Category Archives: Smallholding

My First Polystyrene Hive

Posted on January 12, 2012 by james

Abelo Beekeeping Equipment sell both National and Langstroth polystyrene hives. I believe they source them from Lyson in Poland. Unfortunately their current batch of National hive bodies have incorrect spacing between the frame sides and the walls, and between the … Continue reading →

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The New Home Apiary

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

Plans the for current apiary space mean that this year my hives must move. Next to the hives I took over this year (on a bit of land belonging to a neighbouring farmer) we have a scabby patch of ground … Continue reading →

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Beekeeping Plans for 2012

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

During the course of 2011 I took over a number of hives from other local beekeepers wanting to reduce the number they had. Four colonies that I took on at the start of the year were at a nearby farm, … Continue reading →

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Home-built Honey-warming Cabinet

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

I have about 90kg of oilseed rape honey that has solidified and obviously before I can turn it into soft-set honey I need to melt it again. Warming cabinets are far from cheap to buy and it’s not exactly hard … Continue reading →

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Varroa Treatment with Oxalic Acid

Posted on January 10, 2012 by james

On Sunday I treated my bees with oxalic acid as part of my varroa mite management. The general idea is to pick a time close to Christmas or New Year when there is hopefully no brood in the hive and … Continue reading →

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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 →

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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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New Life…

Posted on September 19, 2011 by james

Our chickens are kept in large fenced runs (to keep out the foxes) in the orchard with the trees providing some shade from the fierce heat of the British Summer. The birds are rotated around the pens giving them fresh … Continue reading →

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