Beekeeping extravaganza

So when Peter goes away my life goes to pot. First, I can't seem to get out of bed. Though the thought did cross my mind today that I could have set an alarm. What a novel idea! Plus, all he asked me to do was open the door to the greenhouse in the morning and water the seedlings, but somehow it takes longer to water the 500 million seedlings Peter planted this year than it did last year to water the 4 trays we had. Shocker! So I am only now just rolling into work and so I have to be fast.

The beekeeping workshop was awesome!!! The best part was being able to hold a frame of bees in a safe setting. I mean I am not particularly afraid of bees, but still, I've never specifically gone into their homes to visit. The people at the Pfeiffer center don't really believe in wearing protective gear on a regular basis. They just go into the hives in t-shirts and without gloves or veils or anything. They believe that if you treat the bees gently, slowly, carefully and with respect, the bees will treat you the same back. I know it sounds kooky, but we hung out with the bees for at least three hours and I think of a group of thirty or so people only two stings total. (I didn't get stung.) Anyway, being able to hold a frame of bees without gloves (I was wearing Mom and Dad's mayfly veil though) was really cool and really helped me get over some of my initial hesitation.

The workshop was a little advanced, but I think that was good. Like someone trying to teach you to make chocolate chip cookies by telling you that "I've always thought that you should have more brown sugar than white, and never, ever run the mixer once the chips are in." I mean, a beginner like me is left thinking, if this is the innovation, what's the normal way? On the other hand, I am generally in favor of the total immersion method of learning, so I think I learned a lot.

The teachers -- and a lot of the students -- were obviously very knowledgeable and very respectful of bees and had lots of interesting ideas. For example, most beekeepers give their bees the wax comb within which to lay their brood and store their honey. That way the bees concentrate on making honey rather than building comb. The teachers of this workshop though thought that you should only give them some of the wax they need, not all, because it is good for the bees health to do some of the work of building the wax comb. The teachers had some expression in German about how "work sweetens life" -- that we need to work to be healthy -- and bees too.

Also, the teachers of the workshop believe you should not force your hive to become artificially bigger than it would naturally be. Most beekeeping books tell you to take steps to prevent the hive from splitting into two hives as it grows -- because having one big hive gives you more honey than two smaller hives. But these teachers thought it was healthier for the bees to be able to "reincarnate" (that's their term) periodically into a new hive. Of course the trick is catching the new hive as it swarms off. I think that is a little advanced for me, but I have to say it looked really cool in the video we watched.

I've ordered my hive of bees from a guy a friend recommended. I don't know much about him other than his email address and that his name is Butch and he lives a couple towns South of us. I need to email him and see if the bees are ready yet. I'll keep you posted!!

So much for my short entry. Peter will be back late tonight!! Woohoo!!