Amanda Hayes
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Flying solo - one year on

4/5/2015

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Well my bees and I had a good first year.  I have learned a huge amount but there is so much more to learn and put into practice.  I have made some good beekeeping friends and that has been an additional joy.  I have put together a review of the year's achievements and some thoughts about the next season.  As ever with bees my plans may need modifying! 
ACHIEVEMENTS OF FIRST SOLO BEEKEEPING YEAR 2014/15


  • Tended one colony successfully for twelve months

  • Monitored my colony for varroa, treated as necessary and maintained accurate records

  • Made two batches of honey soap using hive and garden ingredients

  • Won first prize in North London Beekeepers Association Honey Cake competition

  • Created a new front garden to provide forage throughout the season

  • Created and regularly updated a website with basic information on bees and gardens

  • Recorded experiences and progress of my first year of solo beekeeping on a blog

  • Refined wax from honey comb and made beeswax candles

  • Successfully completed L2 Food Hygiene course and co-wrote notes to help other beekeepers

  • Designed labels for honey and candles that comply with legal requirements

  • Harvested 28lbs of honey

  • Sold £73.40 of hive products

  • Contributed to the national Great Bee Count 2014

  • Volunteered at two public events and informed the public about honey and bees

  • Built a second national hive from a kit

  • Attended Kenwood Apiary regularly throughout the beekeeping season and contributed to care of NLBA colonies

  • Learnt how to make a bee skep

  • Improved knowledge of beekeeping and disease control through reading, attending lectures and demonstrations

  • Devised and year plan for caring for my bees and up-dated inspection paperwork

  

TARGETS FOR 2015/16

  • Maintain healthy bee colonies for another twelve months

  • Carry out monthly disease checks in addition to varroa mite checks

  • Develop honey soap making to include flowers and other natural ingredients (own use)

  • Produce high quality wax candles – and not get disqualified for ‘failure to re-light’!

  • Bottle jars of chunk honey through controlled wild comb production

  • Revise honey jar labels to be more attractive and garden themed

  • Harvest and bottle a good quantity of honey

  • Sell £100 worth of hive products

  • Contribute to Great Bee Count 2015

  • Contribute to more educational events on bees and beekeeping

  • Continue to improve website e.g. photographs, news section

  • Publish monthly blog with more photographs

  • Split colony into two without losing the honey crop

  • Attend Kenwood regularly and support at least three other beekeepers in their learning

  • Successfully achieve the BBKA Basic Assessment in July

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    Hello, for many years I have been a passionate gardener and have encouraged wildlife into my urban garden.  Three years ago I joined a Beekeeping Association.   Last year I installed a beehive in my garden and started this blog to record my  experiences.


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