About 4 weeks ago I took an introductory beekeeping course. It was a one day deal, and we didn't work any bees because it was January, but it was very informative. It was given by Jeane Hansen of the Dane County Beekeepers Association. Good stuff.
Then 2 weeks ago I went to Lapp's Bee Supply in the metropolis of Reeseville (no soliciting allowed) and bought a bunch of stuff and ordered 2 three pound packages of bees. The bees should come around the third week of April or so.
The bees will be living at the farm of my friends, Huck and Courtney. Last weekend, Lawton and I went out to their place to scope out potential apiary sites. Too much dang corn out there. Grow something else, farmers! Five hundred acres of clover and alfalfa from everyone!
This weekend I put the boxes together. Beekeepers usually call them bodies or supers. Anyway, I put them together. Fortunately they are all cut to the right size and shape so they go together pretty easily. I just had to nail them together. As the guy who took Home Ec instead of Shop classes in high school, I appreciated that. Also, they are made out of nice soft pine, so the nailing went well, too.
I'm starting out this year with 2 hives (which is why I ordered 2 packages of bees; I'm smart that way). I got a slightly modified 2 hive beginner set up from Lapp's. (I didn't want the head gear, full body suit, and big leather gloves. Hot, uncomfortable and hard to work in? Yeah, no thanks.) So that set up comes with, for each hive, two deep brood bodies and 1 medium honey super. So that, plus 2 bottom boards, are what I put together.
The nice woman at Lapp's, whose name I forgot to get, talked me into getting plastic frames. I'm sure lots of people, especially old-timers, would tell me I messed up, but they are super easy to use, cheap, and durable. And also, hey, why not. From what I can tell, about 80% of beekeeping is trying different things and seeing how it goes. Stay tuned, right? Zzzzz.
Anyway, here are some pictures:
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| This is where the magic happens, in the underground Bee Lair, deep below Wayne mansion. |
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| A bottom board just waiting to happen. |
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| Look, I successfully made 2 bottom boards! |
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| My first medium super with frames in... They fit, so I guess I did it right. |
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| A hive awaiting paint. And bees, at some point. |
Next week: painting the hives. Come back and watch paint dry!
