Jack of all trades, master of some... (Pt.II)

The springtime will be 'off the hook' in terms of things going on, as it is for most who own a farm I'm sure. More so for us this year because it will be our first and we're setting up everything ASAP so we can hit the ground running. It may end up being too much and we'll implode buy at least it will be intriguing to watch. 

Another project I worked on in preparation for the Green Acres maneuver was to build a beehive. 

1. If we are growing fruits and veggies it would make sense for optimal pollination to have a few bees scurrying about. 
2. We want to do our part to help the ailing bee population thrive.
3. We love honey.  

After reading a few books on the subject it turns out trying the traditional 'Langstroth' hive may be the way to go when starting out. For those who are not sure, it's the stacked square box hives you usually see in pics and on the side of the road. Research points to them possibly being more susceptible to the C.C.D, Colony Collapse Disease we have been hearing so much about, but I guess for a beginner it's the way to go. 
Despite this information, my first attempt at building a beehive was the 'Top Bar' design, popular in some poorer countries around the world. There are pluses and minuses for both designs according to experts. If nothing else, the top bar designs look a lot better, however when we do start a hive in the spring, it will be in the 'Langstroth' for the first year. If the bees survive we may attempt to split the colony and use my 'Top Bar' as well. (I will post better pics in the future, it's in storage)

What's a farm without Liquid Gold?

2nd project was a Top Bar Beehive

A design made from:

Exterior of the Buzztropolis

•  Select Pine 1" x 10" x 8ft
•  Select Pine 2" x 4" x 8ft
•  Select Pine 1" x 3" x 8ft
•  3/4" good 1 side plywood
•  Metal Roofing
•  Plexiglass for a viewing window
•  Mesh for a open bottom (unseen)
  

We are planning to take a beginners course at a local Apiary (Bee  Place) in the springtime as well. That way we can get a little more hands on and perhaps even purchase some decent local bees. If you're planning to read any books on the subject of Bees, which I have done to more than a half dozen so far, a good starter,

Interior Shot to Show Frames

as cliche as it sounds, is Beekeeping for Dummies. http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/product/9780470430651-item.html?ref=google:sayt 
In fact, I have read a few of these 'Dummies' books pertaining to the Hobby Farm themes and as a solid starting overview, they are handy and easy to understand. In Ontario, you have to register your bees and open yourself up to inspection from Gov't officials. This is fine by us, why not have another person to pick their brain. Plus after a few emails the guy seemed nice enough. I'll let you know if they show up with a SWAT team...

Life Lesson #654: Anything you do in life should only benefit nature. There's another generation who needs to use it...

Now just have to make sure I don't buy any Africanized honey bees.
 

T-Minus 11 days until Shangri-La move in.