We officially have an apiary... because we officially have bees. A big thank you to Keith and Wendy who generously gave Trevor a nuc (a starter bee "nucleus"). See the bees by the entrance on the bottom front?
- Sarah
Our adventures in gardening, wool rabbits, chickens, and beekeeping on a quarter-acre
Saturday, July 30, 2011
It's a real apiary!
We officially have an apiary... because we officially have bees. A big thank you to Keith and Wendy who generously gave Trevor a nuc (a starter bee "nucleus"). See the bees by the entrance on the bottom front?
- Sarah
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Part-Time Free-Range Chickens
While it's not technically an "eggery" yet, I thought I would give a little update on our feathered friends. Unfortunately we are not able to let the girls free-range all the time because of the local predators, but they do get their time in. We have to lookout for: house cats, feral cats, mountain lions, stray dogs, raccoons, bob cats, hawks, and who knows what else!
By the way... They love finding crickets in the field and playing "tag".
- Sarah
The Hive is Here!
Trevor received his bee hive kit in the mail Wednesday from Miller Bee Supply. The beginners kit comes with just about everything you need to get started: hive body parts, hive super parts, ten frames for the body, ten frames for the super, wax foundations for all frames, nails for assembly, hive tops, smoker, smoker fuel, Beekeeping DVD, bee brush, hive tool, hat and veil, gloves, screen bottom board, entrance reducer, and entrance feeder. We also bought a queen excluder for later.
Good deal!
Let me tell you that while the assembly itself is easy, it sure is time consuming. Especially when it comes down to putting together all of those wax frames. Ten for the hive body and another ten for the honey super. Arg!
And of course our daughter felt the need to sit right next to the hive. Practically ON the hive... You know, just incase the bees need a welcoming party.
- Sarah
Deluxe Chicken Ark :: part 3
Finished run with gate.
Finished back complete with door and lock.
Inside view of the roost going from triangle front to triangle back.
Inside view of the sliding door.
Our younger chickens on their outside roosting branch.
The hen house door pulley system. Just pull the rope to open and hang it on the screw. Let the rope off the screw to close the door.
It's as easy as 1, 2, 3! When the door is open you see the red comb. When the door is closed, it reveals a friendly chicken! Ta da!
- Sarah
Monday, July 18, 2011
Book Review :: Modern Homestead
Book Review :: Modern Homestead: Grow, Raise, Create by Renee Wilkinson
This book is more of a compilation of summaries of a few things that can be done to start your homesteading efforts. Unfortunately, none of the chapters go into detail on any one subject.
It also seems a little off balance. The book begins with lots of ideas on homesteading in small rented spaces, but then has a whole section devoted to raising goats. If your focus is renters, why devote so many pages to an animal most renters can only dream of having?
I also found that the first chapter a little irrelevant. It is all about what renters can do in small spaces and how to organize community gardens.
Obviously if you bought this book you are interested in homesteading so you will be trying everything that you possibly can in whatever space you have. I'm not sure most people need to read thirty pages worth of different combinations and capabilities.
This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book however. I just wouldn't have spent $30 on it.
I did have a good time seeing the author's humor in print and the book was very easy to read. I was also inspired to keep goats myself from the chapter on animals. The sections on chickens, ducks, and bees were also very informative and helpful for those starting out with our winged friends. I appreciated listings of common and recommended breeds for goats, chickens, and ducks.
Being that I know little to nothing about canning and preserving, I enjoyed reading the chapter that covered the different methods. It did, however, leave me wanting more on this subject. I think the unnecessary thirty pages on community gardening could have been used for this much more useful purpose.
All in all, it's a great book for people who don't know if they are well suited for "homesteading", but maybe not for someone who has already gotten started. It will still have a place on my bookshelf.
- Sarah
This book is more of a compilation of summaries of a few things that can be done to start your homesteading efforts. Unfortunately, none of the chapters go into detail on any one subject.
It also seems a little off balance. The book begins with lots of ideas on homesteading in small rented spaces, but then has a whole section devoted to raising goats. If your focus is renters, why devote so many pages to an animal most renters can only dream of having?
I also found that the first chapter a little irrelevant. It is all about what renters can do in small spaces and how to organize community gardens.
Obviously if you bought this book you are interested in homesteading so you will be trying everything that you possibly can in whatever space you have. I'm not sure most people need to read thirty pages worth of different combinations and capabilities.
This is not to say that I didn't enjoy the book however. I just wouldn't have spent $30 on it.
I did have a good time seeing the author's humor in print and the book was very easy to read. I was also inspired to keep goats myself from the chapter on animals. The sections on chickens, ducks, and bees were also very informative and helpful for those starting out with our winged friends. I appreciated listings of common and recommended breeds for goats, chickens, and ducks.
Being that I know little to nothing about canning and preserving, I enjoyed reading the chapter that covered the different methods. It did, however, leave me wanting more on this subject. I think the unnecessary thirty pages on community gardening could have been used for this much more useful purpose.
All in all, it's a great book for people who don't know if they are well suited for "homesteading", but maybe not for someone who has already gotten started. It will still have a place on my bookshelf.
- Sarah
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