I have wanted to be a bee keeper for as long as I can remember. I bought this book when I was seven years old.
We bought bees when we first moved out to the country. We have had from 1 to 3 hives at a time. But the last few years I have slacked off on my bee keeping. Doing only the bare minimum needed to keep our last hive going. Honestly, they don’t need much!
So this year we ordered two new bee packages from Ebert Honey. They will arrive April 22. Today I started getting their new homes ready!
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| My to – do list |
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| Gathering and checking the equipment. |
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| The old hives, waiting for make overs. |
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| The chosen boxes, in the staging area |
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| Painting the base. |
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| Strong for the revolution. |
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| Old frames to be scraped, re-wired and waxed. |
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I had hoped to do a tutorial, but there are so many already available! Just do a google search for “How To Keep Bees”. My favorite book on the topic is A Book of Bees by Sue Hubbell. You should read it, and any other book by her, even if you aren’t a beekeeper!
While scraping the frames I cut myself pretty good. I know I should wear work gloves, but then I can’t feel anything. When I stuck my finger in my mouth it tasted like blood and honey, and I thought, cool coven name….
There’s a lot left to do, but we got a good head start today.
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Author: thewitchmama
Melanie Elizabeth Hexen is a midwife, regionally famous bellydancer, homeschooling mother and matriarch of the Many Hands House. She has been a witch for 25 years, and her belief system is currently based on the writings of Terry Pratchett and the teachings of Steven Posch. With her coven, the Prärie Hexen, she is creating the Hexen Tradition of Witchcraft.
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Witch Mama 
Maybe you would consider a hive co-op? 🙂 (maybe next year?) I'd invest to get some honey and wax (if the hives are the kind to yield wax?) because I don't think we have enough space for bees here, not to mention I don't think I'm beekeeper material.
I love your pictures!
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Thank you! I have a new cell phone with a camera. Can you believe I took those photos with a cell phone? Some day I'll get a Nikon D-90…
A hive coop or sponsorship is a great idea…give me a year or two. Until then, you've got an “in”. Thanks for reading our blog!
Melanie
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Next time Tamarind comes visit, I'd love some honey… I cook with it quite a bit (visit my blog), and while you're not QUITE local for me, you're a friend and I'd be with 100 miles of you so I think it still counts!
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I love it when Tamarind visits! It's my birthday present you know!
I will read your blog now!
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Also, we have a food blog – with the same “design” as yours –
http://aldivegetarian.blogspot.com
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I'd love to keep bees! Its on my mental to do list.
Blood and Honey, I like it.
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What a great project to do with the whole family- I have always wanted to raise bees- not sure our HOA would be okay with it.
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I love bees – do you tell them family secrets? And have you seen this clip? I've watched it over and over – I love how she runs her hand through them like velvet… http://youtu.be/Pbros-anfgA
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Her presence with those bees is beautiful. A lesson to use in any life situation!
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