Spring, spring glorious spring

Spring has sprung and so has the process of 'putting by'.  Our first honey harvest of the year was this week.  The fellows went down on Monday after work and then Tuesday evening we uncapped and extracted.  Wednesday night was filtering honey and wax, and tonight we got it all in jars...

The rhubarb is beautiful and so it is time to start harvesting.
 Our nephew loves rhubarb sauce so it must be put up for him.  I like to freeze it too for cakes, crisp, or pie.
How to can rhubarb HERE.
For freezing clean, drain, chop and pack dry into freezer containers or freezer bags.  That's all super easy and wonderfully tart addition to to many baked goods.

Happy day!
a little bird

Our Own Label

Swenson Hives & Honey Bees

Putting the Bees to Bed for Winter

We did this on the 12th I'm just finally getting around to doing a post on it...

We had a cold front coming through on the 13th that predicted 50 mile an hour gusts (and the predictions were true).  So it was time to get the bees all tucked in for the winter.  Last year we sent hives to sunny CA but this year we decided to winter them at home.

DH and #1 son got together.  They first went to #1 sons home and tucked his hives in (I didn't go so didn't get pictures of that) then back to our house to tuck in our bees.

Checking to make sure they have enough honey to get through the winter.  I'm not the bee person but I believe it was 8 full trays. 

We were able to 'rob' some from the super. 

vent holes

Too much moisture in the hive will wipe it out.

ventilation

All wrapped up like a present in tar paper. :-)

snug as a bug in a rug

We still have to get the restrictors on at the front.  Mice can get in and destroy a hive.  So that is still on the 'to do' list.  DH has been very busy and hasn't a chance yet but will.