Che Guebee Apiary: The swarming apiary

Friday, May 30, 2014

The swarming apiary

I have caught another swarm a few days ago :) Both swarms are very likely from my hives because each swarm was hanging on a tree near the apiary. Both swarm are settling nicely. They have already built a few combs and are very busy. Since last year the apiary has grown from 6 to 10 colonies.

The weather is glorious! Sunny 20'C with some wind. Bees are flying strongly and them Drones are buzzing loudly all over the place :) This is their mating season. So many Drones and so few Virgin Queens. Tough competition ;)

After catching those 2 swarms I ma more than certain that in the future I will only be catching swarms and will stop making man-made splits. They are absolutely no match to the natural swarm.

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What is Natural Beekeeping?

"Natural Beekeeping" is a concept, an idea which springs from a human mind and as such will differ from one person to another, from one culture to another, depending on our limited and conditioned perception about what it IS being a Honeybee. Since natural beekeeping is an idea and not the actuality it is not to be taken rigidly. Instead it is to be directly inspired by the Actuality. But let's avoid going too philosophical about it and let me simply describe how I see "natural beekeeping" benefiting honeybees (these are only guidelines not a dogma);

- free wax comb construction resulting in clean wax and various cell size

- bees overwinter on their own honey stores (feeding sugar syrup ONLY if absolutely necessary)

- lots of peace (low interference from the beekeepers part)

- treatment free (The only way to have a sustainable system of beekeeping is to stop treating, instead making splits from survivor colonies seems the most natural way to me)

- bees are allowed to raise as many Drones as needed (no drone culling)

- natural Queen selection resulting in the strongest Queen (no queen cell culling and only working with local Queens or my own)

- pesticide free bee zone and supporting organic farming (this is a global issue and must be dealt with locally first through environmental organisations and by buying and growing organic food/clothing, etc ...)

- expanding my apiary every year by making splits using Queen Cells from my own strong survivor colonies or catching local swarms. This is the best way to counteract winter losses.

- planting for the bees flowering trees, bushes and plants covering all seasons. Biodiversity is the best healer for the bees and all other creatures.

Natural Beekeeping

Friday, May 30, 2014

The swarming apiary

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Catching my very first Prime Swarm