Sustainable beekeeping, chickens, and baking
One of the repercussions I certainly didn't envisage about the pandemic was a shortage of bread flour. Not just the supermarket stuff, but that from artisan producers and micro-mills. I suppose the wonder of modern technology where you can type "bread flour" in to a search engine and be presented with a selection of suppliers … Continue reading Flour power
Here in the UK, we have been issued with restrictions regarding social distancing and non-essential visits in order to control/contain/reduce the risk of infection from Covid-19. There has been much talk regarding whether beekeepers can visit their bees, and as I write, DEFRA and the BBKA have issued statements allowing hives to be tended as … Continue reading Homeschooling bees
I received a top bar hive from a friend of mine who I met at the Barcombe Eco Fair; Caroline is another natural beekeeper and wanted someone with the same beekeeping ethics to have her cedar top bar, as she works mainly with Warrés. It has an inspection window (which I know are rather controversial) … Continue reading Baiting the other hives
The weather is doing its best to cheer up a bit, and it is a good idea to get your hives baited with some lemongrass or geranium essential oil to encourage a nearby colony to come and take a look. I have some detailed information on how I do this - and have been successful! … Continue reading Bait boxes, and chickens
With the current COVID-19 situation continuing to play out, I am unlikely to be able to offer workshops and courses despite this being the start of the beekeeping year. Thankfully the weather has started to improve here in the UK, and my remaining colonies are now collecting masses of willow pollen, and flying well when … Continue reading Upcoming courses and workshops
One of my students contacted me earlier in the week to say he'd noticed a reduction in flying and a lot of dead bees outside the entrance and behind the mouse guard. They had been foraging and bringing in pollen for the last few weeks which is usually a good sign that the colony is … Continue reading Fourth post mortem