Beeks in 87106

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Comment by ecOasys on April 28, 2014 at 5:27pm

North Campus 'hood, smallish swarm, good line, up in apricot, I have ladder, moderately easy catch, 255 1933

Comment by ecOasys on April 28, 2014 at 4:23pm

Anyone have an empty hive ready for a swarm?

Comment by Aly Sanchez on April 14, 2014 at 7:35am

Hi all, I'm a former 87108 beekeeper but now joining your ranks. We have a topbar hive and live Santa Clara and Princeton area. The colony is actually from this neighborhood; my prior colony didn't overwinter but a swarm set up shop in the empty hive in spring of last year.

Comment by ecOasys on March 12, 2014 at 2:39pm

Hello Tom, You are closer to my GPS/ GIS mapping/ survey consultant, where I am going once or twice a month, typically 14-16:00 Thus.  Also to my primary collaborator at Idylewilde & Monroe, with whom I have been building hives, etc, on a more intermittent basis.  Perhaps we each could swing by to visit one another on a convenient day.  Patrik 255-1933

Comment by ecOasys on March 11, 2014 at 7:52pm

Hello all, I'll be happy to help, with some qualifications.  I must constrain my discretionary commitments to a 20 min walk or bike ride from Mountain & Girard.  Beyond that, I'll typically miss everything to which I can't arrange a ride and/ or take our toddler.   Perhaps we can create a map here showing the approximate locations, numbers, types, and practices for our hives.  Best, Patrik

Comment by ecOasys on March 6, 2014 at 9:54pm

Hello Mariel, I myself doubt one could lose bees here to cold: inadequate ventilation-moisture accumulation, working through their stores, weakening & death from combined insults, but not just frost.  A late hard frost might kill most all the fruit blossoms, but I notice my bees hell-bent away for something other than my dozens of blooming apricots & nanking cherry.  There's likely always something for them in the 'watered' parts of town.  You can check they have enough honey, some people give sugar water.  I myself don't harvest honey in the autumn, but when they're done with the old and putting up new in the spring. 

I'm not sure whose design we've been building, but we just use a table saw to split, cut, and bevel 2x4 for the bars.  It basic shop & extra caution, but no finicky moves.  I've never lost a comb which wasn't attached elsewhere to the box, or part of a cross-comb mess.  I typically only open the boxes when splitting or un-crossing. 

Comment by ecOasys on March 6, 2014 at 11:12am

I just got back from away project to all my apricots in bloom and bees very active.  I will soon be opening up to check on comb, queen, brood.  I have some honeycomb mess to put out for the weakest.  I aim to split all three colonies as soon as strong growth follows full bloom.  I need to build between one and seven new boxes. I'll probably be getting a veil soon.  Generally I leave my hives alone unless cross-combing, and I can see that through window.  Have a good season.

Comment by ecOasys on February 11, 2014 at 3:21pm

Welcome, for a few years a friend and I have been building hives, splitting packages and colonies, catching swarms, and working bees in North Campus and Fringecrest.  We've grown and crashed and recovered between zero and a dozen colonies among several sites.  We're certainly keen on expanding our cooperative efforts, though it's become ever harder to keep up our earlier level of commitment.  For example, I offered other newcomers to come by when I'd be cleaning out some cross-comb but ended up having to squeeze it in last minute before dawn and leaving town.  If someone else were to take initiative and seek specific contributions, it might be easier to engage.  Best, Patrik

Comment by ecOasys on October 30, 2013 at 7:05pm

Suits seem to be a personal preference sort of thing, and I haven't liked any I've tried or seen in action so far.  Therefore I had made do without, but, after receiving a headful of stings from a 'hot' swarm, started borrowing.  The utmost parameters may be how well one can manage in the heat, and whether one can get in and out and make it bee-tight alone.  

Comment by ecOasys on October 30, 2013 at 2:09pm

Just got back from extended overseas journeys and have some catching up/ settling in to do.  My bees need to be set up better for winter: I couldn't properly close one hive after clearing out cross-comb a couple of months ago, I'd like to check them all and shuffle bars, they're likely not to like it at all, so it'll be 'hot' work, I'll be borrowing a suit, do you have your own?  

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