Beekeeping

[CloverKnollFarms]

If you where to guess, how many bees are in the big swarm?

And to be fair, they were a later swarm, but been in the trap for a month now, so they have grown in number. I've just never been able to hear them from 30' away, clearly, humming.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

We received our first orders this week. (4) hives, stands, frames, and two swarm traps. My first month of retirement looks plenty busy.

 

[wmfamily]

These are aggressive squirrels
View attachment 879141

They can be so destructive. Unfortunately you need something more substantial than aluminum since they can chew through that too.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

They can be so destructive. Unfortunately you need something more substantial than aluminum since they can chew through that too.

I mean it's 1/8" thick aluminum angle?

 

[ponytug]

I mean it's 1/8" thick aluminum angle?

I don't know what to say, but I have seen it eaten often, especially the typical box store angle material that never seems that hard. Stainless angle is probably an easier choice, unless you seek out hardened aluminum alloy angles. You are far enough from the ocean not to worry over much about stainless corroding.

My $0.02 on stainless is use a hand punch to make the holes to fasten it as stainless is rather unforgiving of drill speeds and feed rates that are too slow. Something like this;

Amazon.com

They make air operated ones, and bench versions if you have lots of holes to do.

All the best,

Peter

 

[oosik]

My father kept two hives of bees. Everybody in our neighborhood benefited from his bees. Those hives scared me. He never had a problem "keeping" the bees. He never had to wear any protective gear. It was VERY seldom that he ever got stung.

Wild honey is the best. Especially chewing the honey filled comb.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

The buckwheat looks great this summer. The hives are wayyyy in the back.

 

[lsgreg]

I pulled 16 supers of honey today, and left 9 on the hives to harvest later. Time to start extracting...

 

[lsgreg]

I pulled 16 supers of honey today, and left 9 on the hives to harvest later. Time to start extracting...

36 gallons from those 16 supers. I am hoping that when I harvest the other 9, I will hit 50 gallons.

 

[masseyrider]

36 gallons from those 16 supers. I am hoping that when I harvest the other 9, I will hit 50 gallons.

That's a lot of bee barf.