Thirty years ago, I wanted to raise honey bees. Three months ago, I finally did something about it. This is very unlike me. Normally, if I want to do something I rush in and start it. Maybe it was because we were still moving around the country, establishing my career, starting a business, raising kids or any number of other excuses. Whatever the reason for the delay, the fun starts tomorrow. Actually, the fun started last February when my wife, Gayla, and I decided we wanted to add honey bees to our yard. Since then, it's been reading everything we can about bees –including countless hours on beesource.com– painting one polystyrene hive then deciding to add another, taking bee classes (an absolute must if you want to do this), deciding to try one hive small cell on Mann Lake PF100s and another on Pierco waxed deeps, building a platform to help the ladies defend themselves against critters, choosing a site that will work for the bees AND our yard, adding a solar electric fence to keep out our local 400lb bear and today, making 6 gallons of 1:1 syrup. I must admit, I have not enjoyed getting ready for anything as much as I have preparing for tomorrow. I just hope I don't let down the 25,000 bees we pick up in the morning. Tomorrow the fun really begins!
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