The Hive Bee Wilson

Over the past couple of weeks I have been reading The Hive by Bee Wilson. A very interesting read. I was amazed by the facts and information she has been able to compile into this one book.

As a beekeeper it was interesting to read about some of the early facts and myths around bees, honey, wax and beekeepers.

I really liked the book and have mentioned it to a couple of fellow beekeepers.

Its not a book on beekeeping for bee keepers but its none the less its an interesting book for bee keepers and the public in general.

More weeding more muck spreading

Some of the muck beneath the trees

Another week and more of the same. I have weeded beneath more trees and have spread more muck. I have a further 46 trees to go, so I reckon a good three weeks work remain. I managed less trees than last week, but the trees are towards the end of the orchard, and now I need to do the weeding myself. I was lucky previously the weather had been warmer and my parents had been down and done some of the weeding for me.

This weeding and muck spreading has stopped me doing some other work, which I had started a couple of weeks ago. That of cutting down the brambles. I need to finish off this work, and put the orchard to rest for the winter. I may have to cut the grass also, its long and makes pulling the trolley harder.

I haven't checked on the bees as the weather has been a lot colder lately, and I only want to go in when its an opportune time. I know that a couple of weeks ago they had plenty of food, and I have seen other bees collecting nectar from Ivy; which is in bloom at present.

More Than Honey the film by Markus Imhoof

I attended a screening of a film called  More than Honey it was a screening by friends of the Earth, in Sutton Coldfield.

It was interesting, It showed what professional beekeepers do in the states, and followed a family that have been beekeepers for many generations in Switzerland.

It was informative but for most beekeepers they would have been aware of the material tackled within the film. In one instance a beekeeper gassed his bee because they have European Foul Brood, a treatable illness, and at the end they saw the bees flying at night towards another galaxy. That was the most disappointing feature of the film.

It showed how a beekeeper was sticking to the native bee, even though his neighbours and moved to other breeds that were easy to manage. All interesting stuff.

They did show a drone swarms and a done mating with a queen. I hadn't seen these before. They also showed a queen emerging from a queen cell, which again was interesting. The film did highlight africanised bees and how though more aggressive they are manageable and show an american bee keeper who is a convert to africanised bees, and only keeps them.

Worth a watch.

Friends of the earth wanted us to sign a petition which will be sent to my local MP Andrew Mitchell.

Shoving trolley loads of the magic black smelly stuff

Been a tough weekend. Managed to get a trolley load off manure under 28 trees. It was tough work. I started at 10am and finished at 5pm. It was dark by the time I finished. I didn't really stop and take pictures this weekend just didn't have the time.

The weeds had been cleared under 17 trees by my parents during the week; this really helped. These 17 were the closest to the manure and the final 8 were at the furthest end of the orchard. That leaves the middle section of the orchard remaining for the next couple of weeks.

So under all the trees all the weeds and grass are removed. Then I piled under the manure and then spread it out evenly, then onto the next tree.

I was in pain and even a day on I feel like I had a good workout.

I have paid for the manure and given the farmer a jar of honey.

I found what looked like a maggots, turns out to be Leather jackets (Tipula paludosa)which will turn into daddy long legs. They aren't the prettiest insect.

Massive pile of poo more brambles cut down and a buzzard

Buzzard flying off

More Brambles Cut down

I have managed to get more brambles cut down but still have a good couple of days worth of work, ahead to cut down the rest and burn it down.

The pictures this week arn't great but I started work about 9am and had to finish at 11am. The shots were taken just as I was locking up for the morning. 

Bovine manure

I also fed the bees and all three hives in the orchard were doing well. I have topped up the food and all seems, healthy. Lots of bees, the weather is too cold to do a proper inspection. When I arrived it was frosty, silent and the sun was out, with a beautiful blue sky. A great day to be out in the countryside, or just out and about.

The farmer Mr Wilson has finally dropped off the manure which is great news. It does mean more work for me but great news all the same. The next couple of weekends will be spent shifting that around the orchard and getting it under the trees.  I did go and see him, but he was busy on his farm and I didn't manage to track him down, will try again next week, I did promise his wife a jar of honey, which I will also deliver next weekend. Its strange but that couple of tons of bovine manure is so pleasing for me. Its nutrients for the trees, protection and it also encourages lots of insects. many of which will benefit me and the trees.

Over the past couple of years I have seen a family of Buzzards grow and visit the orchard and the surrounding areas. Normally as soon as I arrive they fly off and just as they were heading of I managed to get the picture. It was in the next field, but I was happy I managed to get the picture. Normally by the time I have got the camera out of the case they have flow away. Its just one, huge bird. with a wing span that could be a meter. It fast, massive and very elegant to my eyes.

BBKA Module 2 Exam taken today

I've been studying for the British Bee Keepers Association Module 2 exam. It be difficult to find the time to study and get the some of the assignments done. I have been part of my local study group meeting once a month to discuss various topics and putting ideas, facts and opinions, forward with all of us contributing, to complete work. Which we would then send to be assessed. To pass the module  we have to pass a exam. Which for me was held at the Lea Marston hotel, in Warwickshire. The results arrive in about 8 weeks.

I have to admit the study was enjoyable but hard. I had to learn facts about legal requirements for honey, as a product, packaging requirements, various bits on health and safety. 

Then the study on how bees make honey and how they gather the pollen and nectar, the types of plants and trees, at what time of the year, they collect resources to make honey. Learning about the various different types of honey, from floral, Ling and Honeydew.

How honey from abroad is different. How plants communicate to the insects, from the use of colors, aromas, and even honey guides.

Then subjects on how to process the honey and other products things like what temperature and for how long. Then the more social aspects of beekeeping like Honey shows and what they are for as well as what judges would look for when assessing. I also learned about making things like mead and candles, and methods of taking the venom out of the bees. 

All interesting stuff. A couple of days or no study and then onto the the next module. 

I still have all the study notes so if you want them let me know.

Scotland 2013

Stag on the Isle of Mull

I spent the half term holiday with the kids in Scotland. We visited various places, the stag we spotted almost at dusk on the Isle of Mull on/near the Maclean ancestral home not far from the Duart castle itself.

This time of the year though many of the castles are closed we checked out Culzean Castle gardens and the orchards.The leaves have changed color and when its dry its great, not surprisingly not loads of people about. The glass houses still had grapes in them. In the orchards lots of lichen on the trees. Lots of clean air then.

Grapes in Culzean

Orchard at Culzean

A couple of highlights of the trip included a art exhibition in Ayr which ends in a couple of days but the place it was at held Maclaurin was great for the paintings it had a great cafe, and gallery. The university of Dundee gardens were lovely however the weather was a little wet, so we ended up on Dundee Law  which is a hill at the top of Dundee eating Dundee cake. Magic views from the top. I will have to visit Dundee botanical gardens again, as the weather was so very wet. I did manage a chat with one of the experts that was around.

Dundee Botanic gardens