Applegarth Farm: the bees are flying

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

the bees are flying

Today felt like spring in the garden it was sunny and 54 degrees, the bees were out in full force. I checked both hives by peeking inside and lifting the upper deep hive box to see what was going on. I found both deep boxes still full and heavy with winter honey, and way more bees than I thought I would find. They are doing so much better than they ever have through the winter. If all goes well I will go into Spring with strong colonies, and may even be able to divide them in half, and end up with 4 hives, which is my goal. 2 hives just barely gives enough honey for us to last through half the year, and to give some as gifts to family and friends.

2 comments:

Zev said...: Wow, 54 degrees already? And greens popping up in the garden? Is that usual for Washington?

http://swordsintoplows.blogspot.com; January 27, 2011 at 10:02 AM
Jewel said...: Hi Zev, no this is not normal for this time of year. Although almost every January around the third week, we will have temps for a few days warm enough for the bees to fly, and me to garden. That's why I get spring fever so early. Sorrel and parsley are always the early bird greens of the year.; January 27, 2011 at 2:34 PM

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Our goal here at Applegarth Farm is to raise children that play in the woods and gardens, and know where their food comes from. To feed the animals and care for their young, to gather eggs, and milk goats, to eat fruit off of trees, and berries from the bushes that we grow, and to eat from the gardens. We are working towards, and teaching them to be as self sufficient as best we can.

With the economy in the state it is, our plan has become even more important. Being able to live on less is one of our goals. Working from home, or close to home is another goal, and growing and harvesting most of our food is a big goal we've been working towards.

We live in a handbuilt home, our heat comes from the firewood we cut, and cooking is often done right on our woodstove. We grow a lot of our own food, and are building our home slowly with cash for materials, and the time to work on it. All of the buildings have been built over the years by my husband from trees grown and milled right on our farm, or from salvaged lumber.

The beginning years started here with no electricity or running water, and were lived in a small cabin, slowy building and clearing land. We are still trying to live as self sufficiently as we can. I am a homemaker and work part time in the nursery (plants and trees) business. We are raising children, tending animals, gardening and cooking from scratch.

Some of the topics you will hear about are; gardening, cooking, beekeeping, chickens, rabbits, building and timberframing. Along with some of my adventures in soapmaking, candlemaking, animal husbandry, plus the everyday of what's going on around the farm. Future building projects include a goat barn, a root cellar, and a pizza/bread wood fired oven. Come learn along with us, and share homesteading skills you are learning. I'm looking forward to meeting others that share a similar path that we're on, or simply others who dream of homesteading.