Twenty years ago, if you had asked me and Phil if we saw ourselves putting up veggies and keeping (and losing) bees, we probably would have demurred. Only because we truly wanted to do those things but had no idea how!
We are thinkers, not so much doers. We are over-thinkers. We are talking about thinking about doing, someday-ers.
Then we go read a book.
Lots of people just do. I see that. It amazes me. I'm an expert on lots of things… in theory. I've always gotten tired easily, and honestly, you can rest, and read a book about energetic stuff.
We have a niche “market” I think (not like we're selling anything). Some of you are overwhelmed thinking book-readers too! I figure that when we show you what we've done, if we can ignore the hoots of laughter from the ones who have been doing all along, you might be encouraged!
Not sure why I have a little table out there right now… |
No time to make a raised bed here, where the old one made room for the 3rd compost bin. Next year… |
It seems like some people want, and can cope with, all the information in a big heap. But some are encouraged more by watching others do little steps, and less by too much information. So that's why I keep showing you stuff, even though I know that there is much more comprehensive info out there. Sometimes comprehensive is too much.
Bees and peas.
The day I told you about the observation hive, the bees in the strongest hive swarmed! They went right up to the tree in the middle of the yard, up to a ridiculously high branch.
The hive where the colony that likes to swarm lives. From now on he's keeping a close eye out for swarm cells in there! |
Two traps on the roof (and one more in the gazebo). |
A trap on the hay target. Despite loading them up with honey frames and lemon grass oil, no takers. |
If you could reach them, you could shake and brush them right into a box and have them for your very own. At this stage they are quite absorbed with the idea of finding a new home and aren't into attacking anyone (even though you do read stories of people or dogs being killed by swarms — not sure what's going on there, because swarming honey bees are a little disoriented and lacking in direction by definition — sort of sounds like some people I know!!). But these were really high up.
Nothing to do but wait. And set traps for them. In the end, they left, amidst heartbreak — we know not where. Turns out that they will usually go at least half-a-mile away from the original place.
I think we should cut down that branch and re-install it in some sort of frame lower down — because once bees swarm to a place, that place is sort of a bee-magnet (and in fact this was the second swarm to land there).
Not that there is any realism in that plan, just throwing it out there.
Peas in the midst of peppers and tomatoes, which I figure will take off when the peas are spent, soon. |
In other news, I finally had multiple pea harvests (with Bridget doing much of the harvesting), rather than a pea tasting, after years of planting peas! For one thing, I did snow peas this year. Somehow regular shelling peas just don't produce for me in the quantities that justify getting out there in the cold to plant them.
Judging by how rarely I buy snow peas at the store, I think that I now have a year's supply for the freezer. I thought I'd post pictures of the processing, which is minimal and truly worth the small effort expended. If you lightly blanch peas, beans, or asparagus and freeze them in ziploc bags, sucking the air out with a straw (high-tech, eh?), they will be lovely on a January evening with your stew.
But, since my posts are too long (!!!!) I will continue Friday!
Don't forget {pretty, happy, funny, real} tomorrow!
Mrs. Fordyce says
My snow peas are also going very well this year. Which is funny because I only like them fresh, so have NO desire to freeze them. Yet, the carrots, tomatoes, beets, beans, and herbs (which I really, really want to can) are looking miserable-they will probably not be ripe by first frost.
Puffin Hen says
Ooo er… even the WORD swarm gives me the heebie jeebies. I'm such a wimpy weed… Congrats on the peas; have had my best year with mine too. Yay.
Anne says
ohh, sad you lost the swarm!
Kathleen Jaeger says
Yes, it encourages me tremendously to see the small steps of those who think about doing and read about doing. Those that just go out and do–they amaze me, too. Thanks, too, for saying that you have had a pea tasting all these years — yep, that's where our gardening is — tastings. The kids are excited about any vegetable that appears. I wonder if it is worth the effort — but the long-term view — that certainly helps! Maybe in twenty years we'll be producing some produce to talk about!
Harmony says
Oh, I'm so glad I found your blog. You're right, seeing the little steps is so encouraging to those of us who are easily overwhelmed! I'm just starting out in childrearing and gardening, and your warm advice seems just what I need. Please keep it up!
Emily says
Sad about the bees. 🙁 But the story did make me think of Winnie the Pooh! Another good, good book that I probably should be mentioning on your previous post. 🙂
I plant shelling peas every year because I love them so much, but only ever really get a “tasting” as well. Part of that is probably just my lack of space, since I'm gardening in a tiny little condo back yard!
_Leila says
“I'm a little black rain cloud, of course!”
hope says
I'd love to know how you put your compost bins together! And I love all your posts–you are very inspirational!
Rachael says
I (and Hubby) are collectors of all things knowledge. I can be timid about starting, but once I get going….
I'm hoping to get peas out when the weather cools, lets hope mine do as well as yours.
Joy says
I'm an armchair gardener and knitter and traveler. 🙂 Of course, I *do* all of those things in little bits, too, but it's nice to know that I'm not the only one who tends to read a book more often than actually doing stuff. My garden is doing better than last year. I only have three small built-in beds next to the carport and a bunch of pots but I'm getting cucumbers, tomatoes, and herbs right now. My pepper plants are finally flowering again (all of the flower buds died in early June when we got hit with an unusual 99 degree heat wave). I have hopes of some peppers later this summer. I like snow peas and sugar snap peas better than English peas because you don't have to shell them.
I'm sorry about the bees. I hope you get a new colony soon. That is one occupation in which I'll do only reading and looking at pictures.