Sustainable beekeeping, chickens, and baking
Ok, shameless plug here. When Lockdown started way back in March last year, I had to cancel all my courses and workshops, and my usual mentoring visits were suddenly compromised, as in spite of completely justifiable "essential journey to tend to livestock" it was still a journey. In addition to my reluctance to increase my … Continue reading It’s been a year!
Bee colonies require a number of elements in their favour to overwinter successfully, and despite the go-to solution of copious feeding, this is only one part of what gives honey bees the gumption to get through the cold damp winter. The colony below has been in this hive for 5-6 years and the combs have … Continue reading Dismantling a Winter Loss
This is the big, necessary and progressive brother of sustainable beekeeping, and to me, represents a crystallisation of what I have learned through observing both my own bees and other colonies in all manner of hives and situations. So, how can beekeeping *improve* the environment where we run our hives? Agriculture, development, and a myriad … Continue reading Regenerative Beekeeping
Wow - what a difference a day (or two) makes. A few days ago my bees were flying, and I was even able to put together a video post for my patrons as I headed down to the apiary to check the entrances and inspection boards. Bees cluster up together to keep warm in the … Continue reading Bees in a Snowy Winter
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
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
I set up my sustainable beekeeping Patreon in March so that I could continue to share my observations and experiences with other interested beekeepers as we learn so much more from sharing what we see and do. I normally run workshops, but with the current restrictions due to the Covid pandemic, that has not been … Continue reading Meeting my Patrons
It's that time of year when wasps become increasingly reviled by beekeepers. The ecology of wasps differs from bees in many ways despite their relatedness. Wasps are omnivores, and feed their larvae protein in the form of other insects (including bees and their grubs), and the adults consume carbohydrates in the form of any sugar, … Continue reading Wasps and beekeepers
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 … Continue reading New Sustainable Beekeeping Course Dates