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At some point, I'd like to do more guides on beekeeping, as the art seems to be a woefully underrepresented on this site. For now, however, I'll be showing you how to strengthen a week hive and, if applicable, prevent swarming in a strong hive.
One of the most important things in any garden is pollination. However, many gardens don't receive an adequate amount. If you think you might have this problem, investing in a beehive might be the solution to more abundant fruits and vegetables. Actually, two beehives would be the way to go, for reasons I'll explain.
Two beehives are a lot stronger than one beehive, for a number of reasons. Case in point: if one of your hives is failing, you can bolster it with bees from the other hive via a very simple method: swap their positions.
Incidentally, if you're not sure that a hive is necessary, here's a list of plants that need pollinating insects to bear fruit.
One of the most important things in any garden is pollination. However, many gardens don't receive an adequate amount. If you think you might have this problem, investing in a beehive might be the solution to more abundant fruits and vegetables. Actually, two beehives would be the way to go, for reasons I'll explain.
Two beehives are a lot stronger than one beehive, for a number of reasons. Case in point: if one of your hives is failing, you can bolster it with bees from the other hive via a very simple method: swap their positions.
Incidentally, if you're not sure that a hive is necessary, here's a list of plants that need pollinating insects to bear fruit.
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Umm...switch their positions. For best results, do so in the middle of the day.
Okay, I know, it shouldn't be that easy. But it is. See, during the day, a lot of the mature worker bees are out working. Which would make sense. If you change the positions of the hives, they'll come back to where they remember "home" being. Oddly enough, the fact that it's an entirely different colony doesn't seem to bother them too much, and the bees inside couldn't care less.
As bee manipulations go, this one's pretty safe. I'm wearing my full suit, because my veil attaches directly to it and without it is useless, but as you can see I'm not wearing gloves.
Okay, I know, it shouldn't be that easy. But it is. See, during the day, a lot of the mature worker bees are out working. Which would make sense. If you change the positions of the hives, they'll come back to where they remember "home" being. Oddly enough, the fact that it's an entirely different colony doesn't seem to bother them too much, and the bees inside couldn't care less.
As bee manipulations go, this one's pretty safe. I'm wearing my full suit, because my veil attaches directly to it and without it is useless, but as you can see I'm not wearing gloves.
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Safe and *should* help, if not as good as soap.
also here is our san diego meetup web page
http://www.meetup.com/The-San-Diego-Beekeeping-Meetup-Group