Barefoot Andrew
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Bee virgin seeks 40,000 soulmates for sweet friendshipI want bees!
I stayed at Château Fiddlesticks over the weekend, and yesterday morning they introduced me to their bees. This pic was taken by Tim, and I'm the one being slightly gormless in the white garb:-
I had an ace time. Magical to get up close and see - and hear - them at work. And I was even quite proud of my first ever bee sting  Although bee strings do seem to require the voicing of a profanity or two 
Coming slightly back down to Earth, it'd be impractical to keep bees here at Château-moi, so I'm wondering what could be possible as some sort of community project. Could be a road to chooks too. *scratches chin purposefully*.
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Penny
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Stupid question - how on earth, with all that protection on, do you manage to get stung 
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Barefoot Andrew
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I just knew someone would ask that
T'was before I put the black gloves on.
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Nick
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Could you keep them in the fields opposite you?
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Barefoot Andrew
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That is actually a very good idea indeed. I don't know who the farmer is, but I know who does. I feel an enquiry coming on.
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Mrs Fiddlesticks
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Our good friend Steve who is one of our partners in crime in the village apiary is the one to the left (I'm lurking in the middle) He's more experienced than us and really passionate about the bees so a great tutor.
Andrew was just being handed gloves -when he got stung - shame they were 10 seconds too late ( well you were stood at the front of the hive - and I think had been told to move from there in case )
Good weekend though - the village allotment apiary bags its first victim great to send Andrew home with a list of beekeeping books to go get!
Our apiary has been set up in part with the aim of use as a teaching apiary so we welcome the chance to give others a glimpse in to the world of the bee
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Barefoot Andrew
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| Mrs Fiddlesticks wrote: | | ( well you were stood at the front of the hive - and I think had been told to move from there in case ) |
Gormless bee virgin mode  Apparently, getting in the bees' way rather hacks them off.
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lottie
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If you join a group they often have a club apiary on a friendly farmers land where you can keep a hive.
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Barefoot Andrew
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I just happen to be browsing the BBKA site at this present moment
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Jamanda
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Not so sure I'd fancy barefoot beekeeping!
But, yes join you local apiary and do a beginner's course. Ours was very good.
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Barefoot Andrew
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| Jamanda wrote: | | Not so sure I'd fancy barefoot beekeeping! |
I cheated 
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Barefoot Andrew
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Ooh, a 'community veg' scheme has started around here on a plot of land with a poly tunnel. About £3/4 gets you a bag of mixed veg, fruit or salad.
At the moment they're sourcing stuff from local wholesalers just to get going, but apparently they'd like to actually start growing stuff on the reasonably sizeable plot, and maybe strike relationships with allotment holders.
I asked whether they might consider bees, and they seem to be quite keen - both as as a benefit to the garden, and an edumacatory tool (the local infants school are completely taken with the idea of a community garden apparently).
Could be a way for me to get a little bit involved with bees without the expense/time/effort of starting up myself (which won't be happening any day soon).
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Tavascarow
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Spot the difference.
&
No gloves, veil back & not a puff of smoke.
Notice how few bees are actually flying around as well.
Also as far as kids are concerned an easily fitted observation window is great.
Every time you open a conventional hive you are ripping their home apart & the bees react accordingly.
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Cathryn
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How very odd. I have been wondering about bees for a few years and despite reading most of the bee posts on here it's your last post T that has tipped me over to thinking I might rather than thinking I might not. I can't think why either.
I think I will start reading with a purpose.
How are you getting on BA?
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mochasidamo
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| Tavascarow wrote: | n%2010/P1020893.jpg[/img]
No gloves, veil back & not a puff of smoke.
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Yeah, but just look at the state of it ! Looks like the site of a bad nosebleed...or is that melted chocolate?
And whilst I agree that gloveless and smokeless is easy on tbh I don't do veil-free. Bees up the nose or in the ear I can live without...and a sting in the eye can blind. Granted to date the tbh bees have never stung but had enough hassle from the commercials.
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Barefoot Andrew
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| Cathryn wrote: | | How are you getting on BA? |
Generally in life, or with bees? If the latter, I'm not yet!
Tavascarow - noted. I'll be endeavouring to point the people involved in Downsizer's direction. If not for advice then for contribution.
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Tavascarow
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| gekkko wrote: | | Tavascarow wrote: | n%2010/P1020893.jpg[/img]
No gloves, veil back & not a puff of smoke.
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Yeah, but just look at the state of it ! Looks like the site of a bad nosebleed...or is that melted chocolate? |
That's just pollen staining, or are you talking about the state of the beekeeper on the right It's rust staining from a smoker that was wrapped in the veil last winter.
| Quote: | | And whilst I agree that gloveless and smokeless is easy on tbh I don't do veil-free. Bees up the nose or in the ear I can live without...and a sting in the eye can blind. Granted to date the tbh bees have never stung but had enough hassle from the commercials. |
In the image I have the veil back, just in case.
You only have to drop a comb or accidentally squash the queen & the mildest colony can become angry.
I wouldn't work my national uncovered for the same reason you don't with your commercials.
T
BA I'm sorry if I sound like a pompous zealous ass sometimes.
It's just having kept bees conventionally for so long & seeing the difference between the two methods has been a revelation to me.
Their behaviour is totally different in a TBH.
In my image the bees that where flying where going about their business as normal.
Smoke is a very good pacifier, but it works by panicking the bees into thinking their home is about to burn down.
Conventional beekeeping increases the stress load on a colony & increased stress means they are more susceptible to pests & disease.
Keeping bees as naturally as possible actually makes it easier.
Read as much as you can on the subject but don't rule out another way just because there isn't much in print about it, or because there are many beekeepers who will tell you it doesn't work.
If they do, I'm happy to bet it's because they haven't tried it.
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Barefoot Andrew
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| Tavascarow wrote: | | BA I'm sorry if I sound like a pompous zealous ass sometimes. |
Bless Not at all!
I (currently) know very little about bees and am ignorant to the pros and cons of both approaches. I do know Another Way exists though which is a start.
I'm going up there later to place my veg order, will mention DS...
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mochasidamo
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The rusty smoker trick...of course . Should have guessed!
And I agree.
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