WHAT SHOULD I BEE DOING IN DECEMBER 2019
Snowshoes, New Bee Year Resolutions and Winter Party this Friday at The Beez Kneez Oh My!
Well beeps, here we are. As I write, the snow is falling and a few days of record cold temps for December will present the first major challenge our precious, little bees. Let’s cross our fingers for a quick winter and early, long spring. It is already cruising by. We are just 13 days from a turning point in the season in the hive. Does anyone know what it is? Read below to find out!
WHAT ARE THE BEES DOING IN DECEMBER?
As I just mentioned above, we are 13 days from a change in the hive. December 21st is the winter solstice. The bees get the cue from the sun changing in the sky. The minutes of daylight increase and they are already thinking of spring. The queen will start laying her first round of brood as the older bees slowly die off. The cluster will remain really tight on these super cold days and expand out a little to get much needed energy from stored honey in the frames on the warmer days. I just learned that bees interlace the hairs on their bodies to help heat the cluster! Check out this article from Bee Culture that explains it and how bees conduct heat, deal with moisture and the need to increase the R value when insulating the hive.
WHAT IS THE BEEKEEPER DOING IN DECEMBER?
As you can see from the photos above, I have been making the rounds to my Wisconsin hives in my new yellow and black snowshoes! I did not manage to get out to all my hives but I did make it to the ones that are the furtherest north to give me an idea of survival thus far. Every hive I checked on, was still alive and buzzing. I did find one or two that gave me a little bit of concern in the number of dead bees in front of the hives. My plan is to return every month this winter to see who dies when. This does not mean I open the hives! I just listen. Then I can look back at my notes and make observations based on my management and mite levels.
There is a common theory that if your hives are alive after the New Year, they have a good chance of making it to spring. That they did not succumb to virus from mites. The challenge after the New Year is one of food stores. As the bees continue to brood up, they eat more of their food. Keep in mind that a lot can happen between January and April. So in the month of December, the beekeeper should start reflecting on the 2019 year of beekeeping and making a plan for 2020. What is your 2020 New Bee Year resolution? Use the google group to share when you can! We can all learn from each other and try to improve next year.
Other than planning my 2020 bee year, I am thinking about other ways I can continue to advocate for bees. I am not sure how many of you are aware, but we are in the middle of a farmer crisis in rural America. In an effort to educate and advocate the beeps in my network, I planned a Winter Party: Holiday Market with a mission. In light, or shall I say the dark of giant corporations taking over food production in a truly offensive and destructive way for the environment. Join us this Friday to learn more about what is going on, how it relates to overall bee health and the health of our food system. You will be rewarded with delicious farmstead cheese and veggies from the farmers, a cash bar and a unique and intimate opportunity to stock up on goods from the incredible farmers I work with to place hives. Flyer below.
