Recent content by BitterleyBee

We were forced to have a smart meter installed with threat we would no longer be able to have off peak electric . So we caved and had it installed. So of course it doesn’t work to send a signal where we are so still have to read it and report it. Anyone worked out how to read them? Nightmare...

I’ve been collecting bean seeds and cooking up garden chilli with them. Tomatoes, carrots, chillies, chard, parsley and oregano in there. Some smoked paprika, black pepper and cumin. The beans seeds fresh out of the pod that hadn’t dried out cooked in 10 minutes so a lot quicker than dried...

Just made my elderberry syrup. 1.5 kg elderberries, 0.5kg blackberries, half a ground nutmeg, cinnamon 4 teaspoons, ginger 2 teaspoons, 4 star anise, 8 cloves, lots of honey added after the simmering of the mix for 30 mins. Then some vitamin c powder, 2 tablespoons. Should kills all known germs.

Good enough to wear again?

Field of chicory in flower and load of clover near two hives of mine but not expecting a crop with this weather.

I have got some salvias growing and hoping the bees will make use of them, any feedback from others if they are used? I’ve heard mention of sedums and asters as well. Planning a green roof on my shed with some sedums. Ron I reckon keep the St John’s wort. Amazing medicinal plant. I have tried...

then pull them or crush the stems quick before the flowers produce seed. It might look lovely but it’s an invasive species that fs up the environment for native species

Hi all, just noticed large yew tree in the garden is starting to produce bountiful pollen. Haven’t seen any bees on it although that may be the temperature not warm enough yet. Do bees go for yew pollen at all?????? thanks

Healthspan Saw Palmetto complete capsules have done me the world of good. And no, I don’t work for them. Small possibility of a massive coincidence and everyone is unique of course but my experience was: 3 yrs ago definitely enlarging prostate, some blood in urine few times over couple of...

Had similar experience of it not letting me into the hive count despite going through a password reset to login in the first place it just kept circling back to the previous screen when clicked on the hive count link. May try again on a different web browser later.

talk to your local district or unitary council about the 'LADS2' Local Authority Delivery Scheme that the Government is giving large sums of money to councils for wall insulation, air source heat pumps and stuff like that. EPC needs to be D rating or lower. grants are up to £10k. there are some...

My dad (40 yrs beekeeping) tells how he caught a queen once. used a marker pen , gentle press down. No colour on queen, must need to press slightly harder, no colour but squashed queen. The marker pen had run dry. i has similar to others leaving a super of honey covered I thought outside back...

not sure if the doubters have actually tried it, they don't say. I can only say from my experience. I have tried it and agree it's not going to be the only thing you do perhaps, but I monitored before and when installed and definite significant increase in varroa drop onto board was seen for two...

Cheap little blow torch off eBay for a few quid works great and just had a normal lighter inside it. Refill via base. Can of fuel lasts forever.

is there scope to drop in a brood frame with eggs from another hive?? might that work?