What did you do in the garden today?

[jerryse]

I have not seen cucumber beetles, SVB, or squash bugs yet. Just lucky? Control efforts finally paying off? Whatever the reason I am glad.

 

[Justagalwithchicks]

Seen the yellow fras on my zucchin and acorn squash bush, so got it injected with BT. Found two squash bugs together in a romantic situation - blech - killed them. Did some watering and looked for more bolting onions..found a couple so will chop and freeze those in next day or so. Checked my purple beets and they are starting to bulb. Checked my Golden beets and they are already pretty much the size I like them. Hung out with my chickens, put a pan of cold water in their run and my Jen Hazel went right in. She loves to cook off in water. Such a character.

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

WOW! What kind of bees does he have? Why are they so ornery?
Our hives are about 50-60 feet away from the garden. The girls were happy to visit the asparagus flowers when they were in bloom.

It's been a rainy season so that's likely contributed to the orneriness, but thankfully we've gotten a lot of honey regardless. I think it's more likely that the bee yard has grown too close to the garden. Also it's been a huge growing year for our hives. There's probably 150k bees in our yard. Normally I can easily work around them and even enjoy them, but we need a bigger buffer area now. We're now treading in their territory. I get it, but still...

 

[Sally PB]

Do you know what breed they are?

Your story makes me more sure that we don't need any more than two hives. We got our first harvest just this past weekend. Monday was the first day we extracted honey, and with a hand crank extractor, that was a workout. And a lot of set up and a lot of clean up.

Hubby is thinking he could attach his cordless drill to run the crank. Oh man, would that be an arm saver!

 

[MapleLaurelFarms]

Do you know what breed they are?

Your story makes me more sure that we don't need any more than two hives. We got our first harvest just this past weekend. Monday was the first day we extracted honey, and with a hand crank extractor, that was a workout. And a lot of set up and a lot of clean up.

Hubby is thinking he could attach his cordless drill to run the crank. Oh man, would that be an arm saver!

They're mixed. Mostly Italians. Mutts lol. But really it's just the sheer number. Husband is an apiary pro and knows what he's doing. He's careful about culling any aggressive queens/hives.

We love love love the numbers. We sell honey and are working toward that along with other apiary goodies for our (eventual) retirement pocket change.

It's been a rough 6 months here in the southern Appalachians. We got hit hard during Helene: bees, garden, woodland forests, etc. This past winter also lost a lot of our chicken flock. It's been a growth/rebuilding year so we're letting the bees build. So far it's working except they need more space now. Yay! We can do that. Just um, may I pick my peppers first???

 

[Sally PB]

They're mixed. Mostly Italians. Mutts lol. But really it's just the sheer number. Husband is an apiary pro and knows what he's doing. He's careful about culling any aggressive queens/hives.

Ok, good. We are just barely above novice level, lol. How many hives do you have?

 

[TJAnonymous]

I don't use regular bug spray and was getting bit like crazy. I found this recipe which is cheap and easy. A small spray bottle add couple teaspoons vanilla essential oil (cheap online) and fill rest with water shake n spray. I was amazed how much it keeps mosquitoes away and you smell slightly like vanilla!

I have a couple different types of DIY bug spray....one with clove oil and peppermint. Another with lemon balm and lavender (I think?). They have inconsistent efficacy. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't.

 

[TJAnonymous]

Made BLTs for dinner so I got to use my first ripe tomato for the season...

Used the last vestiges of my lettuce too. It was slightly bitter. I figure anything left is now strictly bunny food until the fall.

 

[WthrLady]

I have a couple different types of DIY bug spray....one with clove oil and peppermint. Another with lemon balm and lavender (I think?). They have inconsistent efficacy. Sometimes they work. Sometimes they don't.

I've just given up and just feed the bugs. The bug sprays make me a jittery mess or I break out in hives. The homemade/natural stuff either doesn't work, or triggers an allergy attack too.

 

[Paz]

They're mixed. Mostly Italians. Mutts lol. But really it's just the sheer number. Husband is an apiary pro and knows what he's doing. He's careful about culling any aggressive queens/hives.

We love love love the numbers. We sell honey and are working toward that along with other apiary goodies for our (eventual) retirement pocket change.

It's been a rough 6 months here in the southern Appalachians. We got hit hard during Helene: bees, garden, woodland forests, etc. This past winter also lost a lot of our chicken flock. It's been a growth/rebuilding year so we're letting the bees build. So far it's working except they need more space now. Yay! We can do that. Just um, may I pick my peppers first???

I would love to have honey bees, but for whatever reason, it’s illegal, I have a bombos hive in the greenhouse, on the fields a few kilometers from home. Where the family farm is. They’re nice, hard workers, but they make no honey…