Today, all about honey. The coffee has flowered and the bees made the honey and need more space in the hives.
The morning started early fumbling to get all the zippers done up on a bee suit in a hurry. Mind and fingers have to be perfectly working together and if panic sets in the game is lost. Anyone who is old enough to have done a speed typing test in the days before computers, bomb disposal experts and maybe surgeons would understand this. The rest of you will just have to guess how it feels.
The bees were calmer than I had expected. We were not chased like the last time I harvested from Africanized bees. It was pretty easy. Maybe the clouds and light rain helped a bit. We took the comb from the hives and took it to the terrace a little away from where people might go.
Some bees stick to it and others smell the honey and come to investigate. It has to stay outside until dark. Then all the investigating bees go home to the hive and I can take the honey without problems. Well not entirely without problems, as it is now dark and I am trying to lift very heavy comb in the pitch black.
Now the house is full of honey. I am drowning in honey. Very good for preventing allergies which are rife here. I must have over 100lbs of honey. Will know later. It felt like 300lbs carrying up the bank from the hives. Delicious, strong lively honey.
Now, I simply have to stop eating honey sandwiches and get on with the packing. Tomorrow very early before it gets too warm and light I need to put the extra boxes and empty frames back on the hives all by myself. It is not wise to work the smoker, carry the boxes and frames and install solo. But tomorrow, I will try. Next task, to find local bee suits without zippers so that our farm workers can help out.
The morning started early fumbling to get all the zippers done up on a bee suit in a hurry. Mind and fingers have to be perfectly working together and if panic sets in the game is lost. Anyone who is old enough to have done a speed typing test in the days before computers, bomb disposal experts and maybe surgeons would understand this. The rest of you will just have to guess how it feels.
The bees were calmer than I had expected. We were not chased like the last time I harvested from Africanized bees. It was pretty easy. Maybe the clouds and light rain helped a bit. We took the comb from the hives and took it to the terrace a little away from where people might go.
Some bees stick to it and others smell the honey and come to investigate. It has to stay outside until dark. Then all the investigating bees go home to the hive and I can take the honey without problems. Well not entirely without problems, as it is now dark and I am trying to lift very heavy comb in the pitch black.
Now the house is full of honey. I am drowning in honey. Very good for preventing allergies which are rife here. I must have over 100lbs of honey. Will know later. It felt like 300lbs carrying up the bank from the hives. Delicious, strong lively honey.
Now, I simply have to stop eating honey sandwiches and get on with the packing. Tomorrow very early before it gets too warm and light I need to put the extra boxes and empty frames back on the hives all by myself. It is not wise to work the smoker, carry the boxes and frames and install solo. But tomorrow, I will try. Next task, to find local bee suits without zippers so that our farm workers can help out.
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