Home on Crooked Creek

These little insects are AMAZING!  Worker bees, drones and the Queen BEE!  Oh my!  Bees are an investment.  And, like many investments, you have to learn what you are getting into.  As an Ag teacher, I went to several workshops and it sparked the desire to learn more.  But, I didn’t follow my own advice very well.  I jumped in without knowing very much.  Our school received a grant to get into this buzzing business.  We also were blessed to have a mentor.  This man was very knowledgeable and helped students and me to get started.  

We quickly found out that we needed to know more.  I began attending our local bee club.  That is the place I should have started.  They advised you to learn as much as you can before you invest.  Nope!  Didn’t follow that advice.  When I get the chance to go, I usually come back with tons of information that I should have done or should do.  It is great.   The group recommended that we learn more from this book.  The Beekeeper’s Handbook.  I use mine so much I decided to put a spiral binder on it.  

I’m still a baby beekeeper.  This year is better.  We have 2 hives at school and I have 2 at home.  We recently split all of the hives.  So far things look good.  I am enjoying this new- ish adventure and the students are excited to harvest the honey.  And so far, I’ve only been stung once!  Through a glove!

Notice this little bee has a collection of yellow on her legs. This little worker bee has been busy collecting pollen which she will take back to her hive. She travels up to 3 miles from her hive. And she is pretty speedy going up to 20 miles per hour!