Kalamazoo Bee Club

Beekeeper Gift Ideas

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For most beekeepers, what to get us as a gift is easy—bees.  Like chocolate and money, you can probably never have too many.  🙂

If you’re wondering to get your favorite beekeeper for Christmas, here are a few ideas.  I’m adding to the list every few days at my FaceBook page (“Charlotte Hubbard, Beekeeper and …”)  I’ll also update the complete list here in a few weeks.  But until then, here are four possibilities.

The red, bee-loved hive tool is the one designed by Kent Williams.

The red, bee-loved hive tool is the one designed by Kent Williams.

One of the two things that I ALWAYS have when working bees (beyond Hubby and my protective suit is the Kent Williams hive tool–the reddish, well-worn one pictured. No other j-hook hive tools that I’ve found compare (sure, the blue one has a hook … but it doesn’t compare.)Continue Reading

Some Things for Which I Bee Thankful

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Background:  I began keeping bees with a death threat hanging over my head.  My husband Tom had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and needed me to care for his two bee-loved colonies while he aggressively fought the disease.

Wanting to support him however I could, I bee-grudgingly took care of his doggone stinging insects, and in the process, fell head-over-hive tool in love with them.

When Tom passed about a year later, the bees helped me grieve by giving me frequent challenges and the occasional sweet reward of honey, and motivating me to focus on the future and plan for next season and future.  I will forever be grateful for the assistance from these angels with real wings.

With the holiday of Thanksgiving almost upon us, I’m reflecting on other bee-related things in my life for which I’m immensely grateful.  They include:

BEES:  as without these vital pollinators, our dinner table would lack pumpkin pie, cranberries, applesauce and blueberry muffins.  They’re also helpful for pollinating brussel sprouts, but frankly—I think we can do without those.

STINGS:  I marvel at inter-species communication—like when my dog climbs next to me and places her paw on my leg; or when the bees buzz loudly about me, but then settle down and check me out with amused curiosity.  It is magical when they perch on my hand and gaze at me (with lots more eyes than I have) while I gaze back with a mere two eyes.  I swear they smile.

Initially it was unnerving to discover they're just as curious about us as we are about them, but now I appreciate those shared moments.

Initially it was unnerving to discover they’re just as curious about us as we are about them, but now I appreciate those shared moments.

However, I do hate it when instinct kicks in and they misinterpret that I’m a threat.  Stinging kills the one (or seven) doing the stinging, and really hurts the one getting the sting (me).  But, the occasional sting makes me appreciate even more those moments when I know the bees and I are connecting on a mystical, peaceful level.Continue Reading

On Mentoring

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mentoring titleRecently I attended the bee school planning meeting. As we wove on and off task (as meetings tend to do), the topic of mentors came up.  The members in the room represented a variety of age- and experience-levels, but we all agreed that finding a good mentor is crucial to beekeeping success.

We wondered why it’s been so difficult to start a mentor group. Is it because newer beekeepers (keepers for 3-5 years-ish) are afraid to offer advice? Is it because new beekeepers are afraid to ask? Is there a perception that mentoring is time-consuming? Continue Reading

Tucking in Tidbits

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The forecast this week is full of more unseasonably warm temperatures.  If you haven’t “put your bees to bed” yet, my blog ‘Honey, Bear in Mind’ at www.hubbardhive.com outlines part of what we do when weather allows you to still get in the hive.  There are lots of other opinions and options out there of course, but we generally have better survival than local averages so we must be doing something right.  We also had many years of doing things wrong …

On sunny days, our bees are frantic for this sweet stuff.

On sunny days, our bees are frantic for this sweet stuff.

We’ve had killing frosts, so there’s little forage available.  Our bees are consuming their winter stores, which causes me to wonder what they’re going to eat come February and March.  We’re open feeding 2:1 sugar syrup, but far away from the hives to try to avoid setting off raiding.

Many people have asked how long they should feed.  Bees will slow down or stop when it is cold; we like to have feed available as long as there’s a chance they’ll take it.  And at 2:1, you don’t have to worry about the syrup freezing until we’re consistently well below freezing.Continue Reading

They Aren’t Watching Football in There

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Many of us are all ready suffering from bee withdrawal.  The weather is such that we can no longer check things in the hive (whether or not they ever really needed to be checked!) …. or even watch bees go in and out.  I miss my bees.

October will hopefully bring some delightfully sunny days when the winged darlings can still secure stores from the remaining asters, goldenrod and any enduring annuals.  (Recently I spied a dandelion in our yard.  I wanted to put a flag next to it to help them find it.)  But because food sources are fading, my light-by-weight colonies continue to receive 2:1 sugar syrup, mixed heavily with honey we obtained from honeybee extractions, to help them fill their cupboards.

My zinnias are slowing down, but on sunny days, they're still well visited.

My zinnias are slowing down, but on sunny days, they’re still well visited.

I will so miss interacting with my bees.  Missing them however will be dwarfed by my worrying about them.  (Not that that does much good.)  If you’re joining me in worrying about your bees, or are simply curious about what goes on in the winter cluster, here’s an excerpt from two bee experts that is enlightening.Continue Reading

Thinking About Winter, Yes Really

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2015-09-02 19.51.51 garden hives in much snow

As I write this our thermometer records 92, and my glass of tea is sweating even more than I am.  Each evening we stroll through the apiary to see which hive is sporting the most magnificent beard.

I’m fine with the summer swelter.  Too soon (like maybe the end of this week?) a prelude to winter will be here, followed the oft-bitter season itself.  Too soon I’ll have to say good-night to my bees for a long winter’s sleep.  That’s always hard on me.  Not only do I miss working with them, but too often, I don’t greet as many as expected come spring.  Overwintering in SW Michigan has been hard the last few years.

This Tuesday evening the Kalamazoo Bee Club will feature a speaker who knows a great deal about bees and successful overwintering.  Hopefully you can join us, but if not, I’ll try to blog about his insights.

The bees need us to figure out how to help them survive the winter … and we need them.  Hope to see you there.

It’s *Almost* Time to Start Reflecting on Your Summer

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Well it’s the third week of August which, in beekeeping time, is kind of the beginning of a wind down. Sure we have several months before snow and cold (thank goodness), but as a beekeeper, it’s never too early to start thinking ahead; that’s one thing I wish we would have done more often as novice keepers. Our first two years we were so stuck in the now and pretty focused on honey collection as a gauge of success. The reality is, bees will make honey. Yes, some will make more than others and yes, there are things you can do to affect this, but it’s similar to how chickens will lay eggs. No matter what, a chicken is going to lay an egg most days. Sure you can feed superior food and run a light when the days shorten, but much of the egg-laying business is really just nature. Another analogy I’m fond of is two-year-olds and tantrums: they’ll have one, almost everyday, it’s just nature. But back to beekeeping….

Bee on Knapweed2 w name

This time of year I find a lot of beekeepers bragging on forums and Facebook groups. A lot pictures of tall hives and admissions of “8, 12, 16, 18 frames of honey!” as if you’ve worked all summer for only that: honey.  Now don’t get me wrong, if you’ve ever worked a hive in 90 degree heat and humidity (which most of you have), then you’ve earned that honey, but let’s hold ourselves to higher standards and, more importantly, keep in mind that there is more to beekeeping than honey.Continue Reading

Let’s All Try to Bee There

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I have a girlfriend who fosters cats.  It’s lots of work, but she loves it and has learned a lot.

The biggest thing she’s learned over the years?  Her limits.  She says six felines are all she can handle and love without going crazy.

I asked her how many she had at that time.

“Eleven,” she replied sheepishly.

Thinking about her answer still makes me laugh.Continue Reading

A Backyard Keeper’s Q & A about Honey Collection

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What follows is a backyard beekeeper’s Q & A about honey collection. My family likes to raise bees because we like bees. The honey is a great byproduct of the hobby, but it is not the reason we do it. If you are interested in selling honey or comb products, I am not the person to talk to. If, however, you keep a few hives and/or are new to beekeeping and want a few jars for yourself and maybe a few for some friends and family, then you might find this helpful.

Why do bees make honey?

Quite simply, bees make honey to eat. Honey is their food source when they are hunkered down during the cold winter months. It’s full of sugar and nutrients so it provides plenty of energy and substance to keep warm and stay satisfied when there is no nectar available.

Bees love honey! (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Hubbard)

Bees love honey! (Photo courtesy of Charlotte Hubbard)

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Creating a New Apiary

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I know this is strange blog posting. But I am working with a local school to set up an apiary. They want to have some basic information for planning. So I worked up the ideas below. I did not get real specific, but would like to know from readers if I have left anything out. Please comment.

Considerations for apiary location

  • Avoid damp or low spots.
  • Provide a windbreak.
  • Position hive to receive the morning sun and some shade in the afternoon.
  • Avoid spraying insecticides in the area.
  • Provide a security fence of at least 6′ so bees fly over peoples’ heads.
  • Provide physical security with a locking gate.
  • Put up a sign to warn people with allergies to avoid the apiary.
  • Build a sturdy weather-proof table to set hive bodies on when working the hives.
  • Provide a locker or storage for equipment, such as bee suits. hive tools, smokers.
  • Arrange hives so they can be worked from the back.

Considerations for apiary managementContinue Reading