June 20th this year I was swiping through timehop, as you do, and I found a post from 10 years ago. “I want to be a beekeeper when I grow up!” Since I was grown up at the time, as much as one ever is, I believe this was intended to be a joke. But here I am 10 years later actually experimenting with beekeeping. My first year has been eye opening and educational, and it's not over yet!
Getting Started
Setting up my Apiary, I know its a big word for one hive but you know I like to sound fancy, began way before my girls arrived. First, as a teacher, of course I did a lot of research on beekeeping; books, videos, articles. And as many of these resources explained, you ask 5 beekeepers for advice and get 10 different answers. Needless to say I was cautious about getting started. But also, as a teacher, I know there is nothing like “on the job experience.” The first thing I needed to plan was the best location for my hive. One of my favorite resources, Beekeeping for Dummies, don’t laugh, it really is informative, suggested a place with dappled sunshine. The back of the yard has shade from my neighbor’s trees and seemed the perfect place. It is a little weedy back there and I wanted to keep the hive up off the ground so a platform seemed appropriate. My brother in law, my constant garden project helper, helped me build the platform. He has also helped me build all my raised garden beds and my DIY rain barrel, BEST BROTHER IN LAW EVER! After the platform was built, I ordered my beginner hive kit and bees. The girls were set to arrive the last week of April, but unfortunately were late due to a late frost that killed off many bees. When your hive arrives it is usually unassembled, I needed to ensure that the hive was built before the girls arrived. Nevertheless, the hive platform and hive were put together and there was just one more bump to navigate. In order to ensure that the dog didn’t disrupt the hive, I bought some short picket fence panels and attached them to the platform. I made a makeshift gate and TADA, I was ready for the girls.
Hiving the Bees
This was my least favorite beekeeping experiment. The girls had a delay in shipping and were in the shipping cage longer than anticipated. They were fine, mostly all alive, it is normal to lose some of the girls in transport, but a little agitated. I mean who isn’t after a long drive in traffic! I followed all the steps outlined in the book and video, pry open the lid, remove the feeder and queen cage and recover the shipping crate, remove a frame from the hive towards the center and hang the queen cage with cork removed in the hive, then pour the rest of the bees on top of the frames and cover. Except, the bees had been in the shipping cage long enough to create comb around the feeder and queen cage and they didn’t quite come out as easily as anticipated. A lot more bees were flying than in the expert video. I eventually got all the girls hived and was able to set up the feeder and cover the hive, with minimal stings! Five is minimal right? This is the only time I have been stung by the ladies when it wasn’t my fault, the girls are mostly docile. I have only ever been stung one other time of all my hive inspections, of course this most recent sting was my fault. I didn’t tuck in my shirt and one of the girls somehow flew up my shirt and unbeknownst to me was there when I bent over. In her defense I’m sure she didn’t like being smushed.
Weekly Inspections
As a first year beekeeper, I am definitely no expert on hive inspections. However, my book recommends that you do weekly inspections in order to develop more expertise. During these inspections, I look for evidence that my Queen is present in the hive; that could be seeing her or seeing evidence that she is laying eggs. Sometimes I check all the frames, sometimes I just check a few. But I am always looking to see that the girls are making comb and honey and that they have enough space and ventilation so they don’t swarm. Also, I’m checking for indications of disease or infestation by varroa mites, or other parasites that decrease the wellness of the hive. Mostly, I just observe them, trying to learn all I can about their normal behavior. I don’t have honey to harvest yet this year, however I am hoping for some. Fingers crossed! I have been advised that as a first year beekeeper I may not get a lot. Watching the girls work and keeping an eye out to see if I spot the queen has been exhilarating and nerve wracking. I certainly don’t want to get stung again but mainly I want to make sure I don’t do something to upset the hive. I think worrying about making mistakes is how we all feel when trying something new that we are passionate about; I certainly remember feeling this way as a first year teacher. So far the hive is thriving. The queen is doing her thing and girls are buzzing about! Stay tuned for more updates and hopefully some honey for the Boozie Bee.
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