All right, so just to set the record straight, the girls haven't been the only busy bees here in the Girotti household. :) I've been up to some interesting projects as well--namely beekeeping! A good friend of mine, Matt, who has wanted to do beekeeping for several years suggested we take on the project as a joint venture. So this past January we bought hive plans, pine boards, glass windows, screws, and 30,000 members of the species Apis mellifera!
After several furious weeks of cutting twice and measuring once....oh wait--scratch that, reverse it...we completed the hives, paint and all, and set them up in preparation for our new guests.
We put two of our hives here at the Girotti house, including the one above in a nice gladed spot in our woods. After all, we have to make our bees feel at home! :) The third hive was placed at Matt's friends' house.
Last week, we picked up our bees! Bees come in 3-pound (10,000 bees!) packages, each with its own queen. Now, the queen is sequestered in a small cage called, appropriately enough, the queen cage. The queen cage is plugged with a candy-like substance and a cork. This will come into play later in the story.
Matt and I suited up with light-colored clothing and veils. Then with packages in hand, and armed with a supply of sugar water, we trekked down the hill to the first hive, followed closely by the journalistic team.
With trepidation we set the package on the ground next to the hive and planned our next step. First, calm the bees. Solution: spray them with sugar water. Matt and I are planning on a little more natural, wholesome approach to beekeeping, including not overloading the bees on processed sugar; however, scruples were overcome this first time. With a fine mist of sweetness inside the box, the bees instantly calmed down and their buzzing was silenced.
It was determined that I would take the metal feeder can out of the package box and Matt would grab the queen cage.
On the count of three, we executed the plan with precision! I replaced the feeder can to ensure no bees got out while Matt examined the queen cage. DISASTER! Much to our chagrin, instead of a perky queen bee ready and waiting to lay thousands of eggs into honeycomb, we saw a lone, shriveled, very dead-looking queen. This was not, one might say, the bees' knees.
Consolation came, however, when we called up the bee supply store and were informed that they would replace the queen, free-of-charge. Whew! It was decided that we would install the other two packages, then head back over to the bee store and use the replacement queen on the third hive at Matt's friends' house.
Take number two: now with our movements honed with practice, combined with our latent beekeeping skill, the second hive went a lot smoother! This time the queen was alive! Remember that candy plug and cork I mentioned awhile back? We removed the cork so the candy plug was exposed. This allows the bees to access the plug and eat through it to reach the queen. In the process of eating the plug, they familiarize themselves with the queen's pheromones and accept her as the leader of the hive.
So we hung the queen cage on the top bars and readied for the big event. Again, I took the feeder container out to expose the swarming, buzzing colony inside. Matt took the box and gave several vigorous shakes. Quicker than you can say, "Raw local additive-free honey!" the bees poured out of the package and into our hive!
It was amazing to see the bees' natural, created instincts take over. Immediately, they must have sensed they were in their new home, because several bees climbed out of the entrance and started fanning.
This is when they turn their bodies around and use their wings in order to circulate the pheromone that says, "Hey everybody, come on in!"
And come in they did. We checked back about 15 minutes later, and nearly all the bees that had been left in the box had flown out and joined their comrades inside the hive.
We finished the evening out with the next two hives, everything going very smoothly, and only one sting between the two of us!
We look forward to this new adventure and pray that God will bless our...that is, to say, the BEES...efforts. This will be a great way to learn more about His creation as well as help out Virginia pollinator population and have a lot of great-tasting honey!! Stay tuned this spring and summer as the hives and honey grow!
-Jonathan
I enjoyed reading about your exploits. The bee population with some beekeepers has been decimated from what I've read, so, hopefully, yours won't meet the same fate. I find the whole adventure fascinating...please continue to update about your odyssey. God is simply amazing with all the attention to detail.
And, I would love to read how the market went last week.
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 09:28 PM
I just read this to my (beautiful) husband, who was also found your post interesting. One question...is it necessary to wear light-colored clothing when handling the bees? And if so, why?
Posted by: Cathy | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 09:47 PM
Bees don't like dark colors or furriness, because they think you are a bear, skunk, badger, or other honey-thieving predator! Hence, the light clothing. I don't know how light is light enough, or how much light is really necessary. The other day I went out with a grey t-shirt and blue jeans with no veil and they didn't bother me or seem agitated.
Thanks for the comment!
Posted by: Jonathan Girotti | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 10:02 PM
Jonathan I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post about this buzzingly adventurous endeaver! :) I laughed out loud several times...you crack me up! I think this is very interesting and I am looking forward to your next post!! Lord willing you all will be eating lots of yummy honey on some delicious homemade bread made by one of the two-legged Girotti busy bees! :)
Posted by: Chris | Wednesday, April 18, 2012 at 10:16 PM
An admirable and ambitious hobby, or project, and I wish you well. What a learning experience I've had by reading of your adventure.
Posted by: Connie | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 07:05 AM
Jonathan!!! Loved your post! You should do this more often. I'm looking forward to getting me some honey, 'cause I'm a honey eater.
Love,
Granny
Posted by: Granny | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Since Chris is allergic to bees I found this story interesting.One hobby that you won't seen being done at our house.
Have fun this spring and summer with your bees.
Posted by: Tammy | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 01:55 PM
Enjoyed reading about the bees...when we get settled here in NC, i want to have some bees. Maybe you could give me some help when i get ready. Tell mom and the girls hello for me :)
Posted by: Julie trent | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 03:51 PM
I work in the Adult Day Center of a nursing home and I just did a program for my participants on Monday about bees! They are amazing gifts from God. I know there are three kinds of bees in a hive, the Queen, drones and worker bees. Too bad we can't make a road trip to your house to see a bee keeping demonstration. Are you thinking of selling the honey at the market where your sisters are on Saturdays? That would be great. Good luck and keep us posted.
Posted by: Bobbi | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 08:05 PM
Jonathan, I loved reading your article obout the bees!!!!!!! It was soooo interesting and sooooo funny!!! I laughed out loud a few times while reading! Can't wait to read the entire "Bees on the Mountain", or "Honey From the Mountain" book that you will write one day....and taste the honey one day when I visit your home again! Keep us posted of future events.
Carolyn
Posted by: Carolyn Shortt | Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 09:55 PM
What a "sweet post." Hope the honey starts flowing soon.
Victoria
Posted by: victoria | Friday, April 20, 2012 at 01:13 AM
Glad to see the new venture! Good luck with them. We have thought about getting some bees, but haven't yet.
Keep up the good work, and hope you will soon be enjoying raw honey straight from the hive!
Posted by: Graham | Friday, April 20, 2012 at 06:22 PM
Thank you so much for sharing!
I wondered how the dead queen would be handled.
I've always loved bees and hope to someday have my own hives. In the meantime, I'll enjoy your experiences!
Posted by: Michelle, a heart at home | Friday, April 20, 2012 at 11:50 PM
What a great post, Jonathan! I'm excited to read further posts on how the entire operation is going! I would love to do this one day...so exciting.
Posted by: Dorothy | Sunday, April 22, 2012 at 08:32 AM
What an entertaining AND informative post! Thank you so much for sharing your new endeavor with us and looking forward to hearing more. I love the design you chose for the hive at your home. It looks different the the usual ones you see around here. One question... how long do you think it will be before you will be able to harvest honey? This season? Good Luck!
Posted by: Lisa Spivey | Monday, April 23, 2012 at 05:12 PM
Mrs. Spivey,
I'm expecting to have some honey around July-ish. It won't be a lot, as the bees are spending all this Spring building their comb instead of converting it to honey.
Bobbi,
I would be interested in selling the honey at a farmer's market or other venue--though there are already at least 4+ vendors selling their own honey. ;)
Posted by: Jonathan Girotti | Monday, April 23, 2012 at 07:06 PM
Very cool. I have been wanting to explore beekeeping for years. I will follow your posts with interest and enjoy learning how you like it. Thanks a lot for sharing this!
Posted by: Stephanie in MI | Monday, April 23, 2012 at 10:20 PM
Oh my gosh- such an amazing new venture!! Good luck with your beekeeping!! Can I be first in line for a jar of honey?!!!!
Vicki
Posted by: Vicki | Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 03:08 PM