pollen. I pried out the entrance reducer before I got the smoker going just to give them a chance to unload.
The two top supers showed significant improvement. It's been at least two weeks since I moved the empties out and took off the third one. There's a lot of newly capped honey. It even looked like they were laying down more comb. And there's still a lot of uncapped nectar, which I don't want to take out of the hive, since I can't harvest it.
I wore a white suit today for the first time today. They seemed to be a lot more relaxed. I smoked them pretty good, but the white suit seemed to really help. I don't know if it's sting proof, but i suppose I'll find out sooner or later.
I wasn't able to get the frames out of the hive bodies. they are so caked with propolis, when i tried to pry them loose, it was actually the hive frame that cracked first. They seem really healthy. I looked down into the top hive body and it looked completely full of honey. I looked under the bottom hive body too, and it looked really clean too. I didn't separate them since I had no idea where the queen might be.
I'll have to do some more research, but I think they are looking good heading into winter. I'm planning to wrap the hive with some kind of insulation, perhaps styrofoam, to help them keep warm. I'm really pleased to see how well they are doing and so proud of their hard work. It's been a fantastic year to start beekeeping in the Rockies!
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