WHAT SHOULD I BEE DOING IN DECEMBER-A YEAR IN REVIEW

It’s a weird, weird world, Goodbye 2021.

Beekeepers mantra-"There's always next year!"

For many reasons, December was a weird month. The first half was warm. I wrapped the last of my hives on December 3rd. I found two hives that were already dead from a late fall mite explosion that I never got a hold on. Those hives were both treated but apparently I caught it too late. We shall see how the others do. On December 15th, it was 54 degrees and sunny with a chance of tornados in MN and WI. I was so weirded out that i made a video on that day. teatime in my beeyard with Thousands of bees flying. in 12 years of beekeeping, I have never experienced that kind of weather. I have included the video on the bottom of the page. Check it out!

Woke this morning and it was -24F up here in god’s county. What a way to start the year, huh? Found a dead chicken in my coop. Frozen solid like a brick. She was old and missing lots of feathers and was probably getting picked on but still, poor bird. Her sister was nearly dead. Ice had fused her beak together and her eyes were closing so I brought her inside and saved her. But this blog is not about chickens. it is about bees. I have a feeling, we are in for a rough one. The hives that make it through will be the cream of the crop for sure. It’s not so much the temperature as the rapid temperature swings in my view. Insulating the hives is something to really consider for that reason. I am working with another northern beekeeper on a really nice design for winter wraps. Cross your fingers we get the grant we applied for!

What are the bees doing in December

THere is not a whole lot I can say here that I have not said in the past. They are clustered, generating heat to stay alive through the most extreme temperatures. Their ability to do this always blows my mind. Remember, they efficiently heat the cluster and not the cavity. they form a ball and their hairs interlace. an easy way to tell if they are alive in the winter is to check the top entrance for frost. or bee breath as some call it. the cluster expands and contracts as the temperature changes outside. because the colony is breathing as a whole, keeping the inner core around 8of, heat and moisture move towards the air of the empty hole creating a frost ring upon reaching the cold air outside. incredible!

WHAT IS THE BEEKEEPER DOING IN DECEMBER

For the beekeeper, December is about resting, reflecting and reading. The holidays come and go. Hopefully many can see family and friends. we are all tired of covid and want it to be over. I nearly lost my sister to it. It is an awful way to be sick and no one should have to spend their last moments that way. So please beekeepers, get vaccinated and stay safe. We really need to work together to get through this.

I spent December selling honey and candles at markets and online. Once you have enough wax, candle making can happen in earnest. It took me quite awhile to have enough for it to be worth. I invested in a few more molds and made a nice little space in my new honey house. I have been checking the hives in my home apiary periodically when I feed and water the goats in the morning. As you can see in the photo below, I have 7 single 5 frame nucs that I am trying to overwinter. They are sandwiched together and I have wrapped the back and the 2 sides with 2 inch pink insulation. It is incredible to hear them still buzzing on a day like today. I am sure I will have to feed them if they make it till spring but I saved some honey for that very reason. After the cold spell, I will check more yards so I have a better idea what my survival looks like. although, My records from previous years indicate that most of the hives that die do so in February or early March, which would suggest they ran out of food.

Now that 2022 is here, it is already time to start planning for next year. Get your equipment ready. I can still take orders but you will have to come to my farm to pick it up. Allow plenty of time for shipping. Everything is taking longer than it used to. Let me know if you want bees. As I have said before, if I can’t supply you from my own, I will connect you to a trusted beekeeper. I hope to offer more classes. Thinking about one on how to raise your own queens on a small scale. And I know for certain I will be making a video on how to build a proper bear fence. That’s all for now beeks. Stay warm. oh, and spread the word about camp beez kneez if you have taken it, take it if you haven’t and subscribe to my youtube channel if you would :) Happy New year everyone.