Honeybee Abundance
It was only two weeks after the blessing of our first swarm and new honeybee colony at our farm that two more swarms came from our home hives. On Friday of Easter weekend Mark saw a swarm form on the bottom of our swarm box in the tree in our front yard.
We were hoping that they would simply go into the box and we wouldn’t have to move them for at least a week. Alas, they were still on the bottom the next day, so we easily gathered them into a travel box.
Meanwhile the other hive in our backyard swarmed again and collected on a bush about heart height. Mark needed to quickly make another travel box to gather the second swarm! This one was also very easy to shake into the box.
That weekend we were very busy getting the two sets of hive boxes cleaned and oiled with a beeswax and linseed mixture as well as all the frames. The two colonies rested in their travel boxes in a quiet room in our home. When they are a new swarm it is good to let them rest before inviting them into their new hive box. On Saturday evening we posted the invitation to the honeybee welcome on the Faculty and the EWS Caretakers list.
Sunday morning Sam Trueblood helped us to prepare the ground, move and level the stumps for the two colonies. The stumps moved there by the students in 2019 had served well and rotted.
Then at 4pm on Easter Sunday friends came to help set up the ramps to invite the bees into their new home. Others came at 5pm to watch the adventure. The first one near the sheep fence was the Saturday swarm.
We were able to see the golden queen make her way towards the entrance. Each of them made some honeycomb on the lid of the travel box while they were “resting”.
The one closer to the road was the Friday swarm. The sun was really descending by 5:30.
The golden honeybees were flying all around but they were very gentle and there were no stings. It is really a wonder to watch them find their new home and orient to their environment. Thank you to all who came to help welcome our honeybees.
Now we have the great fortune to have three colonies at the farm!
Farthest by the road is Josephine Hive, in the middle is Fiona Hive, and closest is Faith Hive.
I am happy to say, since that weekend three weeks ago, all of the hives now have fertile active queens with growing brood nests. Mark was able to get a lovely photo of Josephine’s beautiful Queen when we visited last Saturday.
You can see the honey filling up and the pollen/nectar cakes called bee bread which they feed to the larvae babies.
Please come visit your school apiary, as the crimson clover that the students and Farmer Kristin planted will be blooming soon and it will be very accessible to watch the loving selfless bees at their work in the field. And let me know if you are interested in helping to care for the Honeybees this spring and summer!
Sweet Honey Bee Blessings,
Andrea EW
Honeybee caretaker
Goldfinch Kindergarten Teacher
PS We also gathered a swarm during the eclipse(!) which we housed in our garden. I will post about that one and other updates in the EWS honeybee caretakers list on parent square. Any EWS community member is able to join or read the updates there.