The Backstory

Who can say how perfectly rational, busy people come to get involved in the apiary sciences? My buddy, Jason, has always been tied firmly to the land. He was at one time a chef, known for using ingredients from his land in his dishes. So, his involvement makes sense--he is a natural fit. 

As for me, my wife met a man who is a member of the East Texas Beekeepers Association. We watched a couple of beekeeping documentaries on Netflix, and she decided that I needed to become a beekeeper. 

Believe it or not, I have been involved in more elaborate undertakings at the behest of the fairer sex. 

Jason and I signed up for a introductory beekeeping class, where we were able to learn a bit from well-established beekeepers, like Dick Counts, and were provided hive materials and ultimately bees. 

The class took place on one Saturday morning each month from January through May. Class consisted of Mr. Counts explaining a concept, using our textbook as a reference, taking questions from class members, and then breaking off to make hive boxes and frames. Ultimately, we ended up picking up supers full of brood and a queen, and viola! We were beekeepers! 

This blog is going to be a chronicle of this first season--we will use it as a reference for our future selves, and hopefully other newby keepers will come to see that they are not alone in their adventures. 

Making frames, February 2016

This form is a machine that kills fascists makes frames

Mr. Counts demonstrates how to reduce or enlarge the entrance to a hive as the seasons change.