New Sustainable Beekeeping Course Dates

I have had quite a few enquiries about resuming my Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping courses, so I am hoping–after the confusion of the last few months–I am able to give something approaching a definitive answer! To make my in-house courses Covid-compliant, I have reviewed the arrangements so that we can still enjoy the relaxed and informative approach while adhering to the recommended social-distancing and safeguarding … Continue reading New Sustainable Beekeeping Course Dates

jen3972August 22, 2020August 23, 20202 Comments

Basics

Checking your new bees

If you have recently acquired some bees for your new hive, you might be wondering how and when to check them. The books will tell you various things, but the balance is about familiarising yourself with handling bees, and allowing the colony to settle and get on with the essential task of building wax and getting in provisions to feed the workforce. For the purposes … Continue reading Checking your new bees

jen3972June 16, 20195 Comments

Basics

Setting up your WBC

The WBC is so named as it was invented in 1890 by a William Broughton Carr, and it is a double-walled hive. It works very well in our damp and changeable climate as the weather is kept off the boxes where the bees have their combs. It isn’t quite as easy to use if you move your hives, and they are more expensive as they … Continue reading Setting up your WBC

jen3972March 11, 20199 Comments

Basics, Beekeeping Principles

Setting up your National hive

Lots of people are starting out with new hives and sometimes there is assumed knowledge, so here is a quick reminder about how to set up your hive. Everything needs to fit snugly so ensure all the boxes are flush on top of each other. Start with the floor, and the entrance block set to medium. The hive needs to be off the ground by … Continue reading Setting up your National hive

jen3972March 5, 2019May 23, 20192 Comments

Beekeeping courses, Events

Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping

The first course of the season was a great success with 5 attendees. It’s so interesting to hear why people want to come on the course or keep bees and interestingly, two were vegan and concerned as to the commercial beekeeping practises. Industrial farming has to make compromises in order to maintain profits but thankfully these are not necessary in small-scale, garden beekeeping. We looked … Continue reading Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping

jen3972January 29, 2018January 25, 20191 Comment

Wayward Bee

Wildlife Gardening, Chickens, and Cake

Tag: beginners

New Sustainable Beekeeping Course Dates

Checking your new bees

Setting up your WBC

Setting up your National hive

Introduction to Sustainable Beekeeping