Neglect or Nature

Perhaps I have been guilty of neglect or perhaps I am putting my faith in the natural history of the honey bee, but I have not been to my hive in weeks. After I built my honey super, fixed the electric fence replacing it with a solar charger, learned how to light the smoker, stumbled through my last inspection, and put the honey super on, I did not return to the hive. The goldenrod is in full bloom here, and Dan tells me that I should not pull the honey super off until the goldenrod is 80% gone. This buys me time and gives my bees more of a chance to draw out the comb and begin to gather nectar and fill the frames. I learned a great deal during my last bee class and through a honey plant walk that Dan led at his annual honey festival held at Warm Colors Apiary.

Tasks to do as I prepare the hive for winter:
1. Confirm that I have a queen.
2. Make sure that there are 10-15 frames of bees on both sides (it will take a minimum of 10 for the bees to survive).
3. Pay attention to the brood- it is normal for the queen to be slowing down her egg laying for the season.
4. If there is any larva, make sure it looks good and healthy.
5. After the honey crop is removed, take preventative measures to control tracheal mites and nosema disease.
6. Make sure the hive has at least 8-10 frames of honey and 3 frames of pollen to ensure that the bees wil have enough food for the winter. If not, start feeding the bees a thick sugar syrup.
7. Ventilate the hive for the winter by poping the inner cover off then putting it back on, as this is a time where the bees create a lot of propolis to seal cracks in the hive. Bees will need a little air.
8. Put a thin piece of wood on top of the inner cover and then cover it with the outer cover- this will give needed ventilation as well as a way out of the hive.
9. If I wish I can insulate the hive (I am choosing not to though) on 3 sides with rigid insulation, though this can cause mold to grow inside the hive. If I did choose to wrap it, it should be wrapped around Thanksgiving and unwrapped in mid-March.
10. Mouse proof the entrance by hammering nails into the entrance reducer.
11. Position the hive so it is protected from winter winds and gets winter sun.

So much still to do, though the sun and warmth and goldenrod and purple asters still bloom. So for now I have faith and allow the bees to do what they have done for millions of years, and will continue to do, regardless if there are humans around to get in their way (unless we as a species we continue at the current rate of destruction). So my conclusion, which finds me practicing faith, patience and humility: neglect no, nature yes.