Rick, Mason Bee Keeper
Mann Lake is awesome. I have ordered two biggish orders from them- and they have been super quick, well priced, and easy to talk to. Free shipping. No tax. Good website. And responsive. I ordered $1000 worth of equipment a few weeks ago- some of which was backordered (bad time to order- I don't blame them for being out of supers), but then it came immediately when it was ready- by Fed Ex, in heavy, well packed boxes. And now there is a mountain of it in my shop.
I am behind the eight ball in getting these supers on my hives- I feel oblidged to add wax to all the foundation (I use black plastic, exclusively), and that takes time to do.
I took a white board, and started in with dry erase pens to make a list of all the hives I have, where they were, and what they needed. And where they came from, new queen, old queen. Because I have more than I can actually handle- but the fact it, its not that many. And all sorts of people have 100s. And pros have 1000s. Why can't I manage 20?
In early Spring, I felt pretty good- and ordered 6 more hives. Which I now have. And then there were 4 swarms- and I am sure more to come- and so it all adds up and then I have 14 then 18 and now 22.
My friend Jim said it got to be too much work over ten. And more of a job and less fun, But then again, he's got a super full plate, a teacher, with acreage and animals and lawns to mow, and kids. I have a small cat, and a scratched up car, and no kids, and a tiny lawn, and actually, a pretty simple life. A small carbon footprint, actually, Except for the carbon in my actual footprints. Or feet. But really- I did not go forth and propagate, or doing anything with motors much, and don't really care how warm the house is. So- I have credit in the footprint department. Which is not the point- the point was- I have time to handle this many hives, and it has to be way easier than kids. If I had 22 kids, I'd probably have a white board too, and put their birthdays on it. Is that what people do?
One new hive is going south. And I actually had a disturbing sleep because of it- just guilt. I KILLED THEM- but I figured I wasn't watching when the queen popped out of her cage- and... well, its complicated. Maybe she flew off, No queen- no direction, no real reason to do a damn thing. Which is what they were doing, if not doing anything is doing something.
So I went back to check a day later- and there was a kid named Rick there, with his mother, who's accent I did not know- but Rick was awesome. At the dairy to take care of cows. Lived in the suburban houses across the street. Shook my hand. Introduced himself. Has mason bees. Asked me- point blank: " so why do you keep your bees here?" Barely came up to my elbows. And we stood in the cold afternoon- with the wind blowing across from Cherry Valley- and not a hint of a a flower anywhere- and I secretly thought: OMG, I have no idea, this is really a bad place!", but instead said, using my hands to make it seem more factual, "Well Rick, I think there are flowers up the valley, and there is Maple, and in awhile, blackberry....". But really- I had no idea. But pretty much would sign up to fund Rick's education as he seems to be going in the right direction. And" already has Mason bees".
There is an exclusive tribe of people- and is not small- who's imagination is sparked by animals and wildness and that there are other creatures on the earth. And I never did much with that feeling- but have it - and when I see it in a kid- its pretty powerful.
I am behind the eight ball in getting these supers on my hives- I feel oblidged to add wax to all the foundation (I use black plastic, exclusively), and that takes time to do.
I took a white board, and started in with dry erase pens to make a list of all the hives I have, where they were, and what they needed. And where they came from, new queen, old queen. Because I have more than I can actually handle- but the fact it, its not that many. And all sorts of people have 100s. And pros have 1000s. Why can't I manage 20?
In early Spring, I felt pretty good- and ordered 6 more hives. Which I now have. And then there were 4 swarms- and I am sure more to come- and so it all adds up and then I have 14 then 18 and now 22.
My friend Jim said it got to be too much work over ten. And more of a job and less fun, But then again, he's got a super full plate, a teacher, with acreage and animals and lawns to mow, and kids. I have a small cat, and a scratched up car, and no kids, and a tiny lawn, and actually, a pretty simple life. A small carbon footprint, actually, Except for the carbon in my actual footprints. Or feet. But really- I did not go forth and propagate, or doing anything with motors much, and don't really care how warm the house is. So- I have credit in the footprint department. Which is not the point- the point was- I have time to handle this many hives, and it has to be way easier than kids. If I had 22 kids, I'd probably have a white board too, and put their birthdays on it. Is that what people do?
One new hive is going south. And I actually had a disturbing sleep because of it- just guilt. I KILLED THEM- but I figured I wasn't watching when the queen popped out of her cage- and... well, its complicated. Maybe she flew off, No queen- no direction, no real reason to do a damn thing. Which is what they were doing, if not doing anything is doing something.
So I went back to check a day later- and there was a kid named Rick there, with his mother, who's accent I did not know- but Rick was awesome. At the dairy to take care of cows. Lived in the suburban houses across the street. Shook my hand. Introduced himself. Has mason bees. Asked me- point blank: " so why do you keep your bees here?" Barely came up to my elbows. And we stood in the cold afternoon- with the wind blowing across from Cherry Valley- and not a hint of a a flower anywhere- and I secretly thought: OMG, I have no idea, this is really a bad place!", but instead said, using my hands to make it seem more factual, "Well Rick, I think there are flowers up the valley, and there is Maple, and in awhile, blackberry....". But really- I had no idea. But pretty much would sign up to fund Rick's education as he seems to be going in the right direction. And" already has Mason bees".
There is an exclusive tribe of people- and is not small- who's imagination is sparked by animals and wildness and that there are other creatures on the earth. And I never did much with that feeling- but have it - and when I see it in a kid- its pretty powerful.
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