Recent content by SaraR

Oh, that’s very clever!

A strap around the hive and stand is really reliable and easy to work with. You just loosen the strap a little and drop it by your feet, then it quickly goes back up and is tightened down once you’re done. Just make sure you get good quality ones - I’ve had best luck with some old straps meant...

A few years ago, I did vertical splits and then kept the two new hives on top of eachother for the rest of the season. I got new floors and roofs in time for the autumn, so I haven’t overwintered any hives in highrise fasion, but it worked well and didn’t add too much hassle at inspections...

Very much a beginner still, but I’ve made several baskets and really enjoy the process! The best way to learn start is to do a course with an experienced basket-maker and then take it from there. You can make a basket and pick up a lot of useful information from a one-day course. There are a lot...

If the stand can take the weight it might be fine, but I would prefer to store the smoker away from the hive so that I can light it and have it working before approaching the hive. Also, bees are sensitive to vibrations, so if you start opening and closing the stand underneath them, they might...

Two of mine (largest and smallest) were absolutely fine today, the two middle ones not so much! Decided to close them up and come back another day. I think they were the ones bringing in the most nectar right now, so maybe you're right. At least my days are more flexible now that I'm working...

Start out by figuring out what you *need* to do each time and only do that for the first few times. Don't go tearing through the whole brood nest unless you really have to, until your confidence is back. Also have an exit strategy ready in your mind. Eg "If things go tits up, I'll put this...

Because I needed the supers that were stuffed with insulation to hold frames for the two busiest hives. :) The thin insulation I had under the roofs is still there.

Removed winter wraps and insulation. Put a super on one particularly busy hive and quickly checked on the rest. Interesting to see how different the colonies are looking now, despite most being very similar going into winter. Put a nuc box out as well. Also ordered a painful amount worth of of...

I've got something similar for cleaning my solar wax extractor. It's great!

I've made the most of the gorgeous weather and been busy in the apiary. Two hives given new stands, floors and roofs. One full super taken off each of my hives for extraction and yesterday I got the MAQS strips on just in time for the warmer weather. Finally bought my own extractor, so hoping...

In Beekeeping for All, Warré says that: - a good skep should have a diameter of 30 cm and height of 80 cm (but notes that "You rarely find this.") - 40 L volume is ideal, but over 30 L okay - in autumn, a 40 L skep should weigh 20 kg and a 30 L one 15 kg. Half of these weights would be honey.

Added another super on each hive. The ladies are drinking a lot of water at the moment too, haven't seen that before.

Do what you need to do, but without dawdling. I find that it's more important that it isn't windy.

Made the most of the sunny but windy weather today and did a quick check of my hives, to remove the winter protection. They'd filled up their brood boxes so added a super with partially drawn comb to each, but decided to leave a full inspection untill next week. Quite exciting to have such...