Installing Spring Bees 🐝
Now you bought your bee equipment, how do you get the bees inside? (Another post from our resident bee expert, Rosalind ❤️)
Our last bee post covered some advice on getting started with beekeeping. But now you bought your bee equipment, so how do you get the bees inside?
Back in late January, Homestead bought our equipment from our favorite bee supply company, Mann Lake. We unpacked it a month before our bees were arriving to air it out.
We bought a block of wax, melted it down, and liberally coated our new frames with the sweet-smelling, sticky, yellow wax.
You know how relators bake cookies in homes they are selling to give it that invitation to make a new home? This is the same concept but with bees and warm wax smell. Investing in this extra step also helps ensure even wax production on your frames. In a hive you are constantly lifting frames and having the wax evenly placed is very helpful.
When I was a new beekeeper, we didn’t wax our frames and had bumpy, uneven wax production by the bees on the plastic frames. The frames got stuck together, would drip honey all over the hive and created a very unfriendly beekeeper environment.
If I had just waxed my frames I could have avoided a whole summer of a difficult hive! Below is a photo. I made the choice never to make this mistake again.
There are a couple of ways to get bees for your new hive. You can purchase bees from Mann Lake that will arrive in the mail! Crazy to imagine, but that is an option. If you are lucky enough to have a bee club near you, someone will undoubtedly sell something we call NUC (nucleus) colonies. These colonies have been created by breaking apart some frames of bees with eggs from an existing, strong beehive and placing them in a very small hive without a queen bee. The bees will start making a queen from one of the eggs in the new NUC hive and, over time, will become their own independent hive.
We are lucky enough to know a local beekeeper who sells NUCs. We know his bees have good genetics, he practices good pest management practices, and they are good stock.
We then moved the NUC into place next to our newly minted equipment, side by side.
We then slowly transferred the bees into their new home. They loved the smells and decided to stick around! We supplied them with some sugar water in a feeder to give them an instant kickstart of food as the garden is only just starting to pop with flowers.
Here, you can see the bees at the entrance of the hive. They are fanning their wings and spreading the scent of the queen’s pheromones throughout the new hive to let everyone know, “Welcome to our new home.”
Now we are admiring them from afar and watching them forage and fly all day! The garden is bursting with bees. The timing was perfect—the fruit trees are just budding, the poppies are just bursting through, and so much pollen is being brought into the hives. With all things going to plan, we are hopeful for a modest honey harvest this fall.
Next update will cover inspecting them to see how they are growing and if any additional support is needed for them. Happy spring!
-Rosalind
Classes and Events
We are super excited to share the first of our 2025 Design Intensives with you all, in addition to our Homegrown Harvest & Herbal Magic series, there are so many ways to come out and join us for some great events!
2025 Design Intensives with Homestead Design Collective, Morningsun Herb Farm & Soul Food Farm
March 23, 2025 - The Fragrant Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangementat Morningsun Herb Farm in Vacaville, Ca 10am - 12:30pm
Immerse yourself in the world of scent and beauty with our Fragrant Garden Designclass! In this hands-on workshop, we’ll guide you through the essential aspects of creating a garden that delights the senses, with a focus on fragrance. You’ll learn how to design a space that is not only visually appealing but also rich in aromatic experiences.
What you’ll learn:
Design Principles: Discover how to design a fragrant garden that thrives in your environment, taking into account factors like light, space, and scent layering.
Plant Palette & Selection: Explore a variety of aromatic plants, including flowers, herbs, and shrubs, and learn how to select the best varieties for your garden's conditions.
Arranging for Fragrance: Understand how to arrange plants to maximize fragrance, whether it's by placing them near pathways, seating areas, or windows, ensuring an immersive experience.
April 13, 2025 The Cut Flower Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at Soul Food Farms in Vacaville, Ca 10am -12:30pm
Whether you’re looking to add a cutting garden to your existing landscape or start from scratch, this class will give you the tools to grow your own fresh flowers and create beautiful arrangements to enjoy in your home. Join us for a fun, informative, and creative gardening experience!
What you’ll learn:
Designing a Cut Flower Garden: Learn how to design a garden that prioritizes beauty, practicality, and a continuous supply of blooms. We’ll guide you through the best layouts for easy harvesting and maximizing visual impact.
Choosing Plants for Palette & Fragrance: Explore a variety of flowers and plants to create a harmonious color palette that suits your style. We’ll discuss how to select flowers for both visual appeal and fragrance, ensuring your garden is a sensory delight.
Arranging & Caring for Cut Flowers: Learn the art of flower arrangement, from simple bouquets to more elaborate designs. We’ll also cover essential care tips for extending the life of your cut flowers and keeping your garden thriving all season long.
May 21, 2025 Tea Garden: Design, Plants & Arrangement at a private garden in Lafayette, Ca 10am - 12:30pm
Step into the soothing world of tea with our Tea Garden Design class! This hands-on workshop will guide you through the process of creating your own tranquil tea garden, perfect for both cultivation and relaxation. We’ll explore everything from the art of garden design to selecting the best tea plants, and even enjoy a delightful tea tasting to complement the experience.
What you’ll learn:
Garden Design: Learn how to design a serene tea garden that invites relaxation and enhances the tea-drinking experience. We’ll cover layout, pathways, and creating a peaceful ambiance.
Tea Plants & Selection: Discover the variety of tea plants, such as Camellia sinensis and herbal varieties, and understand how to select the right ones for your climate and garden.
Arranging for Beauty & Function: Learn how to arrange plants to create an aesthetically pleasing and functional garden. We’ll discuss companion planting, layering, and integrating seating areas for enjoying your tea.
Tea Tasting: Experience the flavors of freshly brewed tea made from your very own garden plants. We’ll guide you through a tasting session, so you can savor the full potential of your garden’s harvest.
Homegrown Harvest: A Guide to Growing Your Own Food
March 29 Grow Your Own Salad —Lafayette, CA Ever dream of savoring a fresh, crisp salad made from your own garden? Join us for our "Grow Your Own Salad" hands-on workshop where you will learn how to grow and harvest salad greens.
April 17 & 26 Tomatoes, Tomatoes, Tomatoes —Lafayette, CA Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just starting out, this course offers invaluable insights into selecting the perfect tomato varieties, preparing your soil, and implementing effective planting techniques.
August 7: The Fall/Winter Garden — Lafayette, CA Learn how to plant garlic, cover crops, and cool-season vegetables for your fall and spring edible garden.
Herbal Magic: Cannabis & Herbal Gardening
April 10, Herbal Magic: Cultivating Culinary & Medicinal Plants — Lafayette, CA. Join Stefani Bittner and fellow Ten Speed Press author Penny Barthel for a four-class series on growing culinary and medicinal herbs, including cannabis, in the garden. These two master plantswomen and expert gardeners will guide you through every season of the herb garden, from seed planting to salve making and every step in between.
May 22 Summer Herbs & Cannabis: Companion Planting and Care — Lafayette, CA Dive into the world of synergistic gardening with our specialized class, "Summer Herbs & Cannabis: Companion Planting and Care." This class is designed for gardeners looking to optimize their green spaces through the art of companion planting, focusing on the harmonious cultivation of annual and perennial herbs, including cannabis. You’ll be equipped with the skills to create a thriving garden that leverages the natural benefits of plant relationships.
September 18 Harvesting Excellence: Final Care for Herbs and Cannabis — Lafayette, CA This hands-on course is designed for gardeners who want to master the final stages of the growing cycle and ensure that their herbs and cannabis are harvested and processed with precision and care.
November 13 Kitchen Alchemy with Herbs and Cannabis — Lafayette, CA. Join Penny and Stefani in the kitchen as we use the garden's bounty in bespoke creations in the kitchen. This is what the summer herb garden was heading for all season! We become kitchen alchemists as we transform our harvested herbs into tisane, tincture, infused oil, salve, and delicious beverages and edibles. Penny will offer instruction on the unique properties of cannabis for health and wellness as we include it in the herbal ingredients in our creations. Come prepared to learn by doing as we make several favorite herbal recipes for mind, body and soul.