Splitting Hairs...I mean Hives.

This is our resident Bee Charmer, Allana Marie age 9.

 

 

You know its her and not an imposter by the XS (extra small) stamp on her glove.

Like most children she was a bit afraid of the buzzing insects and so instead of teaching her to RUN as I've seen adults do when a child is approached by a bee we did the opposite...encouraged her to get right in the middle of them, with the proper outfit of course.

 

This is her second summer of helping her papa with bee responsibilities. The other day they checked on the hive on our farm and found plenty of bees and honey, enough to support another hive so they "split" this one into two.No saws required.

 

First step, of course is gearing up in proper attire then we smoke a little grass. 

 

 

FOR THE BEES!   It calms them. Bees are funny, seems just the wind blowing the wrong way can agitate them.

 

I can relate.

 

Then off with their heads. Removing the tops of the hives is the only way to really see what's been going on lately. Not unlike snooping in your teenage child's dresser drawers. 

 

 

Oh Look ! Lots of bees and plenty of honey. as evidenced by the burr comb they built.

 

 

 More than enough to split the one hive into two hives.

 

 

 

 

Looks like raw honey will once again be in our farm store in just a couple weeks.