Sara Kirschenbaum
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Blog :: Bee Keeping

  1. Sometimes In Life It Is Time To Call It Quits

    Tuesday, Feb 23rd, 2010 at 7:14pm

    I just had one too many die-offs of my bees. I tried to call it quits last summer but a new swarm of bees moved into the hive before I knew it. But now, with my poor hive of bees once again dead this winter, I have officially barred myself from the sport of Bee Keeping. I've packed up all my equipment and given it to two people - Michael who is just now getting into bee-keeping and Kicki a seasoned bee keeper. I have offered to help them anytime. I think I am an adequate assistant but I do not want to be the decision-maker.

    9722 comments

  2. Bee Melodrama

    Thursday, May 21st, 2009 at 2:46am

    Confession: I killed my bees again. The hive made it through the winter beautifully. I went to the Bee store to make sure that I was totally on top of whatever medications they needed in spring. I went home with about $65 of meds which I carefully administered. I waited the 21 days until I was supposed to remove the medication applicator. On the 21 day I went in with my son Sage and found all the bees dead and gone except the queen and about 100 attendants. I called the bee store and they said,"Oh, yeah, sometimes it kills them..." It seems I needed to have removed the meds temporarily on cold days. Zowie! I have so much to learn. I tried to get some brood that I could tuck in the hive to help the queen repopulate but she died before I could go pick up the two frames of brood I arranged to get. Anyway, I decided to take myself out of the bee business. I've had enough of genocide. I eyed all my bee equipment, thinking of who I might give it to and then...I peeked at the hive only to discover that a swarm of bees had moved itself it! I guess I'm back in the bee-keeping saddle again! This time I'm going to see if I can find myself a mentor. But I got to tell you I do just love bee-keeping - felt a deep happiness when I got back into my bee suit. Heaven help my bees!

    4308 comments

  3. Forgive Me Mothers, For I Have Sinned

    Thursday, Apr 17th, 2008 at 10:37pm

    I am an amateur bee keeper. And not a very gifted one. I've had bees over the years. Occasionally my bees have collected enough honey to share some with me. I used to get lots of swarms in my yard and so there was a constant source of bees.

    284 comments