The Honey Company

A year in the life of a beekeeper

2012-10-07T16:13:00.000-06:00

Wonder what goes on in the life of a beekeeper? Here is a quick summary of what we do on the Wasatch Front in Utah.

January, February, March. In January, many commercial beekeepers are preparing their hives to send to California for pollination. I read yesterday that the California almond groves will require 75% of the nation’s bees! Wow! Once bees are gone, it might be the slowest time of year for beekeepers. Stan uses this time to build and repair beekeeping equipment, organize, and prepare for the coming season.

Truck with a load of pollinator colonies.

February and March is the time most bees starve. In Utah, warm, sunny, spring-like days are mixed with blizzards. On the sunny stretches, the queen starts laying eggs to increase the work force. Bees have also eaten most of their winter honey storage. When flowers begin to bloom, workers can harvest more nectar and pollen. When flowers are not blooming yet, but bee numbers are increasing, they could starve. We monitor honey levels within the hive and feeds bees more honey and pollen, if necessary.

March-April is also the time to order packages or nucs.

Checking a colony's weight/honey stores.

April, May, June. April to June is swarm season. We regularly (every 1.5 weeks) check for swarm cells (new queen cells) and either divides the colony or removes the queen cells and adds a super to give bees more room. Bees usually swarm when they run out of room. Stan also spends time catching swarms when they escape. Bees will usually swarm on a warm day following a cold spell. This is the busiest time of year for a beekeeper.

California bees usually come home in early April.

Installing a package.

July-August. In July, beekeepers can starts adding more supers as needed. This is done one at a time when bees start working on the most outside frames of the top box. It is a good idea to move one frame that bees have been working on into the new super to encourage bees to move up into the new box. Some beekeepers continue adding supers all summer and extract honey at the end. Other beekeepers (like Stan) extract honey as bees produce it and then re-use the supers.

There are not many swarms during this time of year.

As dandelions bloom, beekeepers move bees to higher elevations. (See dandelions post)

She's ready to go beekeeping with Dad!

September-November. In September, we are done harvesting honey. Everything bees produce after Labor Day stays in the hive for winter feed. As a general rule of thumb, the 2-story bee box should weigh about 100 pounds going into winter. Sometimes we re-queen in the fall, if we didn’t do it in the spring.

Extra supers need to be stored in a bee- and pest-tight area.

Some beekeepers winterize by putting inner covers, entrance reducers, and mouse guards on their hives at this time.

December. This is time to relax, enjoy the holiday season, do some art, and leave bees alone so as to not disrupt their cluster.

Stan with Bee Art display at Sprinville Art Museum's Religion and Art Show

"Fish in Honeycomb"

--Alicia Moulton

Gardening for honeybees

2012-04-16T16:28:00.000-06:00

Seeds for a Bee Garden

Seed packet from House of Bees to grow your own honeybee-friendly garden.

We recently received a seed packet sample from House of Bees ( www.houseofbees.com). We produce honey and I love to garden and when I saw their packet, I thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?” We have already started some seeds from it and I can’t wait to see all the flowers! It includes phacelia, catnip, lemon mint, purple coneflower, bachelor’s button, coriander, lemon balm, and borage.

Their website reminds us to plant a variety of flowers that bloom all season, and to leave a bit of wild space in the yard. Bees like large patches of the same flower best.

And then I remembered a USU Extension publication on bee gardening. (They have one on butterfly gardening too, in case you are interested.) It is gardening information for attracting native bees, but honeybees will like most of these too. Here is the link. http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/plants-pollinators09.pdf

The real strength of this document is the 5-page table of plants.

It includes an awesome key I love how they include lots of Utah-native and water-wise plants. Happy gardening!

Beekeeping License

2012-03-22T16:16:00.000-06:00

Photo from Grandpa Arthur Andersen's collection in the 1970's.

In the State of Utah, beekeepers need a beekeeping license through the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food in Salt Lake City.

They keep a record of all beekeeping licenses online, including name, license number, city, county, application and renewal dates, and whether it is active or expired. Anyone can view this.

You can get an application at http://ag.utah.gov/documents/1201a.pdf

Or you can call 801-538-7184 (UDAF Information).

There is a graduated fee, based on the number of hives.

http://webapp.ag.utah.gov/LicenseLookup/graduatedFees.jsp

1-20 hives $10

21-100 hives $25

101-500 hives $50

Should I assemble boxes with the rough side in or out?

2012-03-19T16:02:00.000-06:00

Bee boxes generally come with one side planed smooth, and the other left rough. When assembling boxes, you will need to decide weather to put the rough side of the wood on the inside or outside of the box. We recommend putting the rough side on the inside of the box. Here's why.

Honeybees will note any imperfections in the wood and fill them with propolis. Propolis is essentially the bees’ immune system.* It significantly helps fight off disease (bacteria, fungus, virus) and is a sticky, glue-like substance collected from some budding plants. Having the rough side on the interior makes bees add more propolis than they would add to the smooth side.

Research from the Minnesota Bee Lab shows increased disease resistance in hives where the box was coated with a propolis solution. Also, in preliminary tests, even the HIV virus couldn’t live in a petri dish with a propolis-alcohol solution.

However, there IS an advantage to putting the rough side OUT if will paint your boxes. Paint sticks better to the rough-planed side of the box.

But it seems to us that the advantages to bee health outweighs painting and we put the rough side on the inside.

*(Okay, so technically an immune system is the one that remembers infectious diseases a body has been exposed to in the past and carries antibodies to fight off the disease-causing organisms. Insects don’t have an immune system like this at all.)

Honey Hot Chocolate

2012-03-17T15:57:00.000-06:00

Our house was a bit on the chilly side this St. Patrick's Day afternoon. And so my daughter and I decided to make some hot chocolate. And, given our honey obsession, we adapted the Hershey’s Cocoa recipe to make special Honey Hot Chocolate. It was yummy and I wanted to share!

In most recipes, substitute 1/2 as much honey as sugar by volume. I wanted this to be extra sweet and so I substituted 1/3 cup honey for 1/2 cup sugar.

1/3 cup Honey

1/4 cup Hershey’s Cocoa Powder

Dash Salt

1/3 cup Hot Water

1 1/3 cup Powdered Milk

4 cups Water

3/4 t Vanilla Extract (I forgot this once and it was still yummy)

Mix honey, cocoa, salt, and powdered milk in a saucepan. Add 1/3 cup hot water. Wisk it well if you want the yummy froth on top. Cook and stir over medium heat until hot. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Variation: I also make this with a drop of peppermint essential oil to make mint hot chocolate. Yum! Cinnamon is sounding pretty tempting too.

Rethinking Dandelions

2012-03-17T15:53:00.000-06:00

Dandelions

It’s time to revisit what we think of this cheerful springtime flower! Historically, dandelions have been used medicinally and as a food source. Remember the stories about Utah pioneers finding and consuming them gratefully? Have you had a fancy salad with dandelion greens? Yum!

These days, dandelions are often thought of as weeds, which folks try to remove from their lawns and gardens. They even make dandelion-removing tools like this one, and lawn sprays to get rid of dandelions.

Photo from www.theavantgardenshop.com

Experienced Utah beekeepers know that dandelions are an important marker flower in the early spring.

Early spring is a pretty critical time for honeybees. Their winter honey and pollen storage is usually about gone. When the weather warms up a bit, the bees gear up for production. This means the queen bee starts laying more eggs, creating more mouths to feed. It is a delicate balance between ensuring enough food, while still getting ready to work, and hoping there will not be another large cold spell which will cause a honey shortage. Beekeepers need to watch honey stores in their hives closely to prevent them from starving. When beekeepers see dandelions blooming, they know nectar and pollen are available for their bees and can heave a big sigh of relief. Dandelions are a sign that bees can fly out and collect, and that colonies won’t starve. Probably.

Dandelions are also a sign that beekeepers can move bees to higher elevations. These beekeeping location can be great honey-producing areas in summer, but harsh for over-wintering bees. In the early summer, beekeepers follow the dandelion bloom and move their hives accordingly. For example, a beekeeper wintering bees on the Wasatch Front can move bees up to Heber once dandelions are in bloom and then again to Kamas a few weeks later as blooms occur there.

Occasionally, when the weather is just right, we harvest some of the dandelion honey. It is one of my favorites. You can just taste a hint of dandelion flower flavor in the honey.

Hopefully you will fall in love with this cheerful flower omen too!

So go ahead, blow!

Catching a swarm

2012-03-12T15:17:00.000-06:00

It’s almost swarm season again here in Provo, Utah. (Already beginning in other parts of the world). Catching a swarm is one way to obtain a beehive of your own. Expect swarms on the first warm day just after several cold/stormy days. You know, just when you are on your way to church on Easter Sunday.

Below, you can see Grandpa Arthur Andersen removing a swarm from his tree in the 1960's, I think.

Arthur analyzing the situation

The swarm!

He placed a deep box (with bottom board attached. . . I guess that makes it a hive body. . .) under the branch, with some frames removed, then shook the branch. The bees landed into the box in one big clump.

We consider ourselves lucky when swarms are this close to the ground (on bee truck back bumper).

Sometimes they are pretty high up! Here, the bee box is balanced on top of the ladder.

In this example, Stan placed an empty beehive box on a ladder on the trailer and under the swarm branch. Then he shook the branch, causing the cluster to fall into the box. Then he waited overnight for the bees to settle before bringing the box down and adding frames with foundation. Easy, right? . . .

Want to catch your own swarm? In Utah and Idaho, there is a “Swarm List” where people can report honeybee swarms for beekeepers to collect.

They do not, however, remove wasps nests. (See below for example) Wasp and hornet nests are typically removed by exterminators or brave homeowners. See “Bees vs Wasps” for more information on how to tell the difference between bees and wasps.

Great bee frames

2012-03-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

Building Beekeeping Equipment

Woodworking tips from experienced beekeepers.

Building or assembling your own beekeeping frames is a great way to cut costs as a beekeeper. Here are some great tips from experience. These are how all frames are constructed at The Honey Company.

Parts of the frame.

We like permadent plastic foundation rather than wax or wire foundation because it holds up best in the extractor.

Notice that the side bar to bottom bar joint above is designed so the side bar is stapled to the bottom bar, rather than the bottom bar being stapled to the side bar. This prevents separation when the frame is heavy with honey.

The side bar to top bar joint below has two staples: one from above and one under the ear. This helps prevent the frame from separating, as shown below.

We usually add one support staple to each side bar. Foundation is inserted between the prongs of the staple.

Support staples are not absolutely necessary with plastic foundation. However, if you choose to scrape old (dark) or damaged wax comb from the foundation, staples will keep the foundation securely in the frame. (It is a good idea to scrape off old wax about every 3 years, or 1/3 every year, to prevent some bee diseases.) Also, the staples help keep foundation and wax in the frame when extracting honey.

Be sure the communication holes go at the bottom of the frame.

Honey: One of the world's healthiest foods

2011-11-28T15:03:00.000-07:00

Raw Honey: One of the World’s Healthiest Foods

Raw honey benefits are described in the article linked below.

http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=96

Just saw this link about why raw honey is one of the world's healthiest foods. Enjoy!

Benefits list: Contains beneficial bacteria & antioxidants, helps with blood sugar control, decreases stress hormones, suppresses coughs, increases athletic performance, used as topical antiseptic for wounds, and reduces cholesterol

Here is a sample paragraph or two pasted directly from the article:

A Spoonful a Day Keeps Free Radicals at Bay

Daily consumption of honey raises blood levels of protective antioxidant compounds in humans, according to research presented at the 227th meeting of the American Chemical Society in Anaheim, CA, March 28, 2004. Biochemist Heidrun Gross and colleagues from the University of California, Davis, gave 25 study participants each about four tablespoons buckwheat honey daily for 29 days in addition to their regular diets, and drew blood samples at given intervals following honey consumption. A direct link was found between the subjects' honey consumption and the level of polyphenolic antioxidants in their blood.

Tips for Cooking with Honey:

If your honey has crystallized, placing the container in hot water for 15 minutes will help return it to its liquid state. Do not heat honey in the microwave as this alters its taste by increasing its hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) content. To prevent honey from sticking to measuring cups and spoons, use honey that is in its liquid form.

Honey makes a good replacement for sugar in most recipes. Since honey is sweeter than sugar, you need to use less, one-half to three-quarters of a cup for each cup of sugar. For each cup of sugar replaced, you should also reduce the amount of liquid in the recipe by one-quarter of a cup. In addition, reduce the cooking temperature by 25°F since honey causes foods to brown more easily.

CNN Honey Article: More reasons to buy local raw honey from The Honey Company

2011-11-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

Even more reason to buy raw, local honey from The Honey Company!

This article was copied and pasted directly from the CNN website. It was written November 9, 2011 by Emanuella Grinberg. It can be found at http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/11/09/most-honey-sold-in-u-s-grocery-stores-not-worthy-of-its-name/?iref=allsearch. Photos are our own.

Most Honey Not Worthy of It’s Name

76% of honey on grocery store shelves does not contain pollen.

Local, raw, unfiltered honey, contains microscopic pieces of pollen and beneficial bee enzymes.

Most honey sold in U.S. grocery stores not worthy of its name

Most of the honey sold in chain stores across the country doesn't meet international quality standards for the sweet stuff, according to a Food Safety News analysis released this week.

One of the nation's leading melissopalynologists analyzed more than 60 jugs, jars and plastic bears of honey in 10 states and the District of Columbia for pollen content, Food Safety News said. He found that pollen was frequently filtered out of products labeled "honey."

"The removal of these microscopic particles from deep within a flower would make the nectar flunk the quality standards set by most of the world's food safety agencies," the report says. "Without pollen there is no way to determine whether the honey came from legitimate and safe sources."

Among the findings:

• No pollen was found in 76 percent of samples from grocery stores including TOP Food, Safeway, Giant Eagle, QFC, Kroger, Metro Market, Harris Teeter, A&P, Stop & Shop and King Soopers.

• No pollen was found in 100 percent of samples from drugstores including Walgreens, Rite-Aid and CVS Pharmacy.

• The anticipated amount of pollen was found in samples bought at farmers markets, co-ops and stores like PCC and Trader Joe's.

Why does it matter where your honey comes from? An earlier Food Safety News investigation found that at least a third of all the honey consumed in the United States was likely smuggled from China and could be tainted with illegal antibiotics and heavy metals.

Foreign honey also puts a squeeze on American beekeepers, who have been lobbying for years for an enforceable national standard to prevent foreign honey from flooding the market.

The Food and Drug Administration does not have a standard of identity for honey like it does for milk or other products, a spokesman said.

The lack of regulation is what enables potentially unsafe honey is able to make its way into the country, Andrew Schneider, author of the Food and Safety News report.

"Where there's no pollen, there's no way for authorities to confirm where the honey came from, so it's easy to smuggle illicit honey into the country," he said.

Photo of raw honeycomb.

Honey as energy gel

2011-11-01T14:48:00.000-06:00

Go Honey is our natural version of energy gel. Use it while exercising for a carb boost.

What is Energy Gel?

Energy gels are thick carbohydrate syrups used to extend muscle energy (glycogen) during exercise. They provide simple and complex carbohydrates. Energy gels are packaged in palm-sized packets for athletes to suck syrup into the mouth. They provide about 100 Calories (17-25 g carbohydrate) per packet.

Energy gels are designed to deliver a quick rise in blood sugar and maintain that glucose level for up to 45 minutes during exercise. Sometimes electrolytes and other "non-essentials" such as herbs and caffeine are added to the gel.

Honey is a great energy gel because it causes less of an insulin response than other sugars. Honey gives athletes a slower, more sustained energy spike than sugar. This means it creates a smaller post-sugar “fall” than other sugars. This is because of the complex mixture of sugars in honey. Honey contains dextrose (glucose chains), fructose, and at least 22 other, more complex, sugar types. These sugars are not found in nectar, but are formed during ripening and storage of honey by bee enzymes (Graham, 1997). This means they are more readily available for absorption by our tissues.

How To Use Go Honey as Energy Gel

Consume about 1/3 of packet with 250 mL water 15 minutes before starting a run and 45 min into the run. Repeat every hour throughout the duration of the run.

Athletes need to consume adequate water with energy gels to prevent dehydration. A good rule of thumb is about 250 mL (1 cup) of water for every 100 Calories consumed. When water is not consumed with energy gel, water leaves the body tissues, and enters the digestive tract to help digest it. This means less water for muscles and can lead to dehydration.

This product is not intended to replace proper diet and nutrition.

Why Honey?

All-natural energy source
No preservatives
Complex mixture of sugars
Honey yielded lower insulin response than sugars in 12 studies. Honey has GI of about 32 to 85, depending on the nectar source.
Rich in anti-oxidants: Honey contains as many anti-oxidants as spinach, apples, oranges, and strawberries, according to a study by Gheldof and Engeseth (2003). Researcher Gross and his team (2004) found that consuming honey increased the level of antioxidants in the blood. Some antioxidants found in honey include chrysin, pinobanksin, vitamin C, catalase, and pinocembrin.
Indefinite shelf-life
Contains live bee enzymes

Why Our Honey?

No processing (raw and unfiltered)
No water added
100% domestic honey, local to Northern Utah
Apiaries located in pesticide-free areas
No flavoring added
Conservation: The Honey Company beekeepers work to develop bee genetics to improve resistance to disease and Colony Collapse Disorder rather than medicating bees
Go Honey Packages are free from BPA and phthalates
Go Honey Packages are re-closable
Go Honey Packages can withstand 150 pounds of pressure with the lid properly in place

What is the Glycemic Index?

The Glycemic Index (GI) is a ranking of carbohydrates based on their effect on blood glucose and insulin levels. Choosing low GI carbs reduces the risk of heart disease and diabetes and is key to sustainable weight loss. Carbs in low GI foods enter the bloodstream more slowly and causes less dramatic fluctuations in blood glucose levels. This means better energy balance, longer physical endurance, and a better refueling after exercise.

Glucose is assigned a GI of 100 and other carbohydrates are given a number compared to glucose. Low GI values are less than 55, 56-69 is medium, and 70 or larger is high GI. Honey ranges from 35-87 GI (median 56), depending on the variety and the sugar ratios in the honey. Typical USA honeys have GI below 55. This means honey spikes blood sugar much less than other sugars. Also, honey is twice as sweet as sugar and consumers can use about half as much to sweeten foods.

Honey Bees as Structural Pests

2011-10-14T14:41:00.000-06:00

Here is text from “Honey Bees as Structural Pests” an article from The Utah Pest News, produced by the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab and Utah State University Extension. You can find the complete article at http://utahpests.usu.edu/files/uploads/UtahPests-Newsletter-fall11.pdf. Photo is also from their article.

Honey Bee Hive Built in Ceiling

The honey bees that established this hive in an apartment ceiling were killed previously, but the owner neglected to remove the hive. The brown area in the center of the hive is where it is being consumed by an infestation of wax moths. Additionally, honey had begun dripping from the comb and damaging the ceiling.

What if honey bees have actually established a nest on your property? The pollination services that honey bees provide are vital to our food supply, but their defensive stinging behavior can be a real problem if they’ve built a hive in your yard or even worse, within your walls or attic. If at all possible, you want to avoid killing the bees. Members of the Utah Beekeepers Association (www.utahbeekeepers.com) may remove these bees for you. On their website click on the link for “Report a Swarm of Honey Bees!”

Unfortunately, it is a bigger challenge if the bees have established between the walls of your home or elsewhere within the structure. If this occurs, first you should try to contact a beekeeper to remove them. Some beekeepers will, but sometimes they are unwilling to, because removing the bees may require cutting away a portion of the wall, which can mean more work and liability than they are willing to accept. If you are unable to find a beekeeper to remove the bees, you may be forced to kill them. Many exterminators are able to do this for you, or you may attempt it yourself. Completely killing all of the bees can be challenging for many reasons in addition to the obvious safety concern. you don’t know how large the hive is within the wall. you can kill the adults, but because the pupae will survive, you may need to treat two or three times. you want to kill the queen so that she doesn’t continue to produce brood, but she could be anywhere within the hive. And lastly, not all of the bees will be in the hive when you treat it, which is another reason you may need to treat multiple times.

Unfortunately, a bee hive in your wall presents more trouble than just the potential for stings. Once you have successfully killed the bees, you still need to remove the hive from the wall. If you do not, the wax could melt, and the wax and honey will do damage to the wall. Even if the wax doesn’t melt, do you want a lot of wax, honey, and dead bees rotting inside your wall, creating odors and attracting other insects and rodents? I have actually had people tell me that they’ve dealt with a hive within their wall by simply plugging the entrance hole. Assuming that the bees did not find another way out, this probably worked to eventually kill them, but it also left behind a lot of wax, honey, and bee corpses to decay within the wall. I would not recommend this as a solution.

-Cory Stanley, USU CAPS Coordinator

Honey as Cough Syrup

2011-10-08T14:36:00.000-06:00

Parenting Magazine ran an article on honey as cough syrup. Thought I’d share! This post is a copy of the article text. The photos are our own.

Source: Parenting Magazine September 2011 by Alan Greene, M.D.

In: Honey

Out: DM Cough Medicine

Parents spend billions on over-the-counter cough remedies, even though the American Academy of Pediatrics never recommends them for kids under age 2, and cautions against their use under age 6. Is is worth it?

Researchers have done a head-to-head comparison of dextromethorphan (the cough suppressant found in “DM” cold medications) with a less expensive natural remedy: honey. The honey outperformed DM in every category, from reducing the number and severity of coughs, to improving sleep--for kids and parents.

The most effective honeys appear to be the darker varieties. The suggested dose for ages 1 to 6 is one-half teaspoon 30 minutes before bed, increasing to one teaspoon for children 6 to 11 years old.

Source: Parenting Magazine. Alan Greene, M.D. October 2011. Page 121.

For the full research article, see http://archpedi.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/161/12/1140

Paul, I.M, J. Beiler, A. McMonagle, M.L. Shaffer, L. Duda, and C.M. Berlin Jr. Effect of honey, dextromethorphan, and no treatmene on nocternal cough and sleep quality for coughing children and their parents. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007. 161(12):1140-1146.

It's Swarm Time

2011-04-21T14:31:00.000-06:00

Here is what a honeybee swarm looks like. Swarms are most common in the spring, but can happen all summer. Bees are at their most docile mood while swarming.

Here is text from “It’s Swarm Time!” an article from The Utah Pest News, produced by the Utah Plant Pest Diagnostic Lab and Utah State University Extension. You can find this article at http://utahpests.usu.edu/htm/utah-pests-news/summer2011/

A honey bee swarm can be an impressive, and sometimes intimidating, sight, as a huge cloud of bees (sometimes as large as the size of a suburban backyard) flies from a crowded bee colony to a new location. There were many reports of honey bee swarms in northern Utah this spring from anxious homeowners. A better understanding of swarming behavior should alleviate concerns anyone may have when encountering a swarm. In the spring, a honey bee colony will rapidly build up its resources and produce a lot of brood. Often this leads to cramped conditions by late spring or early summer. In response, the colony will split into two, and the new colony relocates, a process also known as swarming. The process begins with the rearing of a new queen. Simultaneously, scouts begin looking for a suitable location for a new hive. Hollow trees are a favorite, but any large cavity is a potential new home. About 30 to 70% of the worker bee population will engorge themselves with honey before leaving so that they will have plenty to eat as they search for and establish a new home. Once the new queen has matured, she stays with the existing colony and the old queen and worker bees leave to start the new hive. Soon after departing, the old queen will land on an object as a temporary staging area. The worker bees will orient to the queen’s pheromones and surround her. The result is a huge ball of bees that can sometimes be located in a backyard tree. The scouts that had previously located potential new nesting sites try to “convince” the hive to move to their chosen site. After a few hours, a decision is reached and the swarm departs. Witnessing the bees’ arrival or finding a swarm may cause unnecessary panic. Swarming bees are actually much more docile than bees in a hive. Their main concern is keeping the queen safe and warm and relocating the hive. The worker honey bees are still engorged and will have a difficult time stinging. I have walked right up to a swarm and held my hand within an inch of the bees with no consequence. They have no brood or honey to protect in this situation, and thus, are calmer. Homeowners concerned about a swarm may contact the Utah Beekeepers Association, which maintains a list of beekeepers that are interested in collecting swarms. A local beekeeper may agree to come out to the residence and collect the swarm, to the mutual benefit of all.

-Cory Stanley, USU CAPS Coordinator

References:

Delaplane, K. S. 2007. First lessons in beekeeping. Dadant & Sons, Inc., Hamilton, IL. 166 pp.

Shimanuki, H., K. Flottum, and A. Harman. 2007. The ABC & XYZ of bee culture. A.I. Root Company, Medina, OH. 911 pp.d z

Tips for Cutting Felt

2011-03-24T16:42:00.006-06:00

Tips for Cutting Felt

This week I made some cheerful felt pillows with felt circles and decided to share some tips for cutting felt.

Washable markers work well for tracing patterns onto felt. (First, dip a small corner of the felt in water to make sure it wouldn't bleed. Mine didn't.) They rinse off very easily with water. I used to use permanent markers, which caused me to spend much time cutting off the marked parts. And then I tried pinning the pattern to the felt, but the pattern inevitably moved around while I was cutting, causing very uneven shapes. Finally I discovered the washable marker. Unlike quilting pens, they are very inexpensive ($2.00 for 8 compared to $6.00 for 1), and versatile. And I don't have to worry about my little one coloring on stuff as much.

Here it is, traced onto the felt.

There are almost always jagged edges on felt cut-outs. It helps with the overall appearance to trim off jagged and uneven parts.

Much better.

Then I rinse off the washable marker in a bowl of water and squeeze dry with a paper towel.

Then I lay them all out to dry. This works for me because I usually only have time to do a bit before I am needed again by kiddos.

Here is the finished pillow. I love the cheerful colors. I am still waiting to see how long the hot glue holds the circles on the pillow. . .

Starting Seeds

2011-03-24T16:29:00.005-06:00

Starting Seeds

Today I started some seeds indoors. I used the Gurney's seed starter tray and plugs (which were pretty much free with this year's coupon).

Here is what it looked like before adding seeds and after Clara and I inserted the dirt plugs. I labeled each row with half of a small sticky note with plant type and variety.

We planted 5 Straight Eight cucumber seeds, 5 Black Magic summer squash seeds, 3 Big Max pumpkins, 5 Rainbow Blend tomatoes, 5 hot pepper mix seeds, 5 jalepeño seeds, 5 Anaheim pepper seeds, 7 Jelly Bean tomatoes, and 1o Early Girl tomatoes. I am still waiting for Beef Steak tomatoes to come in the mail. The directions said 1 seed per hole, but I put 2 in some, just to see what would happen.

Here is the cover.

And the instructions.

Here is the southern exposure window where the seeds will be.

After only a few hours, water is condensed on the roof of the tray. I can't wait for the seeds to sprout!

Clara's happy little finger says, "Hi!"

10 Reasons I Love Tile Floors

2011-03-23T11:11:00.003-06:00

10 Reasons to Have Tile Floors

Today I was refilling the yellow ink cartridge and spilled on the floor. It was everywhere. I was grateful for tile floors. I cleaned it up with a small towel. Right after we were married, Stan put in tile floors. They are a kind of yellow gold. I didn't like them at first, because of my cold feet in the basement in the wintertime and time spent in hands-and-knee cleaning. But tile has made my life much easier, in spite of my initial feelings. Here is a list of household messes that did not turn into catastrophe because we have tile instead of carpet. And I am grateful.

Catastrophic Messes Averted by Tile
1. Spilled ink
2. Potty training
3. Beeswax tracked in from the honey room
4. Honey spills
5. Mud tracked in from outside
6. Pysanka egg dye
7. Bowls of mush upside down on the floor
8. Paint drips
9. Sand for sand paintings
10. Grape juice, spaghetti sauce, etc.

Timberframe Project

2011-03-17T08:09:00.008-06:00

Timber frame Project by Stan

This winter our yard was full of timber frame. Stan was commissioned to build it for a friend. Here is what it looks like completed. Very nice!

This is the structure of the center joint.

And here is how the side joints fit together.

Fitted together. Now make sure the joints are tight.

Dowels added to hold it in place.

Believe it or not, the hardest part was marking the curve on the arc. After many attempts, Stan used a long beam with a pencil that fit into a drilled hole as a compass. Then he cut the curve with a chainsaw. (I think safe chainsaw skills are really manly and handsome, by the way! How many men do YOU know who could do it?) Then he fine-tuned the curve with hand chisels. Maybe someday I will post the chainsaw video.

The joint hole in the center arched beam took patience because he had to keep cleaning out the drill bit.

He got so frustrated that he finally had to ask Clara for help. She showed him just how to hammer in the pegs, and then saw off the extra ends.

This was C's favorite jungle gym for a while. She loved to walk round and round on these elevated beams.

Here is the finished product (again).

Bee Box Plans

2011-03-15T14:18:00.000-06:00

DIY Bee Box Measurements

Detailed measurements to build your own box, bottom board, frames, etc.

A picture is worth 1,000 words in this case! Here is a detailed schematic of deep Langstroth bee box measurements. Hope this helps you handy men and women who want to build your own boxes. Zoom in for more details.

Wintering Honeybees

2011-03-15T14:11:00.000-06:00

The Biology and Management of Colonies in Winter

Here are some great article on wintering bees from CAPA (A Beekeeping Association):

http://www.capabees.com/2012/10/24/overwintering/

“The biology and management of wintering honey bees” article has some great information about wintering bees! It talks about bee clusters, how much honey and pollen to leave for winter, ways to vent excess moisture, etc. I recommend keeping it in your bee files for reference.

Note: In Utah, it is not necessary (and can be detrimental) to wrap beehives or store them indoors. This is essential for cold areas like Canada or Minnesota, where temperatures stay below freezing for months at a time. It is not necessary in the West, where we have some warm winter days. On these warm days, bees need to leave the hive for a cleansing flight.

Here are some hives that wintered with minimum winter preparation. These survived well.

We have also tried hives insulated from the top for hives destined for California almond pollination.

Birthday Crowns

2011-03-04T12:17:00.009-07:00

Birthday Crowns

Cute, kinda cheesy, kid-loving birthday crowns. Perfect for any dress-up box.

Materials:

Two pieces of felt about 5 by 11 inches. I used black and blue (or black and purple).

Hot glue gun

Glitter paint, I used silver and red

9 rhinestones or foil confetti

About 30 inches shiny silver ribbon

About 10 inches black woven elastic

Other embellishments, as desired

First, I cut out the pattern from paper. I used a regular 8.5 by 11 inch piece of computer paper to draw the crown design, using the entire 11-inch length to create it. Then I pinned my paper pattern to a scrap of black synthetic felt. (This felt won't bleed like the stuff we had growing up).

Then I cut out the black background felt. One important thing about cutting felt is trimming. Ater I cut out any felt, I go back through and trim any ragged edges to get nice, smooth curves and lines.

I used the same paper pattern to cut out the purple, and then trimmed off 0.5 inches from the bottom to create the "staggered" effect.
Next I used the hot glue gun to glue the long edge and scallops of the crowns together. (Not pictured) I put glue about 0.5 inches from the edges. I did not glue the short edges at this point (this is where the elastic will go).

Next, insert elastic between layers and glue in place. Use about a dime-sized glob of glue to really anchor the elastic.

This is what it should look like. I made the black pieces shorter than the blue to show how the elastic is inserted between layers.

Next, place the foil confetti or rhinestones along the scallops and hot glue in place. Warning: if your hot glue is too hot, it may melt the confetti. You may want to cool the glue gun for a few minutes before using it on the confetti. I put the glue on the felt, let it cool for a few seconds, and then placed the confetti.

Next, I added ribbon along the top of the blue scallops, using hot glue to hold it in place. On some crowns, I also put a strip of ribbon along the bottom edge.

I used glitter paint to add letters, stars, and sparkles.

Here are several finished crowns for loved little ones.

New Garden Bed

2011-03-04T11:54:00.006-07:00

New Garden Bed

Today we planted our cool season vegetables in a different planting bed. First we had to protect it from the chickens, who like to take dust baths in this exact spot. Anyway, we will experiment with planting garlic, onions, and peas right next to the house in the former flower bed.

We started with limbs pruned from various trees, which were pruned earlier this week.

Then we stretched chicken wire across, tying it onto the limbs with baling twine. Homemade fence at its finest.

Ain't she sweet? Our garden helper.

Then we planted. We planted garlic bulbs from the kitchen: last year's crop of a friend, and some garlic shoots leftover from an old garlic patch. There's nothing like looking at someone else's soil, eh!

We planted the onion and garlic rows perpendicular to the house rather than parallel. This is a new idea this year (from Sterling Banks, USU Extension in Summit County). I think it will utilize the space better.

The peas were planted parallel to the house in longer rows.

Here is the bed after planting. Beautiful potential.

And Stan says he will move this pile soon. . . Here is the "Before" shot. He says it is all necessary stuff, and I believe him. I think one is a motorized bee colony dolly. There might be a motorcycle under there too. I am not sure.

2011-03-04T11:25:00.010-07:00

Seed inventory day

The sun is shining and I am getting that gardening urge. Maybe you feel it too. Because I can't get out there quite yet, I have been planning. Today I took inventory of the seeds I already have, what I would like to plant and put up this year, and where I want to plant it. Here are my plans.

I love how gardening is a learning process every year. I love how it connects me with the outdoors. Bees, spiders, ants, weeds, water.

Seed inventory day.

Here is what I have leftover from past years.

Here is my garden notebook. I keep track of what I planted, where I planted it, and what I will do differently next year.

Here are some varieties we used last year and my garden plot drawing. I will change the way I plant significantly this year. The 2010 design was difficult to water and weed.

This garden spot is about 1/5-1/4 of an acre. I would like to do my own version of "square foot gardening" beds this year with walking pathways between spots, inspired by Sterling Banks (USU Extension Agent in Summit County). I will not use any kind of wooden or stone borders between planting beds, but will pile up dirt to create beds. And I will use a sprinkler attached to the fence for watering. More info to come when I actually draw out the plans.

Here is my record of the seeds I started indoors last year.

Here are the seeds I will start early outdoors. I will try to put peas and onions in the bed next to the house. My idea is that the peas will be done early (Provo, UT) and then I can stop watering onions in late summer without worry of dehydrating the other plants. I will stop watering onions to help the stems dry up so they will keep for winter. Carrots, lettuce, and potatoes will go in the main garden. I think.

Seeds to start indoors: pumpkins, cucumbers, summer squash, zuccini, anaheim peppers, jalepeño peppers, and tomatoes.

Seeds to start after Mother's Day outdoors. Purple and green pole beans plus sweet basil. Gotta love the pesto made from this basil!

Here is my garden seeds Bible. I love Gurneys! Note that they have a $25 off coupon for orders over $50 before March 23. They seem to do this every year. I would share, but . . .

Some great tomato varieties. I will try the Heirloom Rainbow Blend, Beefsteak, Early Girl, and Jelly Beans. I like to have a variety of heirloom and hybrid varieties. The hybrids produce really well and I like to save seeds from the heirlooms.

Black magic zucchini and summer squash. Yum! I can taste the yummy dishes I will make already!

I am going to try this starter kit this year. Mostly because of the $25 off coupon. Wish me luck. I hope I have enough sunlight inside. I will also try my full spectrum sunlight lamp over the seeding tray.

I have the order form all filled out! Wish me luck!

Seed Varieties

Start indoors (vines): Big Max pumpkin (Ferry Morse), Straight Eight cucumber (Gurneys), Black Magic summer squash (Gurneys), Black Magic zucchini (Gurneys)

Start indoors (tomatoes and peppers): Anaheim peppers (saved from the peppers I used to make salsa last year), jalepeño peppers (salsa), hot pepper mix (Gurneys), Heirloom Rainbow Blend tomatoes (Gurneys), Beefsteak tomatoes (Gurneys), Early Girl tomatoes (Gurneys), Jelly Beans tomatoes (Gurneys)

Start early outdoors: Lincoln peas (bulk from IFA), Romaine Cimmaron lettuce (Mountain Valley Seeds), Great Lakes #118 lettuce (WalMart), Walla Walla Sweet onion (Lilly Miller), Evergreen White bunching onion (Gurneys), Imperator carrots (Livingston Seed Co.)

Start after Mother's Day outdoors: Sweet basil from Burpee, Kentucky Wonder pole bean (Gurneys), Purple Pod pole bean (Gurneys)

How to liquify crystalized honey

2010-09-07T14:06:00.000-06:00

Tips about liquifying raw honey

Most all honey will crystalize over time. Raw honey forms a looser crystal structure than heated honey. It reminds me of whipped honey, but more dense. (It is delicious to eat with a spoon!) Heated honey forms crystals which are sharper and more of what you think about when honey "goes to sugar." That is an important way to tell the difference between raw and non-raw honey.

I say that “most” honey will crystalize because there are a few nectar sources which yield honey that does not crystalize, at least not yet (5 years later). But unless you encounter one of these rare varieties, here are a few ideas about how to “un-crystalize” your raw honey.

To "un-crystalize" raw honey, gently heat it below about 100 degrees F, like in a hot water bath, in the sun, or back of the car. This will return it to a liquid state (for a while). Raw honey usually crystalizes faster than heated honey. You may have to repeat this process several times if you have a large container of honey.

You may not want to microwave raw honey because it will heat the honey, decreasing the nutrient value, and creating a melted plastic squeeze bear mess. Some of the melted plastic may also get into the honey and then you will eat it accidentally. Then your liver will have to work hard to eliminate it from your body.

The above photo was from Stan's Grandpa Arthur's honey operation.

More than just sugar

2010-05-24T13:35:00.000-06:00

Honey is more than just sugar. Here's why.

Honey contains 19 different sugars, many of which are produced during honey ripening by bees. Honey also contains water, at least 8 acids (pH 3.2-4.5), minerals (K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ch, P, S, Si), 6 major live enzymes, 19 proteins, amino acids, and 6 vitamins (The Hive and The Honey Bee, 1992).

When we heat honey, some of these nutrients are destroyed. That is why it is important to buy raw honey.

When honey crystalizes, the best way we've found to liquify honey is to place the container in a car during a warm afternoon. Avoid heating honey above 100 F to preserve its nutritive value.