COVID-19, Spring Equinox, Hungry Bees, Propolis Box year 1, , Oh My!
Well Beeps, here we are. It is March 17th, 2020 and we are facing a global pandemic. Amazing what can happen in just a month. There is no way I can start writing about the bees without getting this out of the way because it is on all of our minds and changing our daily lives in dramatic ways. As the bees face their own public health crisis concerning viruses, we are in the midst of nothing any of us have experienced on such a scale. In this time of anxiety and uncertainty, I will tell you one thing. The bees are keeping me calm, grounded and continue to teach me how to live as a community. We must take care of ourselves and each other as best we can for the sake of the whole. As a small business owner, I am really concerned about making it out the other end. I am committed to do everything in my power to soldier on and keep The Beez Kneez alive while keeping everyone safe. This is why I have decided to keep the INSIDE OF MY shop closed to customers. Orders can be made online or by phone for pick up. A few of you have reached out already and committed to buying equipment. I feel fortunate to have you as part of my community. Thank you. It will really help us come out the other end of this. Anything you need, you can order online and pick up at the store by appointment. If you want to talk bees, call me during my office hours. Wed-Sat 11-6pm. 612.806.2582 or 612.990.9770. If you want honey, you can pay by phone and pick up in the entryway. We will get through this stronger and better. I am convinced.
WHAT ARE THE BEES DOING IN MARCH?
After a warmer than average winter, this spring is shaping up to be pretty nice. This weekend is the spring equinox and by the end of this month, we should start seeing natural pollen coming into the hives. We have maple syrup flowing up here in the hinterland. This week is supposed to see some rain and maybe a little bit of snow but next week temps rebound into the mid-40’s. The bees are moving through stores much faster now. The temps are above freezing almost everyday allowing them to break cluster and access whatever they can find in the hive. They are regenerating their populations to have the younger generation take over the workforce. As soon as the pollen starts coming in, they will kick it into another gear.
WHAT IS THE BEEKEEPER DOING IN MARCH?
If you have bees that have survived the winter, get out there and lift that hive like I taught you. By the front and also from the back to see how heavy they are. Almost every hive that I have lost this winter has been from starvation. I have learned my lesson this year. I will be feeding a bit more in the fall. I don’t totally blame myself because our falls have been pretty weird and cut off quick as of the last couple years. Make your own sugar cakes using the recipe provided in the March 2019 post or order some winter patties from us. I would wait a few more weeks before feeding syrup. We are not out of the woods concerning cold weather as of yet.
For those of you without bees at the moment, use this time of social distancing wisely. Get your equipment cleaned out and ready to go. The recommendation is to cycle your brood frames out every 3-5 years so many of you are probably ok reusing those. You can feed honey frames from dead outs to new colonies. I would not recommend trying to extract and consume it at this point. Store everything in a dry, cool, mouse proof environment until your new bees come. Remember, drawn comb is a valuable tool when getting new bees. They will grow much faster! Also, take this down time to make a management plan that includes how and when you will manage your mites throughout the season. I recommend once a month checking May-July, twice a month in August and September.
