Jackson

Goslings

Five are here, more are coming. We're trading them for chickens.

Last of the Roma

Dehydrating right now. . . . .

Running of the Geese (and Dogs)

Pamplona-ish

Before the honey, the swarm

Our friend Phil in a tree.  

Three of our hives came from swarms.  This one was small, the size of a partially deflated volleyball.  Phil and his bucket volunteered to climb up and coax it down.  After a week or so the bees abandoned the hive and went right back up to the same limb.  Phil climbed again.  

They eventually settled into their new home, and we were able to move them to our farm.  They're a productive hive, but they're very grumpy.  They go out of their way to find bare patches of skin.  We're contemplating regime change (replacing the Queen). 

Honey!

Extraction Day

Frank and Mary removing supers.

Frank Taylor, working the extractor. 

Frank is our bee guru, and all-around good guy. When he's not revealing the mysteries of clan apis, he's an actor.  He's been in many films and television shows, and one of my favorites is Junebug.  He played the artist David Wark.  

First of the honey.

Big water event yesterday

Basement flooded, roof leaked, ponds merged into Big Pond.

White water in the hay fields, and then my wellingtons started leaking.

The ducks and geese were happy.

Checked the bees yesterday

Honey soon.

More newcomers

Two Sebastopol geese have arrived (Jackson on left, Lee on right).

New Residents

We've added five Ancona ducks to the mix.

The bees are making honey

They need some room, so I'm assembling the frames and Mary's installing the foundation.

Dry-Land Fish

Norway Spruce

In our front yard . . . .

Fast Food

A pear tree thirty feet from the beehives. It'll probably have fruit this year.

Warm Spell

Bees out and about

New Beekeepers

The Russians have arrived (many thousands of them in the two-windowed box seen above the hive).  I'm holding the cage containing the queen.   

Our first swarm

From left to right: our second swarm, our first swarm, Russians, Bean Gap (a gift from a friend)

The Solastalgist