Monthly Archives: January 2012

A home-made Ashforth-style feeder

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

I need around twenty feeders for my beehives this year. I’ve messed about with trays full of syrup on top of the crown board up until now, but I really need something a bit better. A few people recommended the … Continue reading →

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A home-made steam wax extractor

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

In those years where we have a proper summer (not since about 2006 now), I put “waste” beeswax and old combs into my solar extractor to melt down the wax. In 2011 we didn’t really get that much decent wax-melting … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee-keeping, Projects, Smallholding | 1 Comment

Polytunnel Chiles

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

Most years I try to grow a few different varieties of chile in the polytunnel. Jalapenos are always on the list so we can pickle them for use on pizzas, in fajitas and tacos and suchlike. 2011 hasn’t exactly been … Continue reading →

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Harlequin ladybirds by the thousand

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

The Harlequin ladybird appears to be moving into the south west of the UK in huge numbers now, having been fairly rare only five years ago. As the summer ends the adult ladybirds find somewhere to overwinter and apparently produce … Continue reading →

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Odd cloud effect

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

I looked out of my office window the other day and saw this: No idea what caused it. Looks like an aircraft contrail in reverse. Not something I’ve ever noticed before.

Posted in Random | 4 Comments