I’ve learned that weaving a beehive with my hands is very much like weaving a meaningful life: Both take study, focus, hard work, and pure determination. I’ve chronicled my skep journey here from its very beginnings. Today, I’ve woven around eight of these hives. There are very few of these hives being made in the States, although there are a number weaving masters in Europe. Bees have been wondrous teachers for me. They understand Unity and Generosity in ways that escape most people.
My mother always told me that it was good to have a life bordered by regular daily routines. She learned will power and firm resolve when she was in the Hitler Youth in Germany. The Youth program was all about self discipline and strong bodies. Hitler was growing a powerful army out of those school…
I’ve kept a close eye on Genesis colony since her last swarm in early summer. She came to me as a Daughter (or cast) swarm in early April, and by early June, she was sending out swarms galore. Four in total by the time she was finished. I get nervous with such swarming events in…
Sadly, my last colony perished this past week. I believe it was queen failure. The hive was full of honey, and not a single bee. So, for the first time in years, my garden is quiet. I’ve decided to only host four colonies this year—three skeps and my wall hive. So, today, I got to…
I have had a surprising winter with my bees, and sadly, not in a good way. I have very rarely lost bees in winter in my skeps. But this winter, I’ve lost nearly all of them. And I’m not sure yet why. I started the autumn with five hives (4 skeps and 1 in-wall hive)….
This is a LOOOOONG post, so grab some coffee/tea, put your feet up, and dive in! I learned so very much this summer season in my bee garden! Let me take you on a little trip around my yard, and tell you how each hive has fared this year. First, I began in the spring…
So much has happened since I last wrote! The big event, of course, was my trip to Holland to attend the Natural Beekeeping Trust’s (NBKT)international conference, “Learning From The Bees.” More than 300 people from 30 countries came to speak and share about their natural beekeeping experiences and wisdom.
It is early August, and here in the Pacific Northwest, we are hot hot hot. We’ve had several weeks on and off of 90-plus temperatures, and the ground is hardened and cracked. Many of my plants have burned, not for want of water–which I am pouring on–but simply from being made toast by the blistering…
Spring in the bee yard: Is there any better time of year? Here in the Pacific Northwest, we had a loooong winter with much dreariness, but only a couple events of cold, ice, and snow. Last autumn, I found myself with four thriving hives: Three in straw, and one in my last top bar hive….