It was getting dark, but we took a quick peek in the hive late this afternoon to see how the bees were faring after the deep cold we had. Well, they were doing just fine thank you! There were a bunch of bees in there. The brood area looked healthy, lots of new uncapped brood. Comb being pulled and stores laid up.
However, one thing my mentor said on the way out - this was not the time of day to get in the hive. The bees were really aggressive - several were whacking my veil and one got inside of his (a little beekeeper dance got rid of it :)). Even as we walked away the were dive bombing us. Another lesson!
For now - a place to capture my adventures in Virginia beekeeping.
Sweet Accounting
20012 Honey
4/21...16 pints (9 frames)
2011 Honey
8/13... (5 frames, 2 shallow)
7/17..39 pints (11 frames some shallow)
7/4 .. 10 pints (6 frames, (4 shallow))
6/12 .. 18 pints (7 frames)
5/28 .. 20 pints (8 frames)
5/14 .. 25 pints (9 frames)
2010 Honey
afraid my records were poor this year, but based on sales/gifts about 20 gallons.
'09 - honey - 24 gallons!
10/23 . 16 pints (9 frames)
9/18 ... 38 pints
7/11 ... 42 pints (14 frames)
6/21 ... 47 pints (18 frames)
6/13 ... 26 pints (11 frames)
5/26 ... 24 pints
'08 - (# of frames of honey harvested)
Hive #1 (deep frames)
5/21 ... 4
5/29 ... 2
Hive #2 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 3
6/8 ..... 5
6/15 ... 1
Hive #3 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 2
6/8 ..... 3
6/15 ... 4
6/25 ... 1
4/21...16 pints (9 frames)
2011 Honey
8/13... (5 frames, 2 shallow)
7/17..39 pints (11 frames some shallow)
7/4 .. 10 pints (6 frames, (4 shallow))
6/12 .. 18 pints (7 frames)
5/28 .. 20 pints (8 frames)
5/14 .. 25 pints (9 frames)
2010 Honey
afraid my records were poor this year, but based on sales/gifts about 20 gallons.
'09 - honey - 24 gallons!
10/23 . 16 pints (9 frames)
9/18 ... 38 pints
7/11 ... 42 pints (14 frames)
6/21 ... 47 pints (18 frames)
6/13 ... 26 pints (11 frames)
5/26 ... 24 pints
'08 - (# of frames of honey harvested)
Hive #1 (deep frames)
5/21 ... 4
5/29 ... 2
Hive #2 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 3
6/8 ..... 5
6/15 ... 1
Hive #3 (medium frames)
5/29 ... 2
6/8 ..... 3
6/15 ... 4
6/25 ... 1
Dictionary
- Brood Box - where the brood (the eggs, larva and young bees) are raised. Normally the bottom most box.
- Checkerboarding - Interspersing empty brood comb (or even foundation) into the brood area. This is done to give the queen more room to raise brood and hopefully not swarm.
- Entrance Reducer - Just a wooden stick made to fit in the entrance and make the entrance smaller. This will help keep in heat and allow the bees to guard the entrance better against bees that do not belong to the hive (robber bees).
- Orientation Flight - The first trip out of the hive by young bees. They try to understand their location so they can make it back home. Also occurs when the hive is moved.
- Super - meaning "above", is actually any box above the brood box (or boxes). Normally the location of honey!
- Syrup Feeder - Essentialy an upside down canning jar with pin holes punched in the lid. This is placed in the hive to feed the bees as needed.
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