What did you do in the Apiary today?

[JamezF]

I have hives right in the middle of a 25 acre non-commercial orchard and can drive right up to them. The dog walkers on the right of way are at the edge and people seem to be unaware of my hives, even after years of daily walks. If your option is like that, it would be great.

Very much so. I contacted our SBI yesterday and she said that she'd consider my existing bees to be in a high risk area anyway so having colonies there would make very little difference to me overall, whereas she'd recommend against someone who was in a low-risk area setting up colonies there.

Something for me to ponder on over the Winter.

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

A couple of hours work this evening.


I’ve got another lot like this to do next week then 600 jars for a client before Christmas!
Glad I’ve got my jarring machine.

 

[BeeKeyPlayer]

Glad I’ve got my jarring machine.

Fantastic! Big time saver I think.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Glad I’ve got my jarring machine.

Do you have a labelling machine, though?

 

[Newbeeneil]

Do you have a labelling machine, though?

Not anymore, my granddaughter got fed up.

Automatic on hex is difficult with my 3 labels/jar but the 600 go to the client unlabelled.

 

[Newbeeneil]

Fantastic! Big time saver I think.

TBH it’s a pain to get it all out and then clean it down for a run of 150-200 jars but the actual jarring is quick, accurate and mess free.
As I said on a different thread I’m tempted to import one of those cheap Chinese pumped ones to compare with my gravity fed one as I think the setting up and breaking down will be easier.

 

[Shutler]

Last varroa treatment was last weekend so I’ve added a sticky board to see what the varroa numbers will be going into winter. Mouse guards fitted, and mesh cages for woodpeckers and squirrels have also been placed over the hives. So apart from checking the board, possibly adding a block of fondant, and the regular squirrel control, I’m done till spring.

 

[JamezF]

Just a bit of random pottering around and tidying at the home apiary today. I was quite surprised to see a few bees flying as it is really quite grim here. I think we've spent most of the last three or four days inside the clouds and it has been astonishingly dull.

James

 

[Penninetrader]

Just a bit of random pottering around and tidying at the home apiary today. I was quite surprised to see a few bees flying as it is really quite grim here. I think we've spent most of the last three or four days inside the clouds and it has been astonishingly dull.

James

Dry overcast and damp cold here in the hills but the girls are flying, albeit for limited hours, I can only identify one colony as bringing in a creamy yellow pollen which I presume is ivy.

 

[pargyle]

Just a bit of random pottering around and tidying at the home apiary today. I was quite surprised to see a few bees flying as it is really quite grim here. I think we've spent most of the last three or four days inside the clouds and it has been astonishingly dull.

James

Yes... been very dull and overcast here for the last few days, they forecast sunny spells but I don't know where they were - certainly not here. Some of mine were flying but looking at the activity at the pond -probably water gathering, Still a little ivy in bloom so they may be finding that as well.

 

[Erichalfbee]

Making plans for next year. We are putting the smallholding up for sale. What with me having to go to hospital two hours away every day for six weeks some years ago, to Stan’s heart attack and now being without a car for a week after ours was crippled by Surrey Fire And Rescue we have realised how isolated we are.
The bees will have to go ( temporarily)
Most folk keep bees on Nationals whilst ours are on 14x12 so I will Bailey a few to sell. I can’t imagine being without bees.

 

[The Poot]

Making plans for next year. We are putting the smallholding up for sale. What with me having to go to hospital two hours away every day for six weeks some years ago, to Stan’s heart attack and now being without a car for a week after ours was crippled by Surrey Fire And Rescue we have realised how isolated we are.
The bees will have to go ( temporarily)
Most folk keep bees on Nationals whilst ours are on 14x12 so I will Bailey a few to sell. I can’t imagine being without bees.

Big decisions but probably sensible, I guess.
Isolation, or at least, distance from other folk is nice, but there are times it can be an issue.
It looks like you’ve already reduced colony numbers from the dozen you used to have to half that, so perhaps this has been bubbling under for a while?
Whatever you decide, I really hope it works out for the best for you both - but for Stan’s sake, don’t get another potting she’d!

 

[Erichalfbee]

but for Stan’s sake, don’t get another potting she’d!

Ha yes! He has to get that down before he gets his new knee in January

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Making plans for next year. We are putting the smallholding up for sale.

so where are you thinking of relocating to?

 

[Erichalfbee]

Still in wales, Maybe marches

 

[Newbeeneil]

Still in wales, Maybe marches

Nice area, I tried to get the wife to move there about 15 years ago but then our first grandchild was born - no chance of getting her to move after that!

 

[Erichalfbee]

Daughter is in Berlin.
Stans two are in Cheshire and Cumbria so we will be nearer them. I yearn to be able to walk to a local shop and a pub. Oh, and have a day off from the work here.

 

[Murox]

They say "The secret to change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new." Enjoy the new chapter of your 'never ending story'.

 

[pargyle]

Daughter is in Berlin.
Stans two are in Cheshire and Cumbria so we will be nearer them. I yearn to be able to walk to a local shop and a pub. Oh, and have a day off from the work here.

Having spent most of today doing the annual pruning of the hedge from hell (Pyracantha) - its grown nearly 5 feet in the last year) and then cutting it into small pieces to go in the council brown bin (Not one for the compost heap as the thorns don't rot down !) I managed to get very little else done. I think if it was not for the fact that I would need a skip and a mini-digger to get rid of the thing and what else would grow against a North facing wall it would be gone ! ... So many jobs to get done at this time of the year ...

I can empathise with that sentiment !

 

[Sutty]

Having spent most of today doing the annual pruning of the hedge from hell (Pyracantha) - its grown nearly 5 feet in the last year) and then cutting it into small pieces to go in the council brown bin (Not one for the compost heap as the thorns don't rot down !) I managed to get very little else done. I think if it was not for the fact that I would need a skip and a mini-digger to get rid of the thing and what else would grow against a North facing wall ... So many jobs to get done at this time of the year ...

I can empathise with that sentiment !

Council recycling uses hot composting, the thorns will be fine.