Dress for Success

The first item ordered for my beekeeping kit was a veil so that I can participate as Becca and Anna maintain their hives. As for clothing, Becca recommended purchasing an inexpensive and very large pair of scrub pants as the goal is large and loose. She modified one of her husband's large white dress shirts with a strip of Velcro down the front to prevent the bees from being able to sneak in between the buttons.

The first time I visited Becca and Anna's hives I was the photographer and my veil had not yet arrived. I was wearing short pants and a sleeveless shirt. I was about as bare as I could be! While not handling the frames myself, I did get right in there to observe and the bees were not concerned with us at all.

Anna and Becca were 'sugaring' their hives, which is one of the least invasive methods of controlling Varroa Mites (I'll write more on mites in another post). Sugaring encourages the tidy bees to clean one another and thus, aids in the removal of the mites. It was rather fun watching the white, sugar coated bees that look like little ghost-bees flying around us.

In a recent trip to town I picked up a pair of scrub pants. White was sold out so I selected light green. Light colors are best when working with bees so maybe they will think the bottom half of me is a shrub.

Beekeeping for Dummies

The first book added to my bee library is Beekeeping for Dummies by Howland Blackiston. Besides an easy read, the book explains everything... and I mean everything! Fascinating things such as how the queen's pheromones control the entire well-being of the colony and a day by day description of the life of the worker bee.

I was far enough into the book that I felt as though I recognized what I was viewing when the beekeeping co-workers, Becca and Anna, invited me along as they checked in on their hives. I was delighted to see the line up of faces of the worker bees as they observed us from between the tops of the frames! (Then it was time for a little smoke to disburse them.)

In my humble review, Beekeeping for Dummies earns 5 stars. For an absolute newbie this book covers just about everything one needs to know about beekeeping, complete with helpful tips, a beekeeper's checklist and helpful resources.

With Sincere Thanks

I cannot begin this adventure without expressing my gratitude to Karen Cooksey, President of the Association of Southern Maryland Beekeepers.

Looking to borrow a box in which to re-hive the swarm, Karen generously provided everything I would need to save the bees even though she was on her way to be with her daughter who was giving birth.

While the swarm had moved on by the time I returned, I'm sure this is the humble beginnings of a long relationship with Karen and the beekeepers of Southern Maryland.

The Birth of AccoBee

My interest in beekeeping started many years ago when I was in high school. A boyfriend's father kept bees and it was there I learned how gentle these creatures truly are and first tasted honey so light and wonderful. But we all well know that over time and circumstance we set aside certain desires to get on with the business of life. I satisfied my interest in bees to enjoying the time spent at an observation hive at local fairs.

This past spring two co-workers started their own hives and I was an eager student of their progression. Thanks to a summer swarm, I readily jumped at the opportunity to re-hive the bees guided with sage advice by another co-worker and her husband (who used to keep bees). Unfortunately, the swarm moved on before they could be captured but my mind was set!

I am to become a beekeeper!