It's been an exciting week at HomeFolk Honey. Back in December, we had four healthy Hives. At the end of March, we had three. I ordered a new package of Bees, but the delivery date wasn't for a month.
Then, earlier this week, one of my three remaining hives swarmed. That means that the queen bee left and took about 15,000 of her friends with her. I tried to capture the runaways to put them in an empty hive here. That didn't happen.
My beekeeping mentor could hear the disappointment in my voice when I called. He'd captured several swarms this springs, so he gave me a hive to replace the one I missed.
I got a message from the apiary that sells bees that my package came in, and I could pick them up today.
Jilda and I headed to northwest Russelville, Al. just after coffee this morning. This town is near the edge of Alabama. In fact, I think if there had been a westward wind, I could have thrown a rock to Mississippi.
We picked up a three-pound package of bees with a new queen. About 10,000 bees were buzzing in the back of our SUV.
This afternoon, I installed the new package in an empty hive. When I finished, I loaded up all the beekeeping stuff on my trailer and headed toward the house. Jilda and the local volunteer fire chief were standing at the back fence.
It seems that he had a swarm in his yard. He'd seen on social media that I'd lost a swarm, so when the buzzing started in his yard, he thought of me.
Loading my gear in the pickup, I drove to the chief's house. Thankfully, this swarm was reasonably low and easy to catch.
We started the week with three hives, now we have six.
Then, earlier this week, one of my three remaining hives swarmed. That means that the queen bee left and took about 15,000 of her friends with her. I tried to capture the runaways to put them in an empty hive here. That didn't happen.
My beekeeping mentor could hear the disappointment in my voice when I called. He'd captured several swarms this springs, so he gave me a hive to replace the one I missed.
I got a message from the apiary that sells bees that my package came in, and I could pick them up today.
Jilda and I headed to northwest Russelville, Al. just after coffee this morning. This town is near the edge of Alabama. In fact, I think if there had been a westward wind, I could have thrown a rock to Mississippi.
We picked up a three-pound package of bees with a new queen. About 10,000 bees were buzzing in the back of our SUV.
This afternoon, I installed the new package in an empty hive. When I finished, I loaded up all the beekeeping stuff on my trailer and headed toward the house. Jilda and the local volunteer fire chief were standing at the back fence.
It seems that he had a swarm in his yard. He'd seen on social media that I'd lost a swarm, so when the buzzing started in his yard, he thought of me.
Loading my gear in the pickup, I drove to the chief's house. Thankfully, this swarm was reasonably low and easy to catch.
We started the week with three hives, now we have six.
