Wrapping up the 2012 year

Canning our tomato sauce Tomatillo sauce House repairs Apple picking at Fishkill Getting it done Closing the roof before the first snow Well we had a bumper crop in the veggie garden in 2012 and with pregnancy of our son it was a tiring year. I could hardly keep up with how well we produced. May 4th 2nd Swarm May Day Hive split and captured swarm April 28th More of everything seeded April 14 Gladiolas, Dahlias, and Lilies planted in the spiral garden Kristen F helped plant the strawberry patch March 28th Carrots and Beets seeded directly March 26th onion sets in the ground March 21st Kale planted in the garden March 17th workshop given to the Weston A. Price Foundation's local chapter March 8th Veggie and flower seeds started Feb 23 a quart and a half of syrup from neighborly sap Feb 18th 2 quarts of maple syrup from about 20 gallons of sap Feb 11th made 2 quarts of maple syrup from 24 gallons of sap Feb 9th brussels and some sprouting garlic cloves in my little greenhouse Feb 4th Started Lacinato Kale and Onions in my little greenhouse

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Second Swarm

We went out to see the bees last night and found another swarming new colony about 10 feet away on a downed tree branch. After a day of exhausting work I had to sit down and gather my thoughts a bit. 

With my lack of experience how was I gonna get this colony with no equipment? We have an order on the way. My husband went hunting for a box which turned out to be a drawer from our old kitchen. He built a bottom board quickly with scraps in the wood shop. Then we all walked out. We suited up for the occasion and got in there with a plan of action.

As I checked them out I tried to find the queen in the mass of bees. It was just my lucky day... She was perched about six inches above the mass on the branch by herself plain as day! I couldn't believe it! In my little bit of experience I can never find the queen and there she was! All I had to do was gently scoop her up and move her into the box. Then I place the box entrance under the swarm and brushed the swarm down onto the box over the entrance so the bees would know where she was and freely go into the box.

Split Hive

So we went out to add some bee tea to the hive feeder in hopes of keeping the bees happy and drawing comb. While I was suiting up my middle girl noticed a pile bees across from us on a vine on the ground. It's spring and they produced a new queen and sprang.

A little sugar water spray. 

Aaaaccckk! I had no extra equipment except an old bottom board to work with. My better half knew exactly what to do and had some excellent advise from our farmer friends at Urda Farm. He grabbed an old bowling pin crate from the shed we call a barn. It fit perfectly over the hive bottom. I scooted the hive bottom up as close I could to the swarm and he place the box over the new colony. Little by little we inched the box back over the hive bottom board and the bees followed the darkness into the makeshift hive box. The weather worked in our favor because it turned unexpectedly colder and misty and the bees don't like that.

nevermind the shovel. no scooping happened

This morning during farm chores I peeked under the box since it was cold and there were no bees moving around. Sure enough there was cluster the size of a volley ball hanging inside the box. I guess I just got a nucleus hive goin'.  This was all so exciting and a cool experience in my learning process as an absentee beekeeper.  I think best of all my hubby is absolutely inthralled and may be turning into a beekeeper.