Tonight, I attend beekeeping school. My husband paid for our entire family to go. We'll be making a hive and learning all about beekeeping. It goes on tomorrow, too. I'm so excited!
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I admit, I'm afraid of bees.
I've never been stung, but I have, over the years, developed a reaction to honey and beeswax. I also have allergic reactions to spider and ant bites.
I prefer to stay un-stung.
Posted by scottneb (Member # 676) on :
There was one night I couldn't sleep and stayed up watching a 'How to...' show on beekeeping. I was hooked and was very sad when I found that it was a two-part show and PBS didn't run the second part afterwards.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
BEEKEEPING! Cool I am fascinating by beekeeping since I read Secret Life of Bees. I am still scared of the things, but they are tiny little alchemists. What's it like? I got stung one time and I never want to be stung again.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
Good for you, Jennie!
I will now try to get the image of the movie "Killer Bees" out of my head, which terrified me in the 70's as a young girl.
Posted by KarlEd (Member # 571) on :
Where will you be keeping the bees? Do you have a large yard or farm?
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
We have a woods in the country, with field on one side. School starts tonight, so as of yet I know nothing.
I really want to learn to be a bee-charmer, and handle them without gloves. Wouldn't that be creepy and cool?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
Why would anyone make a hive when you can order them?
:shrug:
Good luck! (Hope they aren't having you make skoeps . . .)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Again, Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
We're making something with wood glue. I think it's for fun and because we don't get the bees until spring.
Posted by screechowl (Member # 2651) on :
quote: I really want to learn to be a bee-charmer, and handle them without gloves. Wouldn't that be creepy and cool?
I was always fascinated by my mother who could (and still can at 82) let a paper wasp crawl onto her finger so she could take it outside. Bee charming for sure.
Posted by T_Smith (Member # 3734) on :
Am I the only one with Andrew Lloyd Webber in their head because of this title?
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
My mind is clearer now. . . at last I can see where we all soon will BEEEEE!
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
Yes.
BEES!
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
owl, what's your mother's secret? Would she share it with another insect-lover like me?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Cool.
My grandpa was a beekeeper. He used smoke to dull them into a stupor when he had to move a hive.
You must chronicle your adventures!
Posted by Megan (Member # 5290) on :
T_Smith and Scott, me too!
what's the buzz, tell me what's-a-happenin', what's the buzz, tell me what's-a-happenin'...
Posted by Storm Saxon (Member # 3101) on :
You and my mom would get along really, really well, Jenny.
Have you ever tried making a butterfly garden or a bat house?
[ January 21, 2005, 04:20 PM: Message edited by: Storm Saxon ]
Posted by Shigosei (Member # 3831) on :
I'm scared of bees, too. I'm pretty sure it's a phobia given the extreme physiological reactions I have when I see them.
That's great that you are going to take a class! I think I remember you talking about having a way with insects, so I bet it will go well for you. What sort of flowers will you be using? I once had honey made from blackberry bushes. It was amazing.
Posted by screechowl (Member # 2651) on :
Jenny Gardener
She always said that the bee can tell when you are afraid or nervous. Maybe so. I never could bring myself to try it.
On the other hand, many times I have put my finger down for a moth or other insect to climb on and never given it a second thought. It is only when I knew the bug might bite or sting badly that I became nervous.
There is some philosophical observation one should make about this state of affairs, isn't there???
Posted by Jenny Gardener (Member # 903) on :
I found out so many things... We assembled our hives.
One thing I learned is that most beekeepers expect to get stung, but they just flick off the stingers and don't let it bother them. You have to know how to approach bees, how to work with them. And they're usually quite docile. I'm excited.
Too much information to share, but I'll answer questions from what little I know.
Posted by Lupus (Member # 6516) on :
*shudder* Things with stingers should not be able to fly. It just seems like cheating.
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I admit, I'm afraid of bees.![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
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