Of lawnmowers and ratchet straps 17 May 2011
On Sunday we introduced the hives to the concept of lawn mowing with some trepidation. My reading had led me to caution and an understanding that the bees might object to a large petrol driven object being pushed around by a larger food fuelled and sweating object. (Clearly size is from a bee’s perspective, Mr C having the physique of a racing snake.)
So we started with care, I watched the bees from a safeish distance as the lawn mower gradually progressed up the lawn. (NB ‘lawn’, a weed infested but short green area within the larger weed infested and longer areas affectionately known as ‘borders’). Clearly either the bees were indoors watching daytime TV, had all gone out to a bee party, or they just couldn’t be bothered to do more than watch with vague interest as Mr C sweated past.
OK, so if they are disinterested in lawn mowing, why are they suddenly interested in the greenhouse and the quieter pursuit of potting up tomatoes?
So lesson 1 – introduce bees to lawn mowers with caution.
Lesson 2 – the humble ratchet strap. Ideal to ensure that the hive remains together in wind or if bumped into by animals. I thought ratchet straps might replace the current arrangement of cast iron parasol stands placed on the tops of the hives.
It is now two weeks on and I am still unable to properly do up a ratchet strap around a hive. We are still on cast iron weights. Despite a quick lesson from the bee equipment guy at the HBKA weekend workshop, I still fail in the ratchet arena.
May 17th, 2011
Topic: General Tags: None
