Natural Beekeeping is easy

Most people think Beekeeping is a lot of work, this is true for the Commercial Beekeeper but quite a different picture for the Natural beekeeper.

Commercial Beekeeping on a large scale is time consuming for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the scale of the operation requires time to be spent with each hive to monitor and intervene at specific stages of development of each individual hive. Secondly, the techniques followed by Commercial Beekeepers require a high amount of attention due to the intensive nature of the practice. Commercial hives are crowded and cramped damp boxes that are more akin to a sweatshop than a home.

Natural Beekeepers follow a different path, using a technique that is in tune with the bees natural behavior. Providing a hive that is spacious and well ventilated creates a healthy population of bees that require no interference or treatments with toxins. A healthy hive that is undisturbed until it has built up enough comb to have an excess of honey for the winter, which takes one to three years, depending on the weather. The amount of comb/honey that is extracted does not jeopardize the winter stock required by the bees, so that there is no need to feed the bees a poor diet of sugar water. The bees always have their own honey which has the best nutritional value for the bees. Feeding the bees sugar weakens them and make them susceptible to any diseases.

Providing the bees a healthy environment and leaving them to their own devices is not only the best way to a healthy hive, but also the easiest way to make the best honey you will ever taste.

Natural Beekeepers, working smarter, not harder.

Max

What is a Top Bar Hive?

This is a question that is asked most often by people who stop at our stall at the Skibbereen Farmers Market, so I thought I would explain it here.

A Top Bar Hive is an imitation of a hollowed out log with the added advantage of being able to monitor and extract honey with minimal disturbance to the hive. The hive shape and size are a more natural configuration than the common square box widely used. There is also a great amount of open space in the hive that aids in ventilation, which is a major factor in a healthy hive.

The hive stands on four legs about three feet high, which makes it very easy to work as the whole hive is at waist height. The bars that the bees use to build their comb upon are just a piece of timber with a groove, there is no foundation wax or frame. The bees are able to build the comb of varying sizes as they see fit.

The hives I build are made of local Larch, which is very weather resistant (used in boats and fencing) and assembled without toxins, glues, plywood, paint or preservatives. This creates a toxin free environment for the bees.

When you create a healthy environment for the bees to build their comb, you end up with the best honey possible. The bees are also less stressed and very easy to work without much need for smoke.

For a first hand look, stop by the market on Saturdays or even attend one of our Natural Beekeeping Courses.

Regards,
Max

Bee Garden Planning

April has asked me to contribute regularly to this Bee Blog and I will do my best to do so every day.

Planning a garden with Bees in mind means just being aware of what the Bees need throughout the year. Bees will fly every day that they can, weather permitting, even in mid-winter. If the winters day is mild and the sun is shinning on the hive entrance, then the Bees will venture out to see what they can find. 

Having a range of plants that provide nectar and pollen at different times of the year will ensure the bees can find sustenance at crucial times such as late winter / early spring and autumn / early winter.

One of the most important things to remember is to avoid spraying weed killers of any sort as Dandelions and wild flowers are a very important food source for Bees (and countless other insects).  

A simple list of important flowers for Bees would contain the following:

Dandelion, Forget me not, Wildflower mix, Snowdrop, Crocus, Daffodils, Hyacinths, Ivy, Heather, Catmint, Fushia, Hyssop, Hollyhock, Lavenders, Loostrife, Sage, Thyme and Tulip

Flowering trees make up a large part of the Bees' interest as well, Butterfly tree (Buddleja) and Lime trees being noted favorites.

More on this subject on another day,

Regards,

Max

One with Nature

Today is a lovely but cold day in West Cork - the kind that promises spring is near, but to hold off on the celebrations for another little while. For those of us who are bee keepers - we are watching our hives closely as the bees come out for a few minutes on days such as these.

We love to see the bees! Actually, it warms our hearts to know that the hives have survived another winter and are here once again with us. Living, thriving and warming to the sun's rays - in the same way we are.

But, it's more then this. Perhaps there is also some very deep connection to hidden aspects of ourselves. Parts of us are also warming to the sun's heat - we are waking up too. Along with the ground, the plants pushing up from the soil and the bees poking out to see the emerging world...

It is very much like our world at this time of year. The heat from the sun increases our vitamin D stores, brings back our immune function and after these winter months we are renewed in spirit and health. We are part of this cycle - nature has not excluded us from her embrace....

We are One with the bees on days such as this.....

Dried Sage from the garden - our bees love the tiny purple flowers....

Banning Deadly Pesticides

Avaaz.org is running a campaign at the moment to have deadly pesticides banned from use in certain crops and areas in Europe. Personally, this should not even be on an agenda with all we know about bees and poisons these days.

However, it is, and it does far more harm then perhaps we will ever know for decades to come. If you haven't already, please follow the link to their website and sign their petitions. The have done some great work over the years - and I am pleased to see them speaking up for the bees.

Azaaz Bee Campaign 

Gardening with Bees in Mind...

Today was another day that was a bit of a disaster as far as weather is concerned .... wow the amount of rain that came down in the last 24 hours is unreal. But, we cope and hopefully someday will dry out! LOL

It was also a day of mucking around in the garden, the air is warm and it was nice to get out there to see what is starting to burst up through the soil. I love this time of year with it's promises of all that is to come from a healthy growing garden.

Planning the garden is something that many bee keepers take fairly seriously with a few flowers and herbs that bees love I like to plant my herbs because it strengthens them as well as us. But there are many other plants they benefit from too. 

Flowering plants such as sunflowers, lavender and marigold flower either at different times or can be staggered to have something in bloom during the entire summer season. And in early spring any of the crocus, daffodils and snowdrops can be planted to give the bees a little head start.

Fruit trees and shallow pools of clean water are also helpful to have around for the bees.... Just keeping them in mind when planning your garden can go a long way!

Top Bar Bee Hive 

Herbs to Strengthen and Survive...

Today was not a bee day - however, they are certainly being discussed everywhere I go. With all the talk and attention being paid to the plight of the bees, it should all start to come together for them, one way or another.

One conclusion we have come to in our own journey with our bees - is how they need hardy, native  plants in the local vicinity in order for them to thrive. It's always a great idea to plant anything bee friendly however - so if you are planning your garden this year, keep them in mind as well.

As for me, my passion lies with the herbs and I am thrilled when our bees arrive to sample the many flowers and blooms on the thyme, sage, marigold and various other favourites around the garden. This year I hope to expand it a little bit more to give them an even better foraging range.

Herbs strengthen us - and I am certain they do the same for the bees.