Hey there, y’all!

I haven’t posted in a while because unfortunately, there’s not been a lot to post.

In climates such as ours, bees will do what we call “winter clustering”. They don’t hibernate, but it’ a similar concept. They stock up on resources, remove any unnecessary resource-users (the drones), and they cluster in the center of the hive around the queen. She stops laying eggs during this time which is why they don’t need the drones (male bees). Then they sorta disconnect their segmented wings so they lay parallel with their little bodies, and gather in the center to keep the queen warm. It's crazy because they're so quiet, a person wouldn't even know they were standing next to a winter hive of honeybees because there's no buzzing. Inside, bees rotate who’s on the outside so no little bee freezes, they eat, they sleep, and they hold their waste for warm days when they can take a potty break- that can mean months!

I found this picture on a website showing the phenomenon: http://scientificbeekeeping.com/understanding-colony-buildup-and-decline-part-13a/

As the site explains, it’s a bit difficult for honeybees in areas like our because they are native to tropical climates. The article goes into depth about the actual physics of a winter cluster.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, the way the bees winter is the reason why it’s important as beekeepers that we feed and care for them more than we would in warmer geographic areas.

It's interesting, when I first started reading about bees, there was question as to whether or not a person should feed their bees, not just in the summer, but even in the winter. The argument is that the bees don't get fed naturally in the wild and not feeding them is helping them build stronger genetic diversity. The idea is that they shouldn't need to be fed and therefore we should not intervene. The same argument goes for treating for the Varroa mite. Well, I noticed very quickly that in the Pacific Northwest, every beekeeper I met feeds their bees in some form or degree and all the beeks I met also treat for Varroa mite. I know of beeks in this area that do not treat for the mite, but to my knowledge, all do feed the bees, at least in the winter time.

All that to explain: I have not played with any bees or hardly even seen honeybees since my last posting. I admit that this distance between me and these beautiful insects has diminished a bit of my spark and interest, but only a tiny bit. I'm viewing it as my "winter chill" as I'm more chilled out about my new love and less on fire.

I am still actively watching on Facebook groups for tips and tricks, and I'm still learning in my online class, and watching a few YouTube videos, but it's just not the same as getting into a hive.

The only new, and awesome thing that I have going with regard to my upcoming ventures of beekeeping goes back to my grandpa that I mentioned in post number 14. My Grandfather and I are going to build my very first bee box! I’ll be doing this in addition to my purchase from Tracy…well, unless I get some great Christmas presents *shameless hint*.

But I'm very excited that my amazing, perfectionist, carpenter, Grandfather and I get to share this experience together. I suspect we will start the process in the next couple of weeks, and when we do, I will be sure to post lots of pictures of the process.

Oh! I reserved 2 nucs from Got 2 Bee ; my girls are spoken for!

The owner, Don Helms, opened the reserve list super early for some reason, so I got on the list as soon as Tracy mentioned it to me. I’ll pay part this month and the rest in April when I receive the bees.

This means my bees are being born now or soon!!!

Since I’m still unemployed, I’ve become a bit annoying when it comes to, you know, begging.

My family tradition is to make Christmas lists and they’ve asked me to make one this year.

Well, I’m posting here since I'm struggling to fund what I want most- BEE STUFF.

You think this is ridiculous to post a Christmas List on a blog? Yeah, you’re not wrong, and yet…here we are. 👩‍🦰🙋‍♀️💛🐝🖤

🤷

😆

*haha*

Stuff I need and want for Beekeeping:

1. My BEES!

I reserved 2 nucleus hives are under my name with Don Helms:

It’s possible that I’ll start with 3 hives instead of 2 if my Grandpa and I end up building a full hive setup rather than our experimental one medium bee box. But I don’t know if Don from Got 2 Bee has any bees still available (I doubt it).

2. I need 2 full hive set-ups.

I’ve decided I want medium 8-frame Langstroth hives.

Tracy told me that she could help anyone who wanted to inquire.

The best way to contact Tracy is Facebook messenger, she's very responsive. But here are all her contacts:

Willow Wood Honey Farm Social's: Facebook, Shop on Etsy , Instagram

Bonus hive stuff I'd love:

• 8FR Gabled Hive Top

• Hitchhiker Hive Tool

• Pouring Pot for Wax

3. Books & Educational Materials:

• Most listed on my Amazon wishlist

4. Stuff I do not need, but would would love:

• A Horizontal Langstroth Hive (a girl can dream)

• Mini beehive set (for educational purposes, definitely not because it' the cutest thing I've ever seen in my life) or the bigger mini-set, truly for educational purposes.

5. Service:

• Finish setting up my beeyard *add gravel (seems like the prep and process is quite the task...?) *fence to keep curious Bandits away
  

• help prep my yard to be more bee friendly in terms of the watering system and late summer blooming plants *I'd just die for a sprinkler system in our yard, but that's quite the undertaking with all our tree roots, etc. (again, a girl can dream) *I'd love a water fountain near my beeyard for my girls
  

• get that greenhouse shed that was gifted to me- the transportation of it is also a feat.

If I don't get some of these wonderful things for Christmas, I'll continue with my previous plan of "Graphics for Trade" because I imagine beekeepers could use this skill and would love to barter (check out blog 13: Barter Buzz).

Another rad thing is that I created a logo for my favorite bee photographer, Steve Robertson (the guy who captured Muse).

He has just opened his own gallery of his photographs and remembered that I offered my graphic design services to him.

It was such a cool experience to work with him, and wow- he is friggen BRILLIANT!

He took a quick snap of the completed signage for his gallery and it inspired a wonderful feeling of pride for me.

The biggest compliment from his beautiful, brilliant, artist's brain was, him telling me that the logo was even better than he pictured.

Steve's inspiration for this logo design was the underbelly of a honeybee.

I hadn't really noticed it before, but it's quite beautiful and somehow remarkable. It forced me to study up on bee anatomy to a greater degree, which I enjoyed.

I found this diagram from "The Anatomy of the Honey Bee" by R. D. Snodgrass originally written in 1910. On page 70 (p72 in the pdf version) which really helped me understand the foundation of what Steve wanted.

I really like the stylized version we landed on.

I wasn't expecting any form of payment because he generously gave me copyright usage to the Muse picture, but he told me he was putting together a little package for me to be mailed next week. YAY!

My sister-in-law said it best, "Jacalyn, your love language is gift receiving".

....yeah, it is.

I'm so happy for him that Steve now has a brick-and-mortar building to showcase his work. His business is going to boom!

Photo by the Great J. Steven Robertson of Emmisoure Photography and https://bees.photo