Checking on the beehives

The honey flow is definitely on at present and the bees are swarming over the manuka and rata tree flowers.  Today it was time to check if there was still room in the hives.

The white wax on top of the frames tells you the bees are looking for more room in the hive, time to add in some new frames.

The bees have drawn out the wax frame and are filling it with nectar.

This frame has been capped with wax so this is now honey.  These are the frames we will harvest next month.

We are checking to see if there are eggs in the empty cells.  you can see some worker cells which haven't hatched yet.

These cells are being filled with pollen.

Yum, this season's honey is looking (and tasting) great.
Keeping bees is amazing.  They inspire me every time I work with them.

I enjoyed this post from Greenbrier herbalist.
http://greenbrierherbalist.com/greenbrierherbalist/blog/

 Plants began to work their magic in my life as my own healing progressed. They have provided nurturing support for my changing body, support for the struggles of my heart and foundational shifts in my mind, showing me how to reconnect to the true Self. I am humbled and priviledged to walk among these Plants daily.
As an herbalist, I have learned that the healing power of herbs has little to do with the particular constituents of each plant, preparations or dosages. Plants are living entities of intelligent patterns, physical manifestations of various aspects of the Whole. By growing them, gathering them, inhaling their fragrances, rubbing them on our bodies or, at the greatest level of intimacy, ingesting them, we bring their healing wisdom into our own bodies and souls. As we partake of an herb, its life force mingles with our own. Like a mother nudging a pup with her nose, the Plant guides us to return to our natural wholeness and thereby to the Wholeness.
In exploring the mind-body connection of human health, I have discovered how much the metaphysical aspects of herbs are but an extension of their medicinal benefits to the physical body. I have experienced a paradigm shift from believing the herbs to be a “more natural” choice for treating diseases of the body to experiencing the herbs as complex, intelligent living entities whose wisdom we can tap to guide us to deeper understanding of the sources of our dis-eases. They do not cure anything. Rather, they teach us, coach us and remind us of our own true Nature and how to reconnect to our own inner wisdom.

 

Another great Ted talk

Interested in a local food economy.  Listen in here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KmKoj4RSZw&feature=player_embedded

The Botany of Desire

What an awesome documentary.  Spare some time to watch if you are interested in lants and growing.
http://video.pbs.org/video/1283872815