An update on my honeybees
In preparation for the cold winter ahead, Guy Hodges, my beekeeper, came to supplement each of my hives with a special pollen patty. A pollen patty is a mixture of bee pollen, enzymes, and proteins, which the bees feed upon during periods of pollen shortage. It helps to fatten up the worker bees, in hopes of keeping the hive active and healthy.
As Guy will attest, it's been a particularly bad season for honeybees. Here in the Northeast, the spring was cold and wet, continuing into the summer. Pollen was scarce for the bees to collect and consequently, there is no surplus honey to harvest. Any honey made in my hives will remain there for the bees. Guy tells me that he will harvest honey from only 10% of his 80 beehives. It's imperative that the bees have plenty of honey in the hive because it takes one cell of honey and one cell of pollen to form one bee, and a queen will lay 1,500 to 2,000 eggs per day!
Another problem, and one of twenty-seven afflictions of honeybees is the Varroa mite. These tiny parasites suck the blood from both the adults and the developing brood, weakening those attacked. When Guy opened my hives the other day, he discovered some of these nasty creatures, brought in by drifting worker and drone bees. He will wait until spring to work on this problem. Please enjoy this latest blogisode of the very complex world of honeybees.
1 A good view of my honey bees taken last spring, including the queen with the blue marking
2 Very detailed instructions for mixing the pollen patty
3 Carlos in his bee garb - he finds learning about my colonies fascinating.
4 This is a commercial pollen patty which Guy uses on other hives.
5 Guy is mixing in any dried areas of the pollen patty that he sees.
6 Guy continues mixing the patty.
7 Spreading the patty mix onto wax paper
8 Covering it over with another sheet of wax paper
9 The bees will chew through the wax paper to get to the pollen patty, but Guy cuts slits to make it easier for them.
10 The bee smoker, loaded with pine needles, ready for use
11 Guy removes the lid from the first hive revealing the sugar-syrup feeding tray.
12 Smoking the bees helps to keep them docile.
13 Guy is loosening the feeder tray for removal, being as quiet as possible. Any loud noises make the bees angry!
14 From the looks of things, Guy feels this hive is quite healthy. Again, using smoke to calm tempers.
15 Guy lifts off the heavy brood chamber, which contains about 70 pounds of honey!
16 Carlos can hardly believe how much it weighs.
17 Indeed, this is a very healthy hive with many, many female worker bees. This hive no longer needs to be fed sugar syrup.
18 This is one of several male drones, which exist for the sole purpose of reproduction. So many drones present at this time of year means there is plenty of food in the hive.
19 Guy neatens up the hive by removing the extraneous burr comb.
20 This unwelcome yellow jacket is seizing the opportunity for a quick and easy snack.
21 Guy pauses to enjoy a sampling of the honey.
22 Guy places the bee pollen patty on top of the lower chamber.
23 The upper brood chamber is set back in place.
24 Guy gives the feeding tray a good shake to extricate the the bees clinging to it.
25 Instead of replacing the feeding tray, Guy sets an inner cover on top of the chamber.
26 And lastly, the hive lid is set in place.
27 The orange on this bee is pollen. If you stay to observe, you will see bees arrive with different colors of pollen obtained from different blossoms.
28 Some of the burr comb removed from the hive contained drone larva. This larva has a detrimental Varroa mite feeding on it.
29 This larva has 3 Varroa mites - Guy will deal with the mite problem in the spring.
Great update on your honey bees, Martha.
BTW enjoy your upcoming weekend in Southern California---the weather should be perfect for your visit. Happy book signing!
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | October 16th, 2009 at 12:19 am
Thank you for the bees update. I loved learning about your bees & their struggles to thrive. It's nice to know you are fattening up those chubby buzzers for the winter. I do have a concern about using wax paper to cover the pollen patty. After all, that wax, albeit a very thin coating, is from the petroleum refining process ... perhaps could rice paper have been a alternative? Just a thought and certainly I am not an expert, but I thought it might be interesting to consider.
Posted by: Penny | October 16th, 2009 at 12:32 am
REALLY interesting! Especially the parts about the mites. And Guy doesn't wear a bee suit!
Posted by: Clayvessel from Pie in the Sky | October 16th, 2009 at 1:33 am
Hi Martha,
I'm the one that spoke with you yesterday about becoming a beekeeper. When you open your hives in the spring can you post a video of it, the process of cleaning & repairing the hive(s) plus how Guy addresses the mite problem. Also thank you for all the information you gave.
Pauline Mucciaccio
Brooklyn NY
Posted by: Pauline | October 16th, 2009 at 8:40 am
I didn't know that it takes one cell of honey and one cell of pollen to form one bee! Like Clayvessel (above), I was struck that Guy doesn't wear a bee suit!
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | October 16th, 2009 at 8:45 am
As a beekeeper with 3 hives here in Concord, Mass., I appreciated seeing the pictures of Guy prepping the pollen patties. We use parchment paper instead of wax paper. We lost one of our hives while on vacation in Sept. to hornets. It was very sad to see thousands of bees and bee parts in a pile outside the hive. Thanks for all your education regarding organic, local and sustainable agriculture.
Posted by: Cheryl Mandler | October 16th, 2009 at 9:48 am
I am sure the person taking the pictures was calm because they are very interesting and not out of focus as one might think if bees were buzzing around.
I would struggle not wanting to eliminate the mites RIGHT NOW! I am sure a weak hive does not need more invasion management going into winter.
Interesting as always.
Posted by: Margie | October 16th, 2009 at 9:54 am
Hi Martha,
Very interesting and informative update on your honey bees.
Good luck
Posted by: Rowaida Flayhan | October 16th, 2009 at 10:01 am
WOW. . . Your Bees are so lucky to have you and your bee keepers Martha!!
The photos were so interesting and I thank you once again for making my day . .Enjoy your weekend.
Regards, Nina
Posted by: nina zeumer | October 16th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Nature is an interesting subject to observe and study while at the same time being very entertaining. Thank you for sharing this and others, i.e. your travels to Dillon, Montana, Maine, Yellowstone, Japan, Poland, France, etc.
Ray
Posted by: Ray | October 16th, 2009 at 10:27 am
What is the blue dot on the one bee? Is that a picture glitch or an actual spot on the bee??
Posted by: Jeremy | October 16th, 2009 at 10:28 am
Admitting that I don't fully comprehend how things work in beekeeping, hopefully the wintertime will keep those dastardly mites at bay until Guy can treat them in the spring. (I am assuming that is the case.)
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I ALWAYS welcome a blog or show segment about your bees, Martha! I love learning about them and about what makes their 'growing conditions' (so to speak) optimal for them to thrive.
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I'm sure, as winterizing is taking place there around the farm, these little creatures need some preparation and care as well to tuck them in safe and sound.
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Autumn blessings, Martha!
=^..^=
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"The greatest gift of a garden is the restoration of the five senses."--Hanna Rion
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | October 16th, 2009 at 10:45 am
Hi Martha,
Thank you for explaining the bee problem and showing us what a mite looks like. What will Guy do to get rid of the mites next spring? I noticed there were not very many bees here in New Brunswick, Canada either. I managed to grow a pretty good garden, but haven't managed to get a good cucumber crop for about 5 years!
Let us know how your bees survive the winter. I would love to have my own beehive, but not sure if my hometown would allow it.
Posted by: Angela | October 16th, 2009 at 10:47 am
I know how hard it's been for Honey Bees...in our area they have banned pesticide use and I've noticed Bumble Bees returning.
In spring, I always leave a few Dandelions untouched for the Bees; do you have any other tips on things ordinary folks can do to improve their yards to give Bees a helping hand??
Luv ya,
C.H.Troll
Posted by: Common House Troll | October 16th, 2009 at 10:53 am
This is a little tidbit of information for Pauline (Mucciaccio) from Brooklyn:
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You might find an earlier blog of Martha's particularly interesting from back in May, when a fresh batch of bees arrived there at her farm.
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Right here, on her blog home page, go to the links at left and select:
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>Pets
>May 14, 2009's blog entitled 'new bees arrive at my farm'
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There are some photos there in the gallery showing the transportation and setup of the bees, which I found (and still do!) very interesting...I tho't you might too!
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Hopefully this will be helpful in the meantime, until you get to view a filmed version sometime.
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=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | October 16th, 2009 at 11:04 am
I have been reading powdered sugar works well more mites,as well as a screened bottom board. The American bee journal is great if you don't get it already!!
Posted by: david iddles | October 16th, 2009 at 11:55 am
Wow, never knew that bees were affected by mites or that there was a pollen shortage. The photos were VERY,VERY interesting.
Posted by: kim | October 16th, 2009 at 11:57 am
When I saw your tweet about getting your honey bees ready for winter I was hoping for tiny knit hats and sweaters but this was much more informative.
Posted by: heather | October 16th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
The modern honeybee is a Mediterranean species. It only grudgingly copes with cold/wet weather (an adaptation evolved in the last ice age). They are much happier here in San Francisco where something is blooming 365 days of the year.
Posted by: James Collins | October 16th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Hi Martha, Thank you for the interesting blog on honeybees! My brother is a beekeeper and I help him...I'm the assistant beekeeper! We,too,just finished feeding the pollen patties. (I opted to wear the full suit...no stings. He, on the otherhand...is more brave and wears only the helmet.) Beekeeping is so interesting and I've not only learned a lot but find it fun to be able to answer other's questions about the bees.
Posted by: Suzanne | October 16th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Martha, I csn,t find your T V. show. The CBC had it last year, but this year,its not on, Kindly email me & tell me what channels it is on,,, thank you L.Briggs
Posted by: lila briggs | October 16th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Question: Could destroying the GPS field around a bee farm (so that GPS or mobile phone technology could not possibly be used to disturb their environment) help protect bees?
Posted by: ldlco | October 16th, 2009 at 7:21 pm
I dont think waiting till spring is a great idea for the mites. it should be warm enough for the mites to be delt with. and if you are not havesting honey then the miteicide should not be a problem
Posted by: cheryl eiduke | October 16th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
Howdy: Ms. Stewart, I enjoy and continue to learn from your show(s) and website(s). I am very interested in your Bee blog. Please continue to keep us updated. I love rainy days though I am looking forward to the return of our Indian Summer!
Kindest Regards,
DealeontheChesapeake
Posted by: Deb | October 17th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Thanks for taking care of the bees, Martha. Your efforts to support them and help in the recovery of bees from CCD (and inform people about their plight!) makes me so happy. I am sure the bees thank you too.:-) Namaste -Teal
Posted by: Teal Marie Fyrberg | October 17th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Martha...such an interesting article. Who knew?
My uncle was a beekeeper and produced honey to sell at market in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Once he had his production all ready i would accompany him to the warehouse where he offloaded the neatly filled honey jars. Quite the process and i can still see images of how hard he worked at this as a source of income. He always was so proud when the honey received a good grading.
Posted by: sherey | October 17th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Like some of the others, I love reading about your bees. I am very interested in their survival after watching a documentary on how they are vanishing. Not wearing a beekeeper's suit speaks volumes for Guy and his obvious peaceful nature. What a beautiful person he is. Thanks so much for the photos. A video would be great too some time as mentioned above. Blessings to all!
Posted by: Lin Valentine | October 17th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
I too have honeybees Martha. This is my first year as a beekeeper. I too am getting ready to give them the pollen patty. It has turned off cold here in the South as well. I have one hive but plan on expanding next year up to hopefully 5 more. I have learned alot and I have enjoyed looking at your photos. I got into beekeeping because I saw one of your show back in the spring and you inspired me. So thanks. I never thought beekeeping could be this much fun.
Posted by: Maranda | October 17th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
newspaper salesman from liverpool,was given meli meli honey to give away as a promotion for the e u.went down a storm,like it awakened peoples love for the amber nectar,theres only one amber nectar and thats honey.purest of the purest,mother natures drink it is.good enough to be called natures brewery,produced worldwide by the same bees.i had a bee moment.work in media,our bread n butter is the liverpool echo.im starting to learn this as work.hope u get this,and to read a tweet of you,martha stewart.thanking you is a lee charles lawson.
Posted by: lee lawson | October 18th, 2009 at 7:31 am
must comment on the pictures..amazing.very good informative information.brilliant.
Posted by: lee lawson | October 18th, 2009 at 7:47 am
Can you share where you purchased your top hive feeder?
Because of the segment that aired last fall on the show, I purchased 4 hive bodies immediately and was disappointed to learn that I had to wait until spring to purchase the bees. Fortunately I took the time to learn as much as possible about beekeeping by taking a class from the local association. As it turns out- one of the mentors in the group happened to mentor the future White House beekeeper. President Obama is not the only successful new beekeeper in the area-
In my first year, I have harvested 70lbs of honey (which won 3rd prize at the county fair). Thanks for the information and inspiration to start this very educational hobby.
Posted by: John in DC | October 18th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Hi Martha,
Thanks for taking care of the bees!!! If you've ever seen the BEE Movie, although a cartoon, it does focus on the importance of bees in our life. Thanks for also caring for dogs, cats, birds, horses, chickens, donkey's and all things great and small!!!!
Posted by: Lauren Romanowski | October 18th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
Hi Martha,
This to is my first year at beekeeping and thanks for the update. I've been reading up on how to get my bees ready for winter and l plan on working on the hive when this northeaster is over. Good Luck with your bees.
Posted by: mary beth jarrosak | October 18th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I think it was March, 1996, and we were on spring break visiting Williamsburg. As we were getting ready for the day, The Martha Stewart Show was on. Suddenly my daughter, then 8, yelled, "Mommy, Martha has BEES!" We watched. I actually said, "Well, if Martha can do it, so can I." We went home, I hopped online, and a beekeeper in CT gave me contacts in Nashville, TN, where we live. I had a nuke a few weeks later. Since then - until this summer, that is -- we have kept between two and three hives to the side of our house in the front yard. The pleasure of keeping them and the fun of gathering, eating, and sharing the honey have been wonderful. And it all started, seriously, because of the TV show!
Hive beetles hit hard three years ago; between the hard weather and pests, I lost my last colony in late spring of this year. So, this fall and winter, I am letting the "yard" take a rest and will start a new colony or two in the spring.
Posted by: Jennifer Cox | October 18th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Hi Martha, Thank you for another fascinating blog about honeybees. I have learned more about these fantastic creatures through your wonderful blogs. You have such beautiful beehives and watching how Guy Hodges takes care of your bees is absolutely fascinating. How many times has he been stung?! He seems so casual the way he handles the bees that I have a feeling he doesn't mind being stung. Hope your honeybees have a happy and safe winter. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | October 19th, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Horses & Honey = HAPPINESS! Martha, did you know that a little bit(pardon the pun)of honey on the bit can go a long way? For those hard to bridle boy's, honey-on-the-bit...transforms the unruly All-Mighty Steed into the storybook Gentle Giant within one application. Wrestling 2400 pounds of Heavy Horse Power when I weigh only 130lbs is not a good program!!! The ulternative is fantastic!www.greatcanadianclydesdales.com
Posted by: Dee McGibbon from Cranbrook Canada | October 22nd, 2009 at 2:41 pm
Martha - we've had wild honey bees on our farm for many years, as well as hives from a man who asked to put his hives on our property quit a few years ago. His bees were with us for a few years. It was only a couple of years ago that I saw the decline in the honey bees that came to drink in my bird baths and gather pollen in my flower and vegetable gardens. This year, and last year, I saw only a few bees on their favorite plants, and that was not unti late summer/early fall. I live in southeastern wisconsin. While we had many bumble bees this year, I dearly miss the honey bees in my garden. The bumble bees became used to me eventually, but they were never as accepting and lovely as the honey bees. I miss them, and hope that they will be able to restablish themselves in my area again.
Posted by: Kristen Waller | October 22nd, 2009 at 11:16 pm
I spoke to Guy a while back and when he told me he had given up construction for bee keeping I was a little surprised, but I had to admit I detected a strong note of contentment. My sister Aimee and Guy had gone through a bump in the road, welcome to real life, and it appears things are working out just fine between them. I thank you for your support.
Posted by: William Stilson | November 17th, 2009 at 1:59 pm