We love stories about making new beekeepers! Here's the latest one.
LA Backwards Beekeeper Tyson writes:
Mark V. attended his first Backwards Beekeepers meeting in August. He had bees that had made a home inside the front wall of his family’s house. He wanted them removed, but not killed—he was ready to become a beekeeper!
After talking to him for a while I decided that I’d help him get those bees out and into a new home. He was enthusiastic and insisted on helping and I was grateful for an extra hand.
The hive had been building for several months, and had lots of
healthy brood and several pounds of capped honey as well.
healthy brood and several pounds of capped honey as well.
Mark is ready to go!
This cut out was ideal in that it was at chest height, in the shade and made up of beautiful long thin combs for easy measurement.
After some practice Mark worked like a pro, carefully sizing and aligning
the comb upright without damaging the nurse bees with the rubber bands.
the comb upright without damaging the nurse bees with the rubber bands.
Over half done!
We brushed the bees off the comb directly into the new hive body,
and used a scoop to catch the bees left behind in the wall.
and used a scoop to catch the bees left behind in the wall.
The wall cavity is cleared and the bees are making
themselves familiar with their new home...
themselves familiar with their new home...
Mark is one happy new Backwards Beekeeper!
I have been in touch with Mark and he says the bees are doing well; they had some early problems with ants, but now they're bouncing back and foraging happily.
I really enjoyed helping out a new member make a potential problem of bees in a wall into a benefit: a hive in the backyard!
Cheers,
Tyson
