Crest Ink - Volume 28 - Number 02

nectar is scarcer and they get more defensive protecting their stores, I may puff a little smoke in the hive with a smoker to help dispel the ‘alarm’ scent. Some say it also mimics a fire in the forest in which they focus more on eat- ing some of their honey for a possible abandonment of the hive. I lift up the frames of comb and will examine the colony for any signs of disease, parasites, strength, honey stores, and look to make sure I see signs of a queen doing her job. I may add some boxes or replace some old frames. At times I have to swap some brood or honey with some frames from another hive to help provide what they need. I’ll do this through the summer. In the fall I hope to see enough extra honey on the hives that can be used for our home. We’ll be making more bread, using it in our teas, taking some for our allergies and perhaps use some wax or honey for cosmetic products, candles or as a burn ointment. The wonderful, natural properties of our raw honey still has the pollens and enzymes and other nutrients that commercial honeys cook and filter out. And, if after a couple months it begins to crystalize (a good sign of raw, unprocessed honey), we’ll either use some as a sugary spread on our bread or warm it carefully in a double pot until it is liquid again. What can you do to help the bees? You can become a beekeeper, or if you are not that adventurous, you can share a bit of what you read here with others. We can all plant more flowers around our homes. As a landowner, you can leave the wild flowers on your field or edges. If pesticides have to be used, use them minimally and properly. If you see a swarm of bees where they don’t belong (their way of propagating), call someone to remove them rather than killing them. (Beekeepers can start new hives with swarms.) Bees can get a bad rap because of their sting, but many confuse aggressive wasps and hornets which can sting repeatedly. Bees, which sting once, as a last resort, die after- wards. So, help share the fun facts about bees, honey and their benefits. If you would like to know more about bees and honey I’d enjoy telling you more. Perhaps I’ll get an opportunity like this again to share more in Crest Ink or elsewhere. And have I ever been stung? Yes, sometimes lots. Probably about as often as a carpenter in the trade hits themselves with a hammer. But it’s no reason to quit. I enjoy my hobby and the bees. Besides, I’d rather get stung by a bee. Fun facts about bees: • An average worker bee makes about 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. • During the spring and summer a worker bee lives about 4 weeks. They work so hard they wear their wings out. • Fermented honey, known as Mead, is the most ancient fermented beverage. The term “honey moon” originated with the Norse practice of consuming large quantities of Mead during the first month of a marriage. • Honey bees must consume about 17-20 pounds of honey to be able to biochemically produce each pound of beeswax.

David inspecting(and admiring) his bees as he transfers them to a larger hive box

Maybe he will see a queen here as he inspects for bee health

Honey ripe and finished with a wax cap ping, ready for harvest

April, May & June 2016 Crest Ink 23

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker