Summer Bees

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It’s always a sign that spring is in the air and the beekeeping season is about to get started when the Thorne catalogue lands on our doormat.

Calendar Rituals

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It is said that you should live as though you are going to die tomorrow but you should farm as though you are going to live forever and because of this you never dispose of last years calendar but every calendar is kept so comparisons can be made from one year to next, to keep an eye on Mother Natures performance and to notice patterns.

One For Sorrow

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Our ancestors lack of proper understanding of the mysteries of life probably led to the supernatural links to magpies as a way of explaining difficult subjects such as death.

Shutting the stable door….

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The old pre motorway freight roads over the pennines are a lovely drive, passing through many old mill towns and offering fantastic views on the higher reaches. Although visibility was poor due to the heavy rain and thick fog on the tops it was still an enjoyable drive back – although a little worrying at times as the winds got stronger on the higher sections.

Is rape making my bees angry?

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My last couple of inspections I have found that a colony that has always been quite placid and easy to handle has become very aggressive. Last week took me by surprise as the bees poured out of the hive despite my smoking them and surrounded me in a cloud. Constantly banging against my face shield and repeatedly trying to sting through my protective clothing.

Hopi Prophecy

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Everything is spiritual, everything has a spirit, everything was brought here by the creator, the one creator. Some people call him God, some people call him Buddha, some people call him Allah, some people call him other names. We call him Tunkaschila… Grandfather.

My Poor Greenhouse!

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My poor greenhouse has taken a bit of a battering over the winter months. My grounds maintenance company uses a large 15 foot long beavertail plant trailer that we tow behind a transit tipper. Turning this around is quite a skill at the best of times. Reversing it in the dark on our small holding, away from the streetlights is a nightmare.

Last of the potatoes planted.

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I grabbed a quick 10 minutes today to get the last of the seed potatoes in the ground. My first early’s and second early’s were planted about a month ago but I’ve been busy at work the last few weeks so my maincrop’s have been sat on my windowsill chitting away to their hearts content.

Cowslips….

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Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough brier, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moonè’s sphere; And I serve the fairy queen, To dew her orbs upon the green: The cowslips … Continued

Figs Galore!

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Wow! Our little fig tree planted around 18 months ago on the west facing wall beside our back door has nearly two dozen figs on it this year.

Garden Planning

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I think almost every gardener I know has a favorite garden book, or perhaps a favorite gardener who influenced them when they first started gardening. I’ve gardened for as long as I remember. Even as a small child I always commandeered a corner of the garden in every house we lived in. My parents, grandparents and great grandparents all enjoying their gardens and passing on bits of knowledge here and there to me.

Spring Beekeeping Jobs

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With swarm control in mind I spent the afternoon sorting out all my spare beekeeping equipment, ensuring I have spare hives available in case I need to artificially swarm a colony at short notice. Everything was spread out in the sunshine, checked over and cleaned. Two spare hives were assembled including supers. Anything I was short of was listed for ordering.

Slightly Batty

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Where do bats go in winter? Yes, this and other batty thoughts have been going through my mind as I spent the last half hour of twilight sat watching the local Smithy Brook bats flitting amongst the trees.

Bee Important……

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Wildlife.net Following a meeting at the Royal Geographical Society in London, United Kingdom the Earthwatch Institute declared bees the most important living beings on this Planet, however, according to wildlife experts & scientists many bees have joined the long list of Endangered species 🐝 With so much about … Continued

Hungry Bees

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It’s late winter and like many beekeepers I start to get a little nervous about what may be happening inside my hives. Storms Ciara, Dennis and this weekend Jorge have made just earning a living for myself a challenge with … Continued

Starting Anew!

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Hello and Welcome to our blog! We hope you will join us as we share our smallholding journey with you. Both myself and my lovely partner and soon to be wife Michelle have a wide and varied experience around farming, … Continued