Stop! In the name of love! (Beekeeping part 4)

We did the second hive inspection today on our captured swarm. We got all the loose comb (read: built onto the box lid) tied into frames, and everyone into a shiny new hive. There was lots of comb, honey, and pollen...but no brood! That means no queen. We've decided provisionally to combine this hive with…

I wanna hold your [bee-covered] hand (Beekeeping part 3)

So! One week ago, we attracted a swarm! https://youtu.be/q7sj8Ib-43Y So then we waited a week before we could do a hive check - me going out to watch the bees come and go at every opportunity... And then....the day came. Today. HIVE CHECKING DAY. Our first hive inspection. THIS IS GONNA BE GREAT. ISH. Kinda.…

The waiting is the hardest part (Beekeeping part 1)

This will be our first year to keep bees! We've been thinking about it for years, but we were kicked into gear by a friend mentioning a beekeeping class in town (by the Bee Girl). We went. We played with bees. We're hooked. I got my hives in - ordered from the Ohio Bee Box…