In March, W & I (and about 1300 other people) had the privilege of attending the Organic Grower's School. We always learn quite a bit and made the decision this year to split up for individual classes. W opted for Building an Outdoor Clay Oven and I took Beginning Beekeeping. Neither of us were disappointed with our choice. W built an oven start to finish and came out of the process feeling confident he could recreate it himself (and quite dirty). I came out of the class with a grand desire for a hive of my very own. The level-headed suggestion from the class was that each of us should spend some quality time with a beekeeper before jumping in and starting our own hives.
So since class I have been dutifully bugging David and Tina to allow me to come over whenever they happen to open their hives and they have been kind enough to humor me. I've been twice now - once when David was just checking on the hives and (significantly more exciting I must say) today when he was in the middle of catching a swarm. Someone's wayward bees (a wild hive maybe?) had planted themselves in the top of a quite tall hollow tree. David managed to get himself up there and cut down the top, lowering it gently to the ground. He then relocated the bees in the top of the tree as well as those in a bucket he collected prior to cutting into the tree. The whole process was enthralling. W took a couple pics from a safe distance and I shot a few of the tree and bees. You can click on those below to see larger images.
Needless to say, I returned home and promptly ordered my very own hive. :)
