I use smoke on the hives only when I’m doing a complete inspection. Seems like it’d be easy to light paper on fire, but starting fire at the bottom of a can is actually a little tricky. I have it down finally. Here is my stuff that I love with the steps enumerated: Paper: Shredded/dry…
Category: Beekeeping
Wild Sprout Apiary 2016
After two years of planning, the apiary was born. 2016 Configuration Hive A: “Modern Molly” Hive B: “Natural Nadia” Goal Survival Healthy Honey Hive Type: Langstroth Yes Yes Hive Size: 10-frame Medium Yes Yes Hive Materials Pine Painted Cedar Not Painted Frames Groove Top/Bottom Top wedge comb guide Foundation Waxed Rite-Cell None Pesticides (Varroa)…
Swarm 2017
After the winter of 2016, when inspecting the original two hives, I had concluded: Hive 1 (the one I re-queened with an Italian) died and Hive 2 (the Carniolans) absconded. So in May 2017, when we noticed the swarm just above the old hives (in the pines), it gave me hope that at least one…
Gift of Water!
I had no idea what it meant to have the gift of water….until 2017. It all started with our annual trip to Kalaloch Lodge in Olympic National Park in early 2017. We ventured on our hike, northbound this time, and found several rain barrels around the lodge. So, when my mom sent me Home D$$…
Feeding the bees – 2017
The gardens are optimized for beauty and the bees. Perennial herbs are starting to be my favorite to plant. In 2017, I figured out that oregano, thyme, and sage are both beautiful and hearty to our damp, low-sun environment. Of course, berries are our favorite.
Bees 2017
In 2017, the apiary grew to four hives, all carniolans. This year, the hives were moved and positioned in the sunniest part of the yard, south facing, and protected from the colder northern winds just beside the greenhouse. From the beginning, three of the four nucs were super-heathy and full of life.
wild sprout 
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