JUNE 17
I popped up to the hive this evening and, yet again, the bees have gone through another 3 litres of sugar syrup. I will pop up again tomorrow morning to feed them some more as it seems they are taking it in at a tremendous rate, which is a great sign. I was also pleased as, for the first time in several visits, I didn't get chased away from the hive; they generally don't seem to like me getting close, which is fun when quickly topping up the feed with a large silver saucepan. I can imagine it being very funny for my neighbours to see me scampering away from a beehive while swinging a shiny silver saucepan around my head.
Tomorrow the Beehaus arrives, which is exciting. Last time I was a little nervous about the hive arriving. I didn't have a clue about anything and certainly not the construction of a beehive. At least this time around I have a lot more of an idea and also I know that the beehive comes almost ready-made. Someone told me today that they see the Beehaus as an oversized and expensive yoghurt pot! I will be fascinated to see if I have the same opinion when I receive mine but, then again, this did come from a 'natural' beekeeper and so I suppose I can understand. A natural beekeeper tends to believe in minimal intervention, i.e. few inspections and no chemical treatment for diseases. They also use what are called 'top bar hives' which, from my understanding, are based on hives used in Africa that don't have any wax foundation, leaving the bees to get on with their own thing rather than being manipulated.
I have to say, given my time again I would have loved to know more about this form of beekeeping as I do like the ethos behind it. However, I have spent enough time and money this year, Jo has put up with enough and I am not sure Farmer Ray could tolerate another hive! I would like to try it next year though, it sounds interesting.
Anyway, the Beehaus arrives tomorrow and I've been told I can go and pick up my nucleus next week. All fitting together quite nicely finally, isn't it?
JUNE 18
It arrived today. Again, I felt a little bit like a child on Christmas morning though I was waiting for the deliveryman rather than Father Christmas. It arrived at about 11 a.m. in three huge boxes and immediately I went out to have a look.
Fortunately it was lovely outside and so I grabbed a knife from the kitchen and leaped out of the front door, much to the amusement of the Polish delivery driver as she was walking back through our gate. I was like an opening machine and I reckon health and safety officers would have had a field day with my knife-wielding technique. I started with the smallest box and there were bits of cardboard everywhere as I ripped through it. Gradually I organised it a little better and I had plastic bits in a heap on one side of me and cardboard on the other.
I am not sure what I really expected when I opened up the boxes for the first time but part of me expected a fully built and functional beehive. Instead I got a whole lot of plastic, which I have to put together at some point this weekend. It didn't look too complicated when I looked at the instructions but I think I expected it to be a little bit simpler than this. Whatever happens, my bees are arriving next week so I had better get a wriggle on.
I do admit my decision to opt for white rather than a bright colour has only accentuated the freezer type feel to it. Either way, I look forward to getting it built and in situ.
Tomorrow is my second inspection check and I have a few concerns, which is rare as generally I have very few concerns in life. It seems, however, that both beekeeping and gardening really occupy every thought. My first concern is that tomorrow I will be doing it well and truly on my own with no Richard this time to talk to and calm my nerves. I suppose I will take my video camera with me to talk to instead and hopefully that might help.
Secondly, I have concerns about the feeding of my bees. I have been feeding them with gallons of sugar syrup – they have practically eaten all of the sugar from my local Sainsbury's – but I am unsure when I need to stop. My mind was telling me that they should draw out the entire comb in the brood box first and then perhaps I should remove the feed. This has been confirmed by my great bee friend Adam, who mentioned that you should feed them until you need to put the super on top. I will have a look at the frames tomorrow and if they have drawn the entire comb, I will pop one on top. Exciting!
Lastly, I am worried about the closed floor that Adam put on. As I now know, when housing a swarm you should put a solid floor on the hive's open-mesh floor to give them a little more darkness while they are getting settled – which mine now appear to be.
What I am concerned about is the changing of the floors and how I do this on my own, especially as Adam screwed this floor to the hive. I assume I have to remove the screws first from each side and that is where I get a slight pang of fear. I can't quite imagine picking up the hive filled with bees, placing it on the ground away from the stand, taking off the closed floor, replacing it with the open floor and then lifting the hive back on top. I just find the thought of this quite scary. Surely this is going to make them incredibly angry and I will find myself running towards the pond quicker than I can say beehive. How on earth do I swap the floors with just me for company and a herd of slightly prickly bees? More planning is needed before I do this, methinks!