The chaps at the lottie have been keen for me to run a hive for the greater good of the area. I consider my colonies too strong to be house near people. Not because they are aggressive just because folk get worried when they see hundreds of bees whizzing round the hive. I most cases these are just the new foragers learning the location.
I decided to do the right thing and ordered a nuc [nucleus] from a supplier I had used before. I supposed to pick them up from Rugby on Saturday morning. I text him to say I had paid and to make sure plans had not changed. He text back "thanks for the cash and by the way I am in Coalville do you want to collect the nuc"?. Coalville is only seven miles from my house. So at 10.30 pm I am in the car on my way to Coalville. I have not seen Paul for a while so we have a chat in the street for twenty minutes. His missus sticks her head out the door of the house to enquire after him which is a cue to put the nuc in my car, shake hands and go home.
I took the bees straight to the lottie and placed the nuc on top the hive I had positioned a few days earlier. I loosely wrapped some newspaper round them so they would not get a chill overnight. Then the tricky bit....pulling the foam stopper out of the door way. It was pitch black at the lottie, it being 11.30pm, but luckily quite cool. I eased out the plug and the bees where free. They came out quite readily but because the air temperature was low they could not fly.
They had a look round and seemed a bit frisky. I supposed you would be if you had a trapped in a box for 24 hours with loads of others on a hot day. The nuc has big mesh covered holes in the side and top which helps cool the nuc but the bees cannot escape. The nuc has stores but no access to water or space for flying, which bees are programmed to do. I watched them for five minutes and having decided they were happy enough I left for the night.
I was back at the lottie the next morning intending to transfer the bees from the nuc to their new home. A tree was shielding the morning sun from the hive which was good in one way but not in another. The good bit was that nuc was not over heating. The downside was that it was a bit cool for handling the bees and that has consequences. I had to move the nuc to dismantle the hive down the brood box and then take out the frames. It was not long before the first of the guard bees where examining the intruder .i.e. me. Getting the first frame out of the nuc is always tricky. The bees glue the frame with Propolis and the nuc is just a plastic box. It is a certanty that the nuc and all its bees will get jostled and bees don't like that. More bees in the air. I gave the frames a quick inspection as I moved them across to the brood chamber of the new hive. I found the queen, marked with a fetching red spot. It is important not drop her off the frame as you transfer her. A Queen on the ground makes for a very unhappy hive and beekeeper. No such worries for me but there were a lot of bees flying. They flew because there hive was upset, because of the upset the had had for the past few days and because it was not that warm. Cool bees don't fly too well and are not in the best of moods. I got stung several times for my troubles. I filled out he remaining brood chambers with foundation; put on the queen excluder, placed on a super full frame of foundation then the crown board then a feeder full of syrup just show I did not hold the strings against them, then the empty super to house the feeder and then the roof. After that it is was a quick tidy up which only meant making sure the nuc box was empty of bees and picking up the spare brood frames. I made an orderly retreat to my bench at top of the lottie.
I must have made an odd spectacle as I sat on the bench in the full sun in my bee suit. From afar folks would not have seen the bees whizzing round me. In the hour it took house the bees the sun had peeked round the tree warming everything up. The bees where scenting with their Nasonove glands so meant the bees where being drawn into the new hive. Everything began to settle down. Since I had been stung a few times the bees were not that keen to leave me alone. I have learnt to sit still and be calm so as not to give off my human flight pheromones. Over about ten minutes the bees start to settle down to the extent they were landing on me and licking up the splashes of syrup from my gloves. I was happy enough that they settle in but would have liked to have stayed longer however I had to be in Manchester later the same day.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Rendered wax
One thing I have been lacking is a way of dealing with wax from the hives. It needs to be melted and filtered before it can turned into something else. The wax frames from the brrod chambers needs to be removed from the hive after a few seasons. This to keep the frames full of fresh comb. Old comb, although the bees like it, can harbour all sort of desease and pathogens.
When I went to the BBKA spring convention I came away with the metal parts of a solar wax extractor which is a big tray plus a what looks like the bread tin. The tray holds the unrendered comb and the bread tin catches the melted wax. All I needed was some way to support the two metal items and fit a piece of glass to the front. A trip to B&Q a few weeks ago supplied a couple of sheets of plywood. I sketched out my plan based on what I know of extractors and the metal parts I had to hand. I cut the ply up then glued and nailed it together. It came together over a couple of hours on Monday evening. Although it could be finished a bit better it is very serviceable. The only thing I did not have was a piece of glass for the front cover. I had decided to leave the glass until I finished the build and buy the glasss when I had the final measurements. I got a chance today to nip out in my lunch hour to get a piece of 6mm float glass cut to size. I dropped into the house on the way back to work and fitted the glass to the box. It fitted a treat. I went back to work dreaming of rendered wax and all the things I can make from it. I already have some polish tins in the shed..
When I went to the BBKA spring convention I came away with the metal parts of a solar wax extractor which is a big tray plus a what looks like the bread tin. The tray holds the unrendered comb and the bread tin catches the melted wax. All I needed was some way to support the two metal items and fit a piece of glass to the front. A trip to B&Q a few weeks ago supplied a couple of sheets of plywood. I sketched out my plan based on what I know of extractors and the metal parts I had to hand. I cut the ply up then glued and nailed it together. It came together over a couple of hours on Monday evening. Although it could be finished a bit better it is very serviceable. The only thing I did not have was a piece of glass for the front cover. I had decided to leave the glass until I finished the build and buy the glasss when I had the final measurements. I got a chance today to nip out in my lunch hour to get a piece of 6mm float glass cut to size. I dropped into the house on the way back to work and fitted the glass to the box. It fitted a treat. I went back to work dreaming of rendered wax and all the things I can make from it. I already have some polish tins in the shed..
Thursday, May 24, 2012
A well deserved shower
I had a look in the shed to check on the seed potatoes. They are long over due being planted. The second earlies are really leggy the main crop less so. I did not have anything to do on Wednesday evening and the evenings are light until past 9pm. H decided to come with me. H set herself up at the top of the lottie on a deckchair with her book. I had the floor, roof and brood box of a hive with me. I placed them on the stand at the top of the lottie.
I had dug over Bed1 and it was ready for planting. I got the plank I use as a straight edge and plonked it down across the bed. I used it as a guide to dig a trench. It took two passes to dig it deep enough. As I dug it down I met the layer of horse muck I had introduced whilst weeding. So the plan worked. I had to pick the individual seed potatoes from the tray making sure I did not break off the sprouting haulm. It made the job a bit slower to complete as I also had to be careful when back filling the trench. I dug each trench in turn, placed in the seed spuds and back filled the row. It was very hot work but the soil was so light that five rows took a little over an hour and half to complete the job.
It was really good to be out in the gathering gloom. H pointed out the Sun. As it dipped to the horizon it was a fiery ball. There were lots of birds about all making the best of the warm weather. The lottie's Robin is looking a bit scruffy. Times must be hard for him. We saw the Lapwings, Buzzard, Kestrel as well as lots of the small birds. We heard but did not see the Cuckoos and the Woodpeckers.''
I still had some time so went up to the top of Bed2 which is where the Bees are to live. I had weeded an small area round the hive on my last visit. I decided to clear the remainder of the area round the hive. It was a bit tricky because of the wire fence I had put in the way but whose job was to support Sweet Pea. This small area ten feet long by four foot filled a wheelbarrow to the brim and bit more besides.
The grape vines have started to break bud which is not before time. The Asparagus has started to sprout but bit in a random pattern. I think I am going to cut my losses with the Asparagus and use the bed for something more productive. I cut what was there for supper. H spotted that the Gooseberries where doing well. It is odd how plants some plants will do well despite the weather. As a parting shot I ran the hoe over the early potato rows that had sprouted just to knock back the chickweed which make another bid. By the time I had finished I was soaked in sweat so much so my clothes had darken where the sweat had soaked through on my back, chest and legs. It was not just because I had been working but because was so warm. No chance of dropping in at the Railway for a cheeky pint in that state. We trundled home in Degsy for a well deserved shower and a brew.
I had dug over Bed1 and it was ready for planting. I got the plank I use as a straight edge and plonked it down across the bed. I used it as a guide to dig a trench. It took two passes to dig it deep enough. As I dug it down I met the layer of horse muck I had introduced whilst weeding. So the plan worked. I had to pick the individual seed potatoes from the tray making sure I did not break off the sprouting haulm. It made the job a bit slower to complete as I also had to be careful when back filling the trench. I dug each trench in turn, placed in the seed spuds and back filled the row. It was very hot work but the soil was so light that five rows took a little over an hour and half to complete the job.
It was really good to be out in the gathering gloom. H pointed out the Sun. As it dipped to the horizon it was a fiery ball. There were lots of birds about all making the best of the warm weather. The lottie's Robin is looking a bit scruffy. Times must be hard for him. We saw the Lapwings, Buzzard, Kestrel as well as lots of the small birds. We heard but did not see the Cuckoos and the Woodpeckers.''
I still had some time so went up to the top of Bed2 which is where the Bees are to live. I had weeded an small area round the hive on my last visit. I decided to clear the remainder of the area round the hive. It was a bit tricky because of the wire fence I had put in the way but whose job was to support Sweet Pea. This small area ten feet long by four foot filled a wheelbarrow to the brim and bit more besides.
The grape vines have started to break bud which is not before time. The Asparagus has started to sprout but bit in a random pattern. I think I am going to cut my losses with the Asparagus and use the bed for something more productive. I cut what was there for supper. H spotted that the Gooseberries where doing well. It is odd how plants some plants will do well despite the weather. As a parting shot I ran the hoe over the early potato rows that had sprouted just to knock back the chickweed which make another bid. By the time I had finished I was soaked in sweat so much so my clothes had darken where the sweat had soaked through on my back, chest and legs. It was not just because I had been working but because was so warm. No chance of dropping in at the Railway for a cheeky pint in that state. We trundled home in Degsy for a well deserved shower and a brew.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Swarm housed
I got a text from the farmer telling me there was a swarm in the hedge. As soon I could get away I went home and shot off to the apiary. It is dead handy having Degsy on the drive and ready to go. When I got to the apiary sure enough there was a swarm in the hedge. They has settled down so there were very few bees flying. I went a checked the hive I had fettled on Sunday. I guessed which hive might have swarmed. I was right. I checked the others and found they were quite happy. But I did have a dilemma. When I checked the hive that swarmed I found queen cups but nothing anywhere near being sealed. When I looked thorough hive B I found sealed Queen cells on two frames so I transferred one of the frames into the swarmed box. Now I three boxes with sealed Queens. With a bit of luck the queens will emerge, mate and settle down to laying.
I positioned a floor and a brood box under the swarm. I put an empty super over the brood box. I got as close as I could but the box was not under the swarm properly. I had a big cloth in Degsy I placed that under the swarm and draped it in to the super. I trimmed the hedge back to give myself some room. When I had room I pulled the branch down to the cloth then gave it a sharp rap. Most of the cluster fell onto the cloth. Tipped the cloth up and shook the bees into the empty super which acted like a big funnel depositing the bees into the brood box. I scooped up the remaining bees and put them in the super. I spread the cloth out in front of the entrance to the hive. The remaining bees crawled back along the clothe to the hive. It made it easier for them than scrambling through the grass. It was good for me because I could see bees on the floor. The last thing I wanted was bees crawling up my legs. It was a roasting hot afternoon which had me sweating but it was just right for the bees. Despite my actions the bees were calm enough. I put the super frames back into the hive carefully so as not to squash the bees. I covered the top of the super and went about preparing the apiary for the arrival of the newly hive swarm. When I went back to the swarm and found they had settled down in the hive. Lots of bees were fanning scent from the Nasenoff gland. A sure sign of the drawing in the flying bees. With that I left them to it and resolved to come back at dusk.
I nervously approached the hive in the gathering gloom. It was great to be out in the cool of the evening. There were no bees around the hived swarm. I lifted the lid and found a great gaggle of bees round the vent hole. When I bumped the hive the bees shook and growled. That was good because it meant there were lots of bees that were defending their home. I blocked the door up and carefully carried the hive the new spot in the apiary. I took the lid off the hive and added a second super, replaced the crown board, added a feeder then the eke and finally the roof. I almost forgot to take the door block out. When I did take the door block out the bees did not poor out which was good. A few guards came out which is normal. With fingers crossed I think I can say they swarm is caught and homed.
With a bit of luck the swarm will settle down and the new Queens will emerge and mate in the other hives. That means I will have four viable hives in three weeks time. Then they have the rest of the summer to make honey.
I positioned a floor and a brood box under the swarm. I put an empty super over the brood box. I got as close as I could but the box was not under the swarm properly. I had a big cloth in Degsy I placed that under the swarm and draped it in to the super. I trimmed the hedge back to give myself some room. When I had room I pulled the branch down to the cloth then gave it a sharp rap. Most of the cluster fell onto the cloth. Tipped the cloth up and shook the bees into the empty super which acted like a big funnel depositing the bees into the brood box. I scooped up the remaining bees and put them in the super. I spread the cloth out in front of the entrance to the hive. The remaining bees crawled back along the clothe to the hive. It made it easier for them than scrambling through the grass. It was good for me because I could see bees on the floor. The last thing I wanted was bees crawling up my legs. It was a roasting hot afternoon which had me sweating but it was just right for the bees. Despite my actions the bees were calm enough. I put the super frames back into the hive carefully so as not to squash the bees. I covered the top of the super and went about preparing the apiary for the arrival of the newly hive swarm. When I went back to the swarm and found they had settled down in the hive. Lots of bees were fanning scent from the Nasenoff gland. A sure sign of the drawing in the flying bees. With that I left them to it and resolved to come back at dusk.
I nervously approached the hive in the gathering gloom. It was great to be out in the cool of the evening. There were no bees around the hived swarm. I lifted the lid and found a great gaggle of bees round the vent hole. When I bumped the hive the bees shook and growled. That was good because it meant there were lots of bees that were defending their home. I blocked the door up and carefully carried the hive the new spot in the apiary. I took the lid off the hive and added a second super, replaced the crown board, added a feeder then the eke and finally the roof. I almost forgot to take the door block out. When I did take the door block out the bees did not poor out which was good. A few guards came out which is normal. With fingers crossed I think I can say they swarm is caught and homed.
With a bit of luck the swarm will settle down and the new Queens will emerge and mate in the other hives. That means I will have four viable hives in three weeks time. Then they have the rest of the summer to make honey.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Swarm prevention.
It got an early-ish night on Saturday so were up and about fairly early on Sunday. I had a couple of boiled free range eggs and toast for breakfast. It was then off the do the poo trailer run. As usual Chris and I had a chat. He was tackling the footings of a big lead too greenhouse. I left him too it and ran the trailer to the lootie and emptied it. I picked some Rhubarb and drop it off with Chris when I dropped off the trailer. The Sankey trailer is working well.
I went up to see the bees whilst I was in the area. I had to get a brood box and super whilst at the apriary. I put what I needed in Degsy. The big hive looked very quite. I resolved to go back later in the day. I had to go the Matlock to see a leather suppliers. Miss L came with me. After I had done what was needed we had a brew and Apple pie, which was nice. Upon returning home Miss L was dropped off and I took Degsy up to the apriary. My instinct was right given what I had seen the week before so swarm prevention was in order.
The double brood was ready to swarm. It had six sealed queen cells on a couple of frames. This was handy for me. The first job was to find the Queen. Given I was running a double brood it was difficult to locate her. There are twenty two frames in a double a brood that is forty four frame sides. Forty four minutes later I found her and fit and fecund she looked. I followed the directions in Ted Hooper's Guide to Bees and Honey for an artifical swarm which demanded finding the Queen. Upon finding her she and the frame she was on was put in a new and empty brood box. The big box had three very full supers, full of not only honey but bees. I decided to take advantage of the early swarming and the availability of bees and sealed Queen cells.
The Queen was put in new brood box. I put in a couple of drawn frames and filled the remainder of the box with foundation. I put a super plus the bees it contained over the brood box. Above the crown broad I put an eke and a feeder which contained two litres of syrup. The double brood hive was moved to a new location "B". I took five frames from the twenty two in the double brood, one of which contained a sealed Quee cell, this created hive "C". The five frames went in with all the bees. I dropped on a super with its bees. With a bit of luck it will build up over the summer.
Hive "B" has several sealed Queen cells and very many bees. I dropped on a one of the three filled supers and an empty super. The brood box had been filled with five frames of foundation to replace the frames taken out for the nuc on box "C". I tideied up the boxes, queen excluders, door closures, crown boards and roofs. I only had only one feeder and syrup to go with. I figured Hive "A" needed a feed more than other hive so that is hwhere it went. Boxes B and C were very quiet but box A still sounded like a jet engine. I got stung many times but that was no real surprise. It was only 13 degrees centigade which is not really warm enough plus a pulled a very strong hive to bits several times. Luckily I do not react badly to strings but it does not mean I like it. The bees were not agressive but settled down after the initail dimantling of Hive A.When I had finished I leaned against the wire fence and made my notes whilst I watched the hives settle down. It was funny trying to write with bees buzzing round the pen. Now I just have to sit back and wait for the queens to emerge, mate and start laying.
I went up to see the bees whilst I was in the area. I had to get a brood box and super whilst at the apriary. I put what I needed in Degsy. The big hive looked very quite. I resolved to go back later in the day. I had to go the Matlock to see a leather suppliers. Miss L came with me. After I had done what was needed we had a brew and Apple pie, which was nice. Upon returning home Miss L was dropped off and I took Degsy up to the apriary. My instinct was right given what I had seen the week before so swarm prevention was in order.
The double brood was ready to swarm. It had six sealed queen cells on a couple of frames. This was handy for me. The first job was to find the Queen. Given I was running a double brood it was difficult to locate her. There are twenty two frames in a double a brood that is forty four frame sides. Forty four minutes later I found her and fit and fecund she looked. I followed the directions in Ted Hooper's Guide to Bees and Honey for an artifical swarm which demanded finding the Queen. Upon finding her she and the frame she was on was put in a new and empty brood box. The big box had three very full supers, full of not only honey but bees. I decided to take advantage of the early swarming and the availability of bees and sealed Queen cells.
The Queen was put in new brood box. I put in a couple of drawn frames and filled the remainder of the box with foundation. I put a super plus the bees it contained over the brood box. Above the crown broad I put an eke and a feeder which contained two litres of syrup. The double brood hive was moved to a new location "B". I took five frames from the twenty two in the double brood, one of which contained a sealed Quee cell, this created hive "C". The five frames went in with all the bees. I dropped on a super with its bees. With a bit of luck it will build up over the summer.
Hive "B" has several sealed Queen cells and very many bees. I dropped on a one of the three filled supers and an empty super. The brood box had been filled with five frames of foundation to replace the frames taken out for the nuc on box "C". I tideied up the boxes, queen excluders, door closures, crown boards and roofs. I only had only one feeder and syrup to go with. I figured Hive "A" needed a feed more than other hive so that is hwhere it went. Boxes B and C were very quiet but box A still sounded like a jet engine. I got stung many times but that was no real surprise. It was only 13 degrees centigade which is not really warm enough plus a pulled a very strong hive to bits several times. Luckily I do not react badly to strings but it does not mean I like it. The bees were not agressive but settled down after the initail dimantling of Hive A.When I had finished I leaned against the wire fence and made my notes whilst I watched the hives settle down. It was funny trying to write with bees buzzing round the pen. Now I just have to sit back and wait for the queens to emerge, mate and start laying.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Weeds. oh lots a weeds
Saturday was suppossd to be wet and it had been rain on and off all week. I took a punt on Saturday and went to the lottie. It was overcast but not raining. I decided that Bed 1 need more work. Bed1 is the spud bed this year. I opened the compo bin and got the wheelbarrow ready. I forked over the bottom of the trench then threw in a wheelbarrow of rotted manure. After that it was just a case of forking over the ground and throwing the weeds in to the barrow. Overall the main weeds in this bed are the Pineapple weed with a bit of Chickweed. It smelt really nice as I stomped on it as I weeded. The weeds were wet but the soil was fairly dry. One pass of across plot equalled one barrow of weeds. I tipped that barrow load in the compo bin then loaded up another barrow load of manure. Then did the cycle all over again. In got half the plot dug over. I did four cycles before I ran out of time. Roundup came for a a chat. As usual I carried on digging as he chatted.
Next I decided to tackle the the weeds at the top of Bed 2. This where the bees are to live. Although the area did not look that weedy it yielded a very full barrow for little over half a pass. I had run out of time because Miss L was due home and I had to go the birthday party that evening.
The weeds are growing nicely in the rain but the poor air temperature is slowing them down, which is handy.
Next I decided to tackle the the weeds at the top of Bed 2. This where the bees are to live. Although the area did not look that weedy it yielded a very full barrow for little over half a pass. I had run out of time because Miss L was due home and I had to go the birthday party that evening.
The weeds are growing nicely in the rain but the poor air temperature is slowing them down, which is handy.
Monday, May 07, 2012
Bank Holiday
As Monday was a Bank Holiday in the UK and the last day of my break I was determined to get some work done at the lottie. I took myself and Degsy away early. The forecast was for rain but it was dry when I got up and fully expected it come on to rain at some point. Dave P was already busy on his plot as was Sandy. I dug up the Garlic that had over wintered and starter sprouting. A few days ago Sandy had said that her Garlic had rotted in the ground. I broke up the bulbs and gave Sandy a handful. I planted out the remaining cloves in Bed3.
I dug out the big compost bin and left a big pile of fresh compost on the patio. I needed the room for all the weeds I have to deal with. I decided that I needed to clean up more Bed4 for brasicass. I got the wheelbarrow out and placed it on the plot then set are the weeds in the usual way. The soil had dried out since my last visit which made the perfect digging conditions.
It took me about two hours to clear three yards of the bed. That was also three very full wheelbarrows of weeds. Whilst I was about it I weeded the bottom path by Bed4. It looks good. By 1pm I was getting tired so I packed up. The wind was cold and it was starting to spit with rain but I had already decided to go home.
At home I had a few things to do including setting up the new rotary drier. H is very pleased with it and I was quite pleased with my mornings work.
I dug out the big compost bin and left a big pile of fresh compost on the patio. I needed the room for all the weeds I have to deal with. I decided that I needed to clean up more Bed4 for brasicass. I got the wheelbarrow out and placed it on the plot then set are the weeds in the usual way. The soil had dried out since my last visit which made the perfect digging conditions.It took me about two hours to clear three yards of the bed. That was also three very full wheelbarrows of weeds. Whilst I was about it I weeded the bottom path by Bed4. It looks good. By 1pm I was getting tired so I packed up. The wind was cold and it was starting to spit with rain but I had already decided to go home.
At home I had a few things to do including setting up the new rotary drier. H is very pleased with it and I was quite pleased with my mornings work.
A stroll
Sunday was a non-starter as far as the lottie was concerned. H and I went out for a walk instead. We parked up at Staunton Harold and walked over to Calke Abbey. We had a look round the craft fair and a cup of tea. Then we walk on to Ticknall. Most of it down the epic tree lined drive. We looked in on the village hall which had a exhibition mounted. We knew the artist and are not fans of her work so we strolled on. The Staff of Life and The Chequers were both closed so we had no opportunity to wet are whistle so we wander back across the fields to Staunton. The weather was dry but not sunny and a wind was quite cold. The story of the weekend really.
Click HERE for a link to eh map of the route.
There was still a good part of the afternoon left so we decided we would have a stroll round Melbourne. It only a few miles from Staunton Harold. We parked at the top of the village and walk through the lane to towards the pond. We walked pasted the Dower House. It was open as part of the NGS [National Gardens Scheme] in which private gardens are opened to the public for charitable donations. The gardens of the house border the pond. It was a bright sunny afternoon and it made the best of the house's position. We met the owners William and Giselle. They were terribly nice but fun none the less.
Click HERE for a link to eh map of the route.
There was still a good part of the afternoon left so we decided we would have a stroll round Melbourne. It only a few miles from Staunton Harold. We parked at the top of the village and walk through the lane to towards the pond. We walked pasted the Dower House. It was open as part of the NGS [National Gardens Scheme] in which private gardens are opened to the public for charitable donations. The gardens of the house border the pond. It was a bright sunny afternoon and it made the best of the house's position. We met the owners William and Giselle. They were terribly nice but fun none the less.
Moira Piscatorials
Saturday was a going to be a day full of work at the lottie. I did the poo run and when I got back to the lottie the wind had a promise of rain in it. I got my gear ready only to have a shower roll across the lottie. I was feeling peckish on the was back from the stables so I had bought a sausage roll and a sandwich from the general store in Overseal. I set up the Trangia for a brew but the wind was howling in the back door of Degsy. I pulled the back of the centre seat down to from a table. I put the Trangia on it and fell on my repast whilst the Trangia heated the water to a boil. With the back door closed and the Trangia burning Degsy was nice a cosy whist I read a few chapters of my book. I had a nice hot brew to go with my chocolate bar as a pudding to my dinner along with the book. I had an appointment at 2pm. The weather let up but there was no time to do anything worth while.
The went back home and got washed and changed. I had a appointment at The Railway Inn as guest of the Moira Piscatorials. We have few pints whilst we relived the latest fishing match and I reviewed the match log. That was me done for the afternoon.
The went back home and got washed and changed. I had a appointment at The Railway Inn as guest of the Moira Piscatorials. We have few pints whilst we relived the latest fishing match and I reviewed the match log. That was me done for the afternoon.
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Tea and Cake
The weather has not been on my or anyone elses side this week. Too wet and windy for bees and too wet for the lottie. It managed to stop raining during Thursday night so on Friday morning so nipped up to the lottie and surveyed the weedy patch I call an allotment. I set about the bottom end of Bed4. The soil was really wet but not sodden. At least the weed cover helped keep the soil off my boots. The soil dug really well but as usual I dug too deep. This means a move more soil than a might wish to and makes it light and fuffy. This bed is going to home to brassicas so I am going to have to tread it down to a very firm seed bed. The greenhouse has many trays of cabbages and caulis coming on to the planting out stage.
It did the usual process put the wheelbarrow put out of reach then work side to side across the plot loosening the soil and pulling the weds. The weeds went in the barrow and then into the compo bin. The weeds have really enjoyed the weather especially the rain. I will have to work a bit more often to get the plot cleared and planted.
On the plus side the early spuds are starting to break the ground. I gave the spud area a good hoeing as there is a flush of weed seedlings. The buds on the vines are starting to swell. I got the hoe busy on Bed3 that had I prepared a few weeks ago. I have bought a net of white onions sets and a net a red onion sets. Having hoe'd off the Bed3 I laid out the plank which I used straight edge to the rows of onions. I used a dibber to mark holes in the bed and dropped an onion set in each hole. A hundred dibs and sets later I was done.
I had an appointment in Ashby with my farmer friend at 2pm. I went home and got showered and changed then walked into Ashby. We got the cafe at the same moment. Over tea and cake we had a good chat about expanding my bee enterprise. Having a home for many colonies is dependant on space so Mrs B's buy-in is important. It turns out keeping bees on the farm is a plus point for them.
It did the usual process put the wheelbarrow put out of reach then work side to side across the plot loosening the soil and pulling the weds. The weeds went in the barrow and then into the compo bin. The weeds have really enjoyed the weather especially the rain. I will have to work a bit more often to get the plot cleared and planted.
On the plus side the early spuds are starting to break the ground. I gave the spud area a good hoeing as there is a flush of weed seedlings. The buds on the vines are starting to swell. I got the hoe busy on Bed3 that had I prepared a few weeks ago. I have bought a net of white onions sets and a net a red onion sets. Having hoe'd off the Bed3 I laid out the plank which I used straight edge to the rows of onions. I used a dibber to mark holes in the bed and dropped an onion set in each hole. A hundred dibs and sets later I was done.
I had an appointment in Ashby with my farmer friend at 2pm. I went home and got showered and changed then walked into Ashby. We got the cafe at the same moment. Over tea and cake we had a good chat about expanding my bee enterprise. Having a home for many colonies is dependant on space so Mrs B's buy-in is important. It turns out keeping bees on the farm is a plus point for them.
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