I am having a difficult time........

BeeHopper · November 30, 2008, 04:42:23 PM

...adjusting to another off-season, not being able to spend time with the thousands of Honey bees, I miss the hum of the thousands that buzz, I miss the orientation flights, I miss the landings, I just miss watching what bees do.
How do you deal with the " Withdrawal " :'(

johnnybigfish · November 30, 2008, 05:01:18 PM

I spend my time in here!

your friend,
john

hollybees · November 30, 2008, 05:11:25 PM

Easy Beehopper, It will bee here before you know it.
Get a stethoscope and go out and listen to them....I just use my ear, but wouldn't that be cool!

Hang in there.....

annette · November 30, 2008, 09:48:35 PM

It must be hard for you. I do not have to deal with that because we have warmer days in between all the cold ones, I usually get to see the bees flying around every once in a while. But I truly love those orientation flights that make my heart sing.

Cindi · November 30, 2008, 10:35:53 PM

Beehopper, I know that feeling. We are in the winter clustering now, the bees probably won't come out very much at all until around the end of January. They may poke out a little bit and do extremely short cleansing flights, or death flights, there will be old bees that have to go. But I don't expect to see them very often.

THis is the time to think of the things that you have learned throughout the past year. The time to recharge your batteries for that busy season, that we all know will come. It is time of missing the bees, I know. Many of us feel as you do. We divert our attention to other things, like this forum, hee, hee. We will keep you company, read, study more and more about the bees, it is a calming time of year, a time for hibernation within our warm homes. You will get through this difficult time, hee, hee, you will see. Have a wonderful and great day, health. Cindi

JP · November 30, 2008, 10:57:11 PM

The only difference I see this time of year are less bees as our queens don't lay as much or at all after a certain point. Our bees don't have to cluster for extended periods and I get to see them often, especially on warm up days, my speaker box bees must be laying some cause I did see some orientating flights last week and my nucs are consistently active.

Plus I am enjoying a break from all the cutouts. Like others said, before you know it spring will be upon us. In February our bees start gearing up for reproductive swarming which starts in March, this yr I got calls March 1st.

Just enjoy the break with family and friends, and football!

...JP

Sean Kelly · November 30, 2008, 11:47:23 PM

I hear ya, it sucks in the off season. But it's not that bad if you can preoccupy yourself with other bee related projects:

Read lots! My favorite book to read is, "Langstroth's The Hive & The Honeybee: The Classic Beekeeper's Manual". It's a reprint of the original from 150 years ago. It's really interesting to see how they did things back then and how Langstroth, being a minister, compares the science of keeping honeybees to creation and religion, something you don't see much of in today's sciences.

Another awesome book to read is, "Letters from the Hive: An Intimate History of Bees, Honey, and Humankind" by Stephen Buchmann. It's a non-scientific look at the history of beekeeping in all cultures. It's a hard one to put down. Found it really fascinating how ancient Mayan beekeepers were treated like royalty and that their bees were treated even better!

Another thing to do is get your equipment organized. If you're like me, after the season's over my stuff is scattered all throughout my shed. There are things to get fixed, painted, or replaced.

Now is also the time to put together new hive bodies, frames, etc. Wooden ware takes forever to assemble and it sucks for the rest of the family when you're pounding nails at 3am at the last minute cause your packaged bees will be here tomorrow (like I did last year).

Join a local beekeeper's club! I know I've been neglecting my club, but they are a great place to get info and support. Our club offers classes which is awesome to further your studies!

Not hearing the buzz in your back yard sucks, but that buzz is still in your heart. Soon it will be spring and if you spent your winters studying and preparing, you'll be that much more of a better beekeeper!

Blessings,

Sean Kelly

mlewis48 · December 01, 2008, 01:38:26 AM

I feel your pain! I spend most of my time in the woodshop making new boxes, putting frames together, and the list goes on & on. I put 50 med. supers & 200 frames together today. But, nothing takes the place of the bees buzzing around your head and the smells coming out of the hives. It won't be long before the Spring flow starts and we will wish we had some down time!!
Good Luck,
Marc

BeeHopper · December 01, 2008, 10:12:47 AM

You Beeks are an Inspiration, Thanks. :-D I see now that we all share the same thoughts and feelings in the OFF season.

BH :)

contactme_11 · December 01, 2008, 12:49:33 PM

I build new wooden wares, paint all the stuff I'll need next season (usually don't have time to do a good job in season), read, and create a game plan for next year...

Scadsobees · December 01, 2008, 04:46:55 PM

I used to use the off season to build wooden wear. Now that that is done I'm relegated to actually spending time with my family :roll:

And that is just great! I always look forward to downtime in the winter without all the "stuff" to do.

Brian D. Bray · December 01, 2008, 07:40:47 PM

Quote from: contactme_11 on December 01, 2008, 12:49:33 PM
I build new wooden wares, paint all the stuff I'll need next season (usually don't have time to do a good job in season), read, and create a game plan for next year...

Exactly, there is no off season or down time in beekeeping. While bees take their winter nap the keeper is busy building new equipment and fixing what broke, painting, etc. If it weren't for winter none of us could keep up with the bees needs.

BeeHopper · December 02, 2008, 04:42:08 PM

Quote from: Brian D. Bray on December 01, 2008, 07:40:47 PM
Quote from: contactme_11 on December 01, 2008, 12:49:33 PM
I build new wooden wares, paint all the stuff I'll need next season (usually don't have time to do a good job in season), read, and create a game plan for next year...

Exactly, there is no off season or down time in beekeeping. While bees take their winter nap the keeper is busy building new equipment and fixing what broke, painting, etc. If it weren't for winter none of us could keep up with the bees needs.

Actually, I have no hives to make, paint nor fix, I have reached my max of 15 hives unless I find a second yard and some more disposable income. :)

Brian D. Bray · December 02, 2008, 08:52:17 PM

And you have 5 supers plus brood boxes per hive, sufficient extra to catch and sell swarms with, and enough of every other concieveable piece of equpment that you have no needs? How about building and experimenting with an OB or TBH?
A beekeeper can always find something to do for his bees.

BjornBee · December 03, 2008, 09:57:13 AM

It's a double edged sword. I miss the bees, but know this is the time to spend with family, spend time doing other projects, and enjoying something other than bees. It's one of the reasons I love the bees business in the model I have created. April through July....12 hours a day in the yards. Aug-Sep-Oct....less time. The rest of the year, it allows me to set my own schedule. I know I'm talking to beekeepers here, but reality is that there is so many other things to experience in life, and bees can be so consuming, that sometimes stepping back from the bees for awhile is a good thing.

Now if you excuse me, I'll be downstairs for the next couple hours looking at the observation hive..... :-D

sean · December 03, 2008, 11:51:28 AM

Quote from: BeeHopper on November 30, 2008, 04:42:23 PM
...adjusting to another off-season, not being able to spend time with the thousands of Honey bees, I miss the hum of the thousands that buzz, I miss the orientation flights, I miss the landings, I just miss watching what bees do.
How do you deal with the " Withdrawal " :'(

I have the solution. you come here. I get some help and you have no withdrawal. :-D

Cindi · December 03, 2008, 11:55:38 AM

Sean, do you get a "bee shut down" in the wintertime? I am curious about your climate down there? I am thinking that you have like our summertime temps down there? If you have already told us, please forgive me for forgetting, beautiful, most wonderful days and life, and health. Cindi

sean · December 05, 2008, 04:14:49 PM

Quote from: Cindi on December 03, 2008, 11:55:38 AM
Sean, do you get a "bee shut down" in the wintertime? I am curious about your climate down there? I am thinking that you have like our summertime temps down there? If you have already told us, please forgive me for forgetting, beautiful, most wonderful days and life, and health. Cindi

no bee shutdown, brood all year round, honey most of the year although that does slow down between july and november depending on rainfall.