Bees

Our bees, who worked hard all summer storing away energy in the form of a hive full of sweet honey, did not make it through the winter.  And sadly, neither did the sweet, sweet fruit of their labor.

Of course hindsight is 20/20, but we are now wishing we would have harvested the honey this fall instead of leaving the bees winter food supply in the hive.

Farmer J isn't sure what caused all our bees to perish. Maybe mites? Maybe dysentery? He tells me he needs to do more "research." 

All I know is this is the second time all our bees have died and we have had to start all over. Farmer J is ordering more bees soon. And, he and my dad will make a new bee hive with a totally new design. Fingers crossed that this system and these bees work out...or maybe, three strikes and we are out of the bee business.

I know bees are critically important and this link illustrates why in simple, straightforward terms.

http://www.bbka.org.uk/kids/importance_of_bees

So far this spring we are ordering bees, meat chickens, egg laying hens and feeder pigs! 

I foresee a very busy, but exciting, spring on our new farm! 

PS: In case your curious, no lambs. Farmer J just checked on Aoife and gave me an update on the status of her udder.

Full and firm, again, in case you're curious. Maybe leap year lambs?