A Late Winter Check of the Honey Bees
At this time of the year, my beekeeper, Guy Hodges, likes to inspect the hives for activity and to provide the bees with some extra nourishment to prepare them for the busy spring ahead. This supplemental food is called fondant bee candy. Guy's recipe for the fondant is 5 pounds of sugar, 1 pint of water, and 1-1/4 teaspoons of vinegar. The mixture is heated to a boil to dissolve the sugar. It is then poured onto parchment-lined baking sheets, where it is allowed to cool and solidify into a fudge-like consistency.
You may recall that last winter, none of my hives survived and we were all curious as to the health of my colonies. There seemed to be many dead honeybees at the entrance of the hives. Guy explained that this is a normal sight around beehives. Bees have a limited lifespan and the approximately 25,000 active honeybees in the hive will push the deceased bees out to the entrance, keeping the hive clean. The efficiency of honeybees never ceases to amaze me!
1 Guy and Carlos working their way through the snow to the beehives
2 Guy's belt buckle - a very serious beekeeper!
3 The beehives with their winter surround of protective hay bales
4 Guy is loading up his smoker with dried pine needles.
5 The smoker has bellows to push the smoke out. The smoke helps to make the bees docile.
6 Guy is pumping smoke into the left hive before removing the lid.
7 With the lid and cover removed, Guy discovers that there is a generous supply of honey and considerable bee activity.
8 This is Guy's bucket of fondant bee candy.
9 He lays the fondant over the comb frames, providing nourishment to the colony.
10 Next, Guy uses his hive tool to clean out any dead bees.
11 Once the dead bees were removed, the entrance reducer was put back in place where it will stay until warmer temperatures arrive.
12 Next, Guy moves to the hive on the right. This one is very active.
13 This group of bees is called a bee cluster. The bees gather together like this to generate heat for the hive with the queen in the center. The cluster moves throughout the hive allowing the queen to lay her eggs.
14 You can actually feel the heat rising. The exterior of the cluster is about 55-degrees F. The interior measures approximately 90-degrees F.
15 Being careful not to disturb the cluster, Guy add a layer of bee candy.
16 A closer look
17 This honey bee has taken flight.
18 Apparently, it was a cleansing flight - this is honey bee excrement in the snow. Bees like to keep the hive clean.
19 Guy inspects the middle hive, which wasn't doing well last autumn. It doesn't look too active now.
20 With further inspection, Guy, locates the deceased queen and her workers. Sadly, the hive did not survive. It needs to be cleaned out and repopulated in the spring.
Now that is cool! Was that the queen with the dot? I have always loved anything honey and bee's wax, but scared to death of being stung..lol Guy look's like he know what he's doing! good luck with the hives lot's of fresh honey this coming season!! Keep your fingers crossed!
http://www.meandmartha.net
Dan Viger
Posted by: Daniel Viger | March 4th, 2010 at 12:47 am
Totally fascinating. Thank you for these photos and the interesting explanations. So sad about the middle hive not surviving. Bees everywhere are having a hard time of it this century. Isn't it a lovely sound (for bee & honey lovers) to hear a summertime sound of a swarm of bees moving to a new location? I saw a swarm in Santa Barbara only last week, just above the treetops, in the bright sunshine, and moving quickly in between rain storms. It was a thrilling and a happy sighting. Good luck with your hives, Martha. Your photos, as always, are a lovely gift to your blog readers. Thank you.
Posted by: Penny | March 4th, 2010 at 3:36 am
I find this part of the blog so educational. Thank you for sharing. Your farm is so full of life!
Posted by: Teresa Touey | March 4th, 2010 at 5:27 am
Sorry to hear about the middle hive, but at least you have two healthy hives. Well, I can now say that I have seen bee poop or pee, who knew, the things we get to see by reading your blogs! Lucky little bees to get such a nutritious winter feast.
Posted by: Frances Jackson | March 4th, 2010 at 6:16 am
This was fascinating!
Posted by: Lynn from For Love or Funny | March 4th, 2010 at 8:09 am
I just love it when you share things from your home and all your animals...LOVE IT...thank you!!
Posted by: Julie | March 4th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Bees are so important to our ecosystem! I used to have hives for about 5 years - fascinating little creatures. I'm glad you had little winter-kill.
Posted by: IowaCowgirl | March 4th, 2010 at 10:49 am
thanks martha for the info on the bees. i found it very interesting. didn't know that much about bees except they sting. love watching the bees going from flower to flower and always stay out of the way. thanks gert
Posted by: gert kirkland | March 4th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Mmmm, fresh honey and honeycomb! Nothing like it, which makes beekeeping worthwhile (or so I have been told). My only brush has been with wild bees visiting the garden for a little pollen pick-me-up!
Posted by: Eliza B. | March 4th, 2010 at 11:19 am
Dear Martha, thank you for some education tour of your honey bees. It is interesting to see. I am learning just reading your blogs and also you definitely inspire me to be better. Thank you. Take care. Hilda
Posted by: Hilda | March 4th, 2010 at 11:20 am
This is so very interesting but kind of sad to learn the middle hive didn’t survive. I’m sure the other hives will enjoy their fondant bee candy though. It’s hard to believe there are as many as 25,000 bees in one hive. You probably told us that before and I forgot. (Typical) Anyway, I did not know much about hives until you introduced yours to us and now I even know what bee’s pee looks like! Lol. I can’t wait to ask someone if they know what that is in the snow.
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Nice segment on the Today show this morning and I’m all set to make the spicy shrimp and tomato pasta from the recipe you provided from your Fresh Flavor Fast book. Our Costco didn’t have that book so I’ll order it from the link you provided on this site.
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Well today is March 4th and Laura’s birthday, right? Happy Birthday Laura! Enjoy your day! Trish
Posted by: Trish | March 4th, 2010 at 11:30 am
Remember when Sue Monk Kidd was on your show..
Reading is my life.. and it is good.
Posted by: ann | March 4th, 2010 at 11:48 am
Loved this post, how interesting....thought your show today was great too !!!
Just signed on to Twitter to be a follower....I really would love that mixer
All the best,
Kathy
Posted by: Kathy :) | March 4th, 2010 at 12:04 pm
I was wondering about your bees, remembering your post a while back. Good hear to have some productive hives.
My late grandfather was an excellent bee keeper. I miss his honey... and him, of course.
Thanks Martha.
Posted by: NeatNicole from Illinois | March 4th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
I love how you produce so much of your own food right there on the farm! How wonderful for you, your friends, family, and the environment
Posted by: Wendy | March 4th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
Martha, I have my Top Bar Hives ready and bees ordered for this year I cant wait to Have hives again!! Keep up the good work!!! David Manzanola CO
Posted by: david iddles | March 4th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
...Fascinating!...just fascinating, Martha!... I am amazed that with the surrounding depths of snow and chilly temperatures, that Guy would have to use his smoker for preventive measures (but what do I know?! [giggle])
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Even tho' some would expect a common, ordinary, everyday honeybee to be so expendable, my heart is sad to learn that one hive didn't thrive. Their little homes are a little city in themselves and their purpose on earth is so enriching - intended by our Creator...it's truly sad that this little 'family' didn't live too awfully long. It's encouraging, tho', that the others are looking good and they have their bee candy to 'rev' them up for around-the-corner springtime! (I think we're ALL anxious for that!)
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Because your blog will prob'ly be the obvious place for her to see it, Martha, I want to wish sisterLaura a happy happy birthday on this March 4th! I reiterate thanks, Laura, for all that you do - for being instrumental in Martha's wonderful blog and for all the manymany ways that you lend support - in the spotlight AND behind the scenes. Because I love Martha so, my fondness transcends over to you as well, so, please - have a lovely day!
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Grace and peace,
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | March 4th, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Martha,
I love fresh honey, and since I travel extensively for work, I always consume honey from the local area while in town for extended periods for my allergies. However, not knowing a lot about bees I'm curious what the speculation is for the loss of all your bees last year and the center hive this year? Is that considered typical due to the harsh winters in the North East?
Posted by: Marc Fountain | March 4th, 2010 at 3:27 pm
Martha,
I have been a long-time fan of your show...even early on when you had so many doubting detractors. I always come away learning new things from your shows. I wish you ontinued succeess for many more years to come!
Arna
arnamadrid@yahoo.com
P.S. Bee a honey and please reward me with "I wish to have, own a Kitchen Aid mixer."
Posted by: arna madrid | March 4th, 2010 at 4:14 pm
Hi Martha, What a fascinating, informative blog! Talk about learning something new everyday!! Guy Hodges certainly is a great beekeeper! That fondant bee candy sure sounds like a perfect way to feed those busy winter bees. I had no idea that the live bees cleared out the dead ones. How can they survive through such a rugged winter that you have had at the farm? Did Guy figure out why last years bees all died? Like I said, this is extremely fascinating. These photos are superb and they make me feel cold just looking at them! Spring is only a couple of weeks away and then maybe things will warm up. Sure hope so. Love, Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | March 4th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
Hi Martha,
I was very surprised to learn there was lots of bee activity during the winter. Bees are very organized and we can learn from them...LOL
I am glad that you made it home "safe and sound" from Africa. I enjoyed following your tweets!
Gloria
p.s. I am having gallbladder surgery tomorrow afternoon at St. Joseph's in Bangor. It's a very common surgery but I'm still nervous!
Posted by: Gloria Brown, Winterport, ME | March 4th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Oh the sweet bees....and I'm loven the belt buckle.
Becky
Posted by: Becky HK | March 4th, 2010 at 10:16 pm
Loved your "Great White Shirt" segment on todays show. Beautiful fashions. Thank you for introducing such a gorgeous line to us. I can't get through on their phone to get a catalog. I think your show bumped up some business. I really would love to have just one of those shirts. The pleated 3/4 length sleeve is so pretty. They all were.
Your puppy GK is a doll. He continues to be a show stealer.
Thanks again Martha for the intro to the fashion line for those of us who were unaware.
Becky
Posted by: Becky HK | March 4th, 2010 at 10:24 pm
Wow, this is really interesting. Thank you for sharing the bee candy recipe. We have been thinking about putting hives on a section of my grandparents rural property. They have gardens and a couple of fruit trees that may support a small hive for my children and I to "keep." What amazing creatures.
Posted by: Bridget McKay | March 6th, 2010 at 12:42 pm
I FOUND THE INFORMATION ON THE BEES WAS VERY INTERESTING. I HEARD THAT A LOT OF OUR BEES IN AMERICA HAVE VANISHED. CAN YOU PUT ANYMORE LIGHT ON THIS.
Posted by: CARYL KEELEY | March 8th, 2010 at 10:10 pm
Hello Martha,
Recently I have started urban bee-keeping here in Vancouver Canada thinking I am doing a good thing for my downtown condo rooftop garden and neighboring community gardens. Well my condo strata didn't think so and wanted to evict my bees! I have decided to fight for a change to the City of Vancouver By-Law. Guess what? I won!! All due to the media attention I have created. A real buzz...
I ended up on 3 radio shows, the Vancouver Sun Newspaper (among others), Global TV News, CTV, CityTV and others. The "fan" mail was overwhelmingly positive! Many people wanting to learn how to start bee-keeping as well.
I am sharing my story and NEWS link because I know how passionate you are about bees and I think you would be happy to know the City of Vancouver By-Law now approves urban bee-keeping.
httpwww.globaltvbc.comvideoindex.html&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%20canwestF8153%20(Global%20TV%20BC%20News%20Videos)&releasePID=OgqgOyOQFOfEmNLIzdDAGnbl3rc9I88X
Happy beeeeeing!
Your fan,
Zeljka Turek
Posted by: Zeljka Turek | March 27th, 2010 at 11:41 pm