A couple of months ago, I went to a walk-and-talk at Tablehurst Farm about their poultry unit, and today I visited the dairy unit. It's a very small scale operation, and all the more charming for it. They sell their raw Jersey milk via a vending machine at the farm shop, where you can buy … Continue reading An Afternoon with Jersey Cows
Thermosolar Hive in Winter
A crisp cold day at the Berwick Solar Farm, and the redwings were out in force on the hawthorn shrubs as they are still festooned with berries. Two buzzards flew up from the large puddle in the parking area; I normally see snipe. As the sun was shining on the hive entrance, there were a … Continue reading Thermosolar Hive in Winter
Inspection Boards
At this time of year, I keep an eye on my bees by checking their flights and the Varroa board. Today was rainy and cool so I wasn't expecting any bees to be out, but I did want to check the boards. The Varroa (or inspection) board sits under the mesh floor of the hive, … Continue reading Inspection Boards
A bit more tarp action…
I ordered an extra tarpaulin for me when I purchased the ones for the West Rise Reptile Zone. I had a mind to re-cover my chicken runs, and as the tarps were an absolute bargain - being slightly discoloured due to storage - I decided they would be perfect for the job. I have improvised … Continue reading A bit more tarp action…
How beekeeping CAN save the bees
We live in complicated times. Grass-fed meat or veganism; plastic use or glass and metal; electric cars or public transport. "Save the Bees" is similarly fraught with problems and there is a vast amount of misinformation regarding pollinators and their relative impact. I recently saw a Twitter thread about the introduction of beehives on to … Continue reading How beekeeping CAN save the bees
Sourdough Tales Workshop
The Sourdough Tales workshop with Vicky and me at the wonderful Starnash Farmhouse all about learning about how to make a decent loaf, but also gaining an understanding of the process so you can actually fit it in to your everyday existence, rather than it being a rarified experience to only be tackled when the … Continue reading Sourdough Tales Workshop
Tarps on the Marsh
The Marsh today was looking exactly as it should following the high rainfall we have had recently. It is a floodplain, taking the runoff from the bypass and surrounding industrial areas and in doing so, providing a magnificent habitat for wetland species. Geese, gulls, starlings, skylarks, ravens, and a Little Egret were taking advantage of … Continue reading Tarps on the Marsh
Autumn Check at the School Apiary
We took a trip to Langney Marsh this afternoon to give the West Rise school bees a final check for the autumn. There was a lot of standing water, perfect for the snipe which zig-zagged up sharply as we passed, and we both heard and saw a number of reed buntings as well as the … Continue reading Autumn Check at the School Apiary
Winchelsea Visit
Now that the bee commitments are starting to quieten down for the winter, I went to visit Paul to discuss plans for next year with the Market Wood bees, and any other swarms we capture from the feral colonies in and around Winchelsea. I have one of the swarms here at my apiary as we … Continue reading Winchelsea Visit
Thermosolar Hive in Autumn
I have been waiting for the weather to cheer up enough to go and check the Thermosolar bees at Berwick, and today I took the plunge, otherwise I feared it would be Christmas before I got to them! The brooding skies weren't terribly promising, but I wanted to at least check all was well, and … Continue reading Thermosolar Hive in Autumn