Monthly Archives: May 2024

No dig diary, 9th May 2024

Posted on May 9, 2024 by james

I spent pretty much all day in the veg plot today. There’s so much to catch up on now the weather seems to be improving, at least until next week. I’ve had enough of weeding for the moment despite being … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 5th May 2023: Demaree boards

Posted on May 8, 2024 by james

I thought I’d try the Demaree method for swarm management this year, so I made up a couple of boards to help. They go above the supers, under the upper brood box, so the arrangement from bottom to top might … Continue reading →

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First hornet of the season

Posted on May 8, 2024 by james

I reckon they’ve been about for a few days now because I was “buzzed” by what sounded like one when I was painting bait hives on Monday, but today I actually saw a hornet flying in the garden. I think … Continue reading →

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A new beekeeping toy

Posted on May 8, 2024 by james

For me, this makes a lot of sense rather than having to rely on gas heating or lugging a battery to all of my hives. I’ve wanted one for a while, but asked for contributions to the cost for my … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 8th May 2024: Weeding — the gift that keeps on giving

Posted on May 8, 2024 by james

I’m still at it. Another bed in the main veggie plot done today, plus most of the strawberry bed, one of the raspberry beds and the flower beds. It’s really getting a bit tedious now, but at least I’m over … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 3rd May 2023: That is quite disgusting

Posted on May 7, 2024 by james

Our digger started running oddly, dying when the throttle was opened, but idling quite happily. At first I couldn’t work it out, but decided that perhaps an air and fuel filter replacement might be a good start. The air filter … Continue reading →

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First swarm of the season

Posted on May 7, 2024 by james

Kind of… I received a message this afternoon saying that there was a large swarm by the road in our nearest town. I didn’t see the message immediately (I was fighting weeds at the time), but when I asked about … Continue reading →

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More bait hive painting

Posted on May 7, 2024 by james

I’ve almost completed painting my bait hive brood boxes now. At least, I thought I had: six of them. I was sorting through them in the apiary after the bees had gone to bed this evening and found at least … Continue reading →

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No dig diary, 7th May 2024: More weeding

Posted on May 7, 2024 by james

I swear I don’t know how they grow so fast. This is the third time I’ve had to week the plot this year! It was slow progress, but I got another bed done today, including removing leeks and volunteer potatoes. … Continue reading →

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Memory Lane, 29th April 2023: Sycamore in flower

Posted on May 6, 2024 by james

When this happens I have to fight the need to go and check all the hives in my apiary to make sure they’re not swarming. Once the sycamore starts flowering they go crazy for it and the volume of their … Continue reading →

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