The Mighty Honeybee. Does she know the power she holds? Driven by the instinct of survival and the greater good of the hive, she literally flies until her wings are shredded and expires crawling on the ground. A lowly demise for a noble creature. In her short few weeks of life she has pollinated millions of plants, in fact 1/3 of the plants that produce the food we eat. She has helped produce pounds of honey for our enjoyment and beeswax for lip balms, soaps, candles and lotions. With so much impact on our world it's no wonder images of the honey bee have been found since the beginning of civilization.
This Spring I set up six hives. Three at UrbanTerra and three on Vashon Island, Wa. at Dragon's Head Cider where Wes and Laura Cherry grow fields of apples destined for fermentation. My husband and I have planted our fair share of those apple trees and now our bees will pollinate them.
I installed the hives at UrbanTerra first. I inspected the queen for health, placed her in the hive and then dumped in the workers. They tumbled into their new home and went straight to work. They were created for that purpose.
In just two days after being gathered into their package for shipping comb building began around the queen's cage in preparation for her laying. Little did they know that the wire box was not their permanent home. Isn't this a great visual for "Busy as a Bee"?
The following morning we headed west to catch the ferry to Vashon Island to install the prepared hives at Dragon's Head Cider. It was a brilliant Puget Sound day!
The still snow-laden Olympic Mountain range soared above the Sound waters and the unusually warm spring air was welcoming and refreshing.
This ferry was headed towards Downtown Seattle. The Puget Sound ferry system allows commuters to live on the offshore islands yet only be a few minutes from their offices in the bustling city. Island life is a sanctuary and reprieve from the daily grind.
Two ferries run between Fauntleroy, Vashon, and Southworth making the trip less than 30 minutes from West Seattle. From UrbanTerra to Vashon including a wait in the ferry line is usually only around 1 hour if my timing is right. Once I'm done working the bees I head out to explore the island's farms, beaches, sights, restaurants and shops. Soon I'll be posting about touring Vashon Island on my travel blog. www.expressionstravel.blogspot.com
Meet Wes. A young man with a big dream that he's living! Yes, we are drinking his lovely cider and enjoying one of the most beautiful Springs I've experienced in years strolling among his flowing orchards. Creating a symbiotic relationship with a local company who shares similar environmental ideologies is an ideal situation. Responsible farming that benefits local food producers that serve our communities creates a full circle of healthy living. Fabulous honey, fabulous cider.
I have now taken on the moniker "Bee Whisperer" by my husband. It's a pet name by which he bestows his complete approval and admiration for my activity as beekeeper. The only time I don a coat and veil is during a full inspection or if I have to get into the hive during inclement weather when the bees will be very unhappy of my intrusion. He finds that amazing and thinks that I have some special calming vibrations that the bees can perceive. I think it's because my bees are happy and content and I know when to leave them alone!
The hives at Dragon's Head are in an open situation and the entrances face east to capture the first rays of the sun. The trees to the north will give protection form cold north winds in the winter. Wes tilled up the grass underneath the hives and sowed wild flowers to make the bees happy and create a picturesque scene from the house.
My friend, Aaron Russell, is filming a documentary video for my website. He has amazing talent and spent the entire day with us documenting the installment and interviewing me about beekeeping and UrbanTerra. These things take time and I am busting at the seams to see the finished product.
Beekeeping is an integral part of a complete urban farm and a smart addition to a lifestyle of self-reliant living. If you live in the Seattle area attend my Natural Beekeeping presentation at Olson Kundig Architect's "DabbleLab" in Pioneer Square located at Jackson and Occidental next to Starbucks. It will be held at the lunch hour on May 22nd from 11am to 1pm. You can sign up for the class or just drop in.
Check back soon for more UrbanTerra Lifestyle.
