The long-promised day is here! I've figured out (I think) how to use Rafflecopter, so we're going to have some fun!
On to the big question -- what's the prize???
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Pitcairn Island honey and Bee's Wraps |
First of all, there is a bottle of Pitcairn Island honey that my honey recently brought back from Fortnum & Mason. If you've ever read about the HMS Bounty (or watched a movie based on the story), you'll recall that Captain Bligh pushed his men to the edge, there was a big mutiny, and the mutineers escaped to a group of small islands in the South Pacific (Pitcairn Islands) where they hoped to live undetected by the British government which would have strung them up.
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Pitcairn Island honey label |
Some sources say that Pitcairn Island honey should be stored in the refrigerator once opened because it has a high moisture content and will ferment.
From http://www.beeswrap.com/collections/single-wraps/products/bees-wrap-single-medium |
The total prize value is approximately $50. U.S. and Canadian residents only, please. Follow the instructions below to enter. A more detailed explanation for how to log in to Rafflecopter is also available. This giveaway begins at 12:00 am, September 30, 2015, and it ends at 12:00 am, October 16, 2015.
I am new to bee keeping. I enjoy reading about your top bar experiences. Very interested in your insulated hive experiment.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: have you tried or considered a hinged bottom to facilitate inspection? Just read something about that. Thought that was an interesting idea. Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hi, Bob! Hope you have had a wonderful season with your bees!
DeleteMy first year, I had a hinged bottom with screen. I had read that it might help with overheating and pest control, but I didn't use it for inspections because I didn't feel like getting dirty crawling under the hives. Besides, there was usually a huge beard hanging under the screen, so I couldn't see anything anyway.
The following year, I ended up going to a solid bottom board because I felt that an open screened bottom actually increased bearding and attracted additional pests. That year, I didn't have any bearding issues or problems with pests. This year, two hives were bearding excessively in Augusts, so I opened top entrances for them, and that was extremely effective.
Good luck with your girls!
BTW -- make sure you sign into Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway! :-)
DeleteHi Julie, very interesting re: bearding. Thanks!
DeleteHI Julie,
ReplyDeleteI first started following your blog because the title caught my eye and then realized we live in the same state. Your experiences can be more compatible to mine compared to someone living in Florida. I love trying new things.
Oh, that's cool that we're in the same state! I definitely agree with you that it's often better to compare experiences with someone close by than with someone halfway around the world in a different Ag zone. Hope you'll share the results of your experiences!
DeleteBTW -- please, remember to log into rafflecopter to submit your entry!
I tried but somehow I couldn't get it to work. I will try again after reading todays post
DeleteI was able to enter! Guess I misunderstood.
DeleteHooray!
DeleteFound your blog recently while looking around for a fondant recipe....stayed way too long reading all your other posts instead. Very nice blog and very informative. Thanks for the shot at the cool prizes. : )
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words! Good luck at the prize! :-) BTW -- please, remember to log into rafflecopter to submit your entry!
DeleteReally enjoy reading your blog. I especially enjoy the random thoughts inserted in the posts and watching your thinking evolve over time as you work with your bees.
ReplyDeleteThis is my first year and I have 2 langs and 1 top bar (from Phil Chandler's plans that I purchased). I'm thinking of making my own top bar this winter with a bigger comb area (using Wyatt Mangum's plans) as I'd like to have top bars that match the length of the lang frames, and I think the bigger comb area would make things easier on the bees and the beekeeper. Enjoy.
Ah! Bees with eeb! I've been following your blog for awhile, and I have to tell you that I enjoy it tons!
DeleteMaking a TBH with bars that fit your Langs sounds smart. Hope you'll post updates on that when it's done. :-)
Thanks for the feedback & good luck!
The opportunity to build curved combs is proportional to top bar length. Also the compatibility is one way, TB gives up resources to Lang. Unless you are willing to trim comb from a Lang to fit it into the TBH, that is. My 2 cents.
DeleteGood points, HB! Though I suppose that if you put some bars into a Lang and remove them before the bees attach them to the walls, you could get some nice comb & brood that way.
DeleteI like fermented honey.
ReplyDeleteLOL! So do I, Steve, so do I! :-)
DeleteI want to win cause I have regular honey at home and i'd love to try something different
ReplyDeleteI love honey and I have never tried this brand. It looks really great!
ReplyDeleteI love honey and I have never tried this brand. It looks really great!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that the Pitcairn Islands had honey! Nor have I ever heard of having to refrigerate honey. Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteI had never heard of refrigerating honey before either, but through more reading, I've learned it's commonly done for tropical honeys. They're produced in such a moist, humid environment, that often they don't dehydrate enough. That adage about learning something new every day really is true! :-)
DeleteThat honey sounds amazing! I love finding new and obscure honeys to try out. The taste so much better than the ol' plastic bear.
ReplyDelete- Judith (j.rontal@gmail.com)
Totally agree. "Funny honey" from a plastic bear is the worst. :-(
DeleteThat honey sounds delectable! Great blog, Julie, I'm enjoying your posts and neglecting my chores doing so hahaha
ReplyDeleteHey, Gina! So glad to hear that someone actually reads this stuff! LOL! However, those chooks and bunnies won't take care of themselves! Time to hop to it! :-)
DeleteI too was first attracted by the name of the blog - how could it not be good? I enjoy the educational aspects of your posts (and your note-taking skills) as well as keeping up on how your princesses are doing. Always looking to taste some new type of honey!
ReplyDeleteWho doesn't love REAL honey?!
ReplyDelete