I am officially a beekeeper!!! What?

[annette]

Now I know this is an odd title as I have been keeping bees since 2006. The first year I would not even allow anyone to call me a beekeeper as I felt I had to "prove" that I could keep the bees alive.

The second year I finally gave myself permission to announce that I am a beekeeper.

Well this week is the week I truly feel like a beekeeper. My phone has been ringing so much with swarm calls and cutouts.

So far I helped save a hive from a 300 year old oak tree that was felled. These are gentle bees and I am happy to have them.
I caught a swarm last night in a vineyard.
I am going to get bees out of a compost bin (those free standing ones that turn) on Tuesday
I am going to get a swarm that decided to set up housekeeping in a bush at someone's house.
2 weeks ago helped capture a swarm 15 feet up a tree.

It has been never ending all of a sudden. This is the latest in the year I have ever seen so many swarm calls and I keep wondering what the bees are doing, but they must know something I don't.

Anyway, I have been eating and breathing bees. Thinking about nothing but bees. Total insanity!!
Calling and talking to other beekeepers. It has been very intense. I am hearing buzzing in my head even when I am not around them.

I am very happy to be doing all this, but also very exhausted.

It is very addicting and the more I do this, the more I want to do this. I just want more and more bees.

Just wanted to share what I have been up to.

Annette

[bee-nuts]

Sounds like you found your true calling.  If your exhausted and are still wanting more, you know you like what you are doing.  I hope you can keep up with equipment costs.  I have been struggling to keep up.  I finally am a bit ahead of the game now.  Thankfully I have not had the calls for swarms that I was begging for last year.

[JP]

Enjoy the rush Annette!


...JP

[TwoHoneys]

I eventually get a little bit bored with "hobbies." I don't even like the word. But I don't think that's gonna happen with the bees...and your post sort of affirms my gut feeling. Thanks, Beekeeper Annette.

Liz

[annette]

Sounds like you found your true calling.  If your exhausted and are still wanting more, you know you like what you are doing.  I hope you can keep up with equipment costs.  I have been struggling to keep up.  I finally am a bit ahead of the game now.  Thankfully I have not had the calls for swarms that I was begging for last year.

Actually, I have been sharing the bees with others so I am doing ok for now. If I myself want to keep any more for me, well I may have to start combining hives. The next 2 cutouts will go to my friend Shawna, who is the project coordinator for the 4H club here in Placerville. I have been teaching beekeeping to the club and got Shawna started with 2 hives.  Now she wants more and so the next few catches will go to her.

I can't imagine these call continuing much longer. Everything drys up here by July.

[Scadsobees]

Ha!  I had a similar thing happen to me.  I couldn't handle all that and life, so I had to put my name lower on the list on ebeehoney.com, especially since the "local" agricultural extension office was using that for reference... :roll:

Has been much quieter since....  :)