It is the time of year when spring is over and summer is in full and might I add very warm swing. I am not always one who truly enjoys it when the weather is quite this hot, but this year we were all eager for this time to come. HONEY HARVEST…
Yes, it is our very first official honey harvest!!!!
The Adventure Begins
We dove into the honeybee adventure in 2020 with our first purchase of a few hives. It was after harvest time so we worked mostly learning, learning, and more learning. The wonderful man we bought our hives from (Thank you Mr. R) was ever so helpful as were many other local individuals.
Fast forward to spring this year and we were preparing to move ahead with the intent to maybe purchase just a couple hives to grow our young apiary. Then the call came. Our new friend (Mr. R) had decided he wanted to retire from the honey business. He offered us first dibs on all his hives. WOW. What a decision we had to make. Inexperience, green as a gourd, eager, and excited all at the same time we said Yes!
Our friend was so patient to help us move all the hives and supplies to our property and has been an amazing source of support in all we do. Forgive me if I lose count but we have gone from a count of 3 hives to start 2020 to 24 hives today. This process is not something I would say is ideal as a VERY new beekeeper. The old saying “slow and steady” is definitely very advisable.
Preparing for the Unexpected
Along the way as a beekeeper coming out of winter, you have to be prepared for swarms. Bees swarm usually because their hive is busting at the seams and needs to become split into a second hive. If you are blessed you will watch the signs and split them into a new home before this happens. However, when a swarm occurs the bees will all as a group a short distance and rest for a little while. After this initial departure, they will launch into their flight to their final home and you will have no chance of catching them at this point.
My son and husband do most of the hive work and one particular Saturday was very eventful. We looked out the window and there was a swarm taking place. My son gets on his bee gear and heads out to catch them at their first landing spot so he can put them in a new home to stay in our bee yard. Success. Now we have added another hive to our bee yard. No sooner did he get all finished up when in total this whole process happened 3 more times that day. Whew, talk about trial by fire.
Community of Support
So that is pretty much how our whole spring went up until mid-May. Between the swarms, old hives, and new purchases, you can see how we have now grown to 24 hives. We have filled every corner of extra space in our home with supplies and even overflowed into family’s extra storage.
Needless to say on the grand scheme there are many beekeepers that have waaay more than 24 hives. However, for us, this is considered rapid growth and we are just praying we can continue to learn and help these wonderful bees make it through winter. Again we have been blessed with so much help from Mr. R and also our local bee supply source. We have such a great source to purchase supplies somewhat locally which you can see here. This is the type of place that when you walk in they remember your name and give you so much excellent information. They have genuinely embraced my son and our endeavors and gone way above the call of duty in so many ways.
Labor and Lessons From the Hive
For us we were able to see some of the fruits of a little of our labor on July 4th. We spent that day harvesting our spring honey crop. The three of us and Mr. R spent a day of sweet fellowship harvesting the load of wonderful dark, sticky goodness. Was it work? Yes. Was it a total blast? Absolutely and positively.
So now we are working to sell some honey and put it back for our own provisions. Bees in general are amazing creatures to observe. They are so purposeful about their jobs and exceptionally efficient. They have an estimated life cycle of 21 days. In that short lifetime, they are continually busy with the work they were created to do. What an amazing lesson for us to take and put into practice in our own lives. We are created in the image of God, created to bring Him glory, and live diligently for that purpose. I pray we will not lose sight of that purpose, be found with our hands to the plow, and being the faithful servant He has called us to be.
You have ordained Your precepts, That we should keep them diligently. Oh that my ways may be established To keep Your statutes! Then I shall not be ashamed When I look upon all Your commandments. I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, When I learn Your righteous judgments. Psalm 119: 4-7
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