Sustainable beekeeping, chickens, and cake
This is a recipe I have adapted from River Cottage Fruit, where I have halved the quantity and substituted dried apricots for the sultanas. I thought apricots would work well with the marmalade, whisky and the apples...and I was right! I made a huge amount of marmalade this year, but I adore it both on … Continue reading Apple & Marmalade Cake
Oh dear - these are back in the news. Sadly the focus of the argument is producing the same reactive inflammatory discussion between 'farmers' and 'conservationists' even though both actually want the same: a healthy productive environment where all of us - and by "us" I mean all living things - can live, work, and … Continue reading Neonicotinoids and Honey Bees
Parsnip & ginger cake As many of you will know, I am a huge fan of baking and just because my courses are now on Zoom, I still want to have an opportunity to make cakes. So, here is the recipe for the cake I will have on Saturday for my first online Introduction to … Continue reading Cake Recipe for Zoom Beekeeping
Having had my test run of the Zoom Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping, I have decided to go ahead and put my Gardening for Bees & Wildlife online too. We are in national lockdown here in the UK until 31st March now (and likely beyond), but gardening and getting outside is encouraged, and it's the perfect … Continue reading Zoom Gardening for Bees and Wildlife
We have had a lot of rain, stormy weather, and low temperatures here in the south east over the past couple of weeks so apart from strapping down the hives against Storm Bella, I've not been over to the apiary. It was cold and damp today, but I wanted to have a look at the … Continue reading Midwinter Apiary Visit
The chickens are still shut in securely under avian flu restrictions, but it gets dark at about 4pm and I sometimes don't get round to closing the popholes to the coops but it does mean the hens can let themselves down in to the run when they wake up. Yesterday morning, as I was drinking … Continue reading Goodbye, Ginger Jason
On Monday 14th December, our domestic poultry have to be confined to barracks and restricted from accessing areas also used by wild birds. As stated in my previous posts, this is to prevent the spread of avian flu which is currently circulating in Europe and has the potential to be a serious health issue for … Continue reading Bird Flu III
So, the restrictions for poultry have increased to full containment from the 14th December. This is problematic for me as I rely on ranging as the birds' outdoor area and many of my coops - although they have runs attached - are not big or secure enough to house the occupants full time. Hens do … Continue reading Bird Flu II
I designed this poster a few years ago, as I wanted an aide memoire that was less focussed on traditional beekeeping, and more about honey bees. If we want to keep bees in tune with their natural development and lifecycle, it's important to have a greater understanding of how bees function and many of the … Continue reading Beekeeping Poster
This Christmas is going to be a strange one for many, although less so for me as I usually spend Christmas Day on my own or with my children, and actually I find it blissfully relaxing! My older two have moved away so now it's just Rosie and me, and this year we have our … Continue reading Bee Courses for Christmas