Wildflower Valley Farm
  • Home
  • Resources
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Shop
    • Kitchen Skirts
    • Soap
    • Yarn Crafts
  • Rabbits
  • Goats

Bees!

4/29/2014

1 Comment

 
The Queen and her Ladies have arrived!
I have wanted bees for several years now, but due to the start-up expense, I have never seriously pursued the endeavor.  A few months ago however, my local beekeepers association offered a free, two-night class on the bare-bones basics of keeping bees.  I attended the class out of sheer curiosity, in hopes that it would help me decide whether I really wanted bees as badly as I thought I did.  I was hooked by the time we were half-way through the first night!

The first presenter discussed both the Langstroth hive and the Top-Bar hive.  Prior to this class, I was only aware of the Langstroth hive, and purchasing those can get a little pricey.  Not to mention, each super (the removable square box part of the hive that holds the frames where the bees build their comb) can weigh 60-70lbs or more (usually more).  You can probably imagine the reason for my hesitation.  After learning about the top-bar hive however, I realized that keeping a beehive wasn't such a lofty dream.  A google search will provide you with multiple resources from which to purchase this style of hive, but it can also be built using scrap lumber if you have it (NOT pressure treated!) - so you can decide how much money you want to spend and do it within that budget, no matter how small.  The construction plans are also easy to find online - for free.  Of all the plans I looked at (there are several), the differences included only minor variations.  I suggest looking at several different styles and decide which one will best suit your needs.

The next expense is purchasing the actual bees.  This is one expense that is much harder to avoid.  You can collect a swarm, you can trap a swarm, or you can purchase your bees.  While the first two options are potentially free, they are hit-or-miss, especially if you have no experience.  Rather than hope I could find free bees, I chose to purchase mine.  If you go that route, the best source for purchasing bees is going to be locating a local beekeeper.  If they do not have bees to sell, they will surely know another beekeeper who does.  Local is always best because those are the bees that will be best acclimated to your specific climate, and most familiar with local pollen sources.

However one chooses to acquire their bees, there is always a risk that the bees will reject their new home for one reason or another.  From what I understand, the risk is not so great that you should sit in fear and watch for them to swarm.  But you should be aware that the possibility exist.  I just acquired my bees on Sunday, so I'm still in that nervous phase of hoping they will settle in okay and decide to stay.  So far they don't seem unhappy, and that is obviously a good thing.

I am a brand new, infant of a newbie at this, so I can't answer any hard questions yet.  I do know though that honey tastes wonderful, a very large portion of the general food supply depends on bees for pollination, and the fate of honeybees is a bit precarious due to a whole host of possible causes.  Whether you want to collect honey, or simply want to improve the health of your flower garden, vegetable garden, or fruit trees, keeping bees will make a big difference, both in your purpose for keeping them, and in the general health of your local bee populations.  

Do any of you keep honeybees?  I would love to hear about your experiences!
1 Comment

Anderson County Emergency Preparedness Fair

4/24/2014

0 Comments

 
On Saturday, May 10th, I will be at the Anderson County Emergency Preparedness Fair in Clinton, TN.  This is the 3rd year this event has taken place, however it is the first year that I have participated.  I must confess that I was not aware of this fair before this year, but it sounds quite interesting, and very much like an event everyone will enjoy!  This is a free event, open to the public, and all of the classes offered that day are free as well.  There will be classes such as food preservation and canning, bread baking, and CPR certification.  
Picture
I will be offering the following mini-classes as well.  These are short sessions and will not cover the in-depth information that is covered in my full classes, but will provide you with useful information on the specific topic covered, and will hopefully whet your appetite for considering participation in one of my full-length workshops.
  • 9:15am Laundry Soap (how to make it and use it) - A limited number of free samples will be available.
  • 10:30am Meat Rabbits (why you should consider raising meat rabbits, and different housing methods used)
  • 11:45am Goat Care (preventative care, with a focus on deworming practices used here on our farm)
  • 1:00pm Backyard Flock (why you should consider keeping chickens, and various feeding methods)
Start times on the above classes are approximate, so consider arriving a few minutes early.  Each class will last approximately 15-30 minutes each.

I will be sharing a table with Damnearafarm and our table will be inside, so we will be there rain or shine.  I will also have goat milk soap and some other handmade items available for sale that day, along with more information about the full-length workshops I offer.  Even if you don't have time for one of the mini-classes that day, please stop by and introduce yourself.  I would love to meet you!

Click here to download a printable flyer with more information about the event.
Please feel free to ask if you have any questions about the specific classes we will be presenting that day.  For general questions about the event itself, you will need to contact the fair organizers - contact information is provided on their website.
0 Comments

Death, where is your sting?  Hell, where is your victory?

4/20/2014

0 Comments

 

HE IS RISEN! ALLELUIA!

The "rest of the story" from last week's Sunday Sing-A-Long (it's worth listening to last week's song too, if you haven't already).

In Celebration of Jesus' victory over death (He IS alive - not was - IS!), I give you your choice of songs this week.  Enjoy!
On of my very favorite Easter songs
(and who doesn't like Dolly Parton?)
An excellent Southern Gospel song - even if it's not your favorite genre.
And my very favorite resurrection song - Easter season or any time of year!
0 Comments

A homesteader's To Do list

4/15/2014

0 Comments

 
I sat down last week to make myself a spring To Do list.  I am terrible about starting one project and then leaving it half-finished when I get distracted by another project (or twelve), only to remember that I didn't finished the first project when I actually need it and have to modify the plan because it isn't finished right now.  So I thought that maybe it would help to write everything down so that I can cross each thing off as it is finished.
Picture
When I read back over my list I thought "to most people, this list sounds crazy!"  But I know all of you other homesteaders (no matter if yours is a vast spread of land, or squished in between your neighbors, like me) will understand my list.  Instead of laughing as you walk away shaking your head, you will see my list and maybe think "Hey, that's a good idea.  I should add that to my list."

So here is my list:
  • set up beehive
  • clean off sun room table (to make room for seed starts)
  • start more veggie seeds
  • prep meal worm brooder
  • build compost bins
  • make rain barrel
  • build red worm bed

And that doesn't even include my gardening To Do list - that is long enough on its own!  I'm sure my list will grow as the spring wears on.  There is never enough time or daylight to finish it all and, as I work on each project, I find more that I need/want to do.  


Tell me what kind of "purely homesteading" things are on your To Do list.  Do your friends give you odd looks too?
0 Comments

Sunday Sing-A-Long

4/13/2014

0 Comments

 
I don't know if you'll want to actually sing along with this one, or just watch the video and sob (that's what I do).  This is a beautiful, beautiful song, and absolutely perfect for Holy Week.  I hope it touches your heart, or maybe even your soul.
Stay tuned next week, for the rest of the story...
0 Comments
    to receive blog updates and occasional news about the goings-on at our farm!

    Author

    Hi, my name is Nicole and my friends think I'm crazy.  I love farming, and my methods can be non-traditional at times, but I love simple living, I love playing in the dirt, and I love life.

    Disclaimer:
    None of the information contained on this site is intended to diagnose, treat, or otherwise substitute for the care and advice from a qualified human or animal medical professional.  Please consult the trusted medical professional of your choice before using any of the information contained on this site. 

    Archives

    May 2018
    April 2018
    July 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    July 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013

    Categories

    All
    Bees
    Chickens
    Deworming
    Dogs
    Gardening
    Goat Health
    Goats
    Milk
    Money Less Challenge
    Q&A
    Rabbits
    Survey
    The Funny Farm

    This website contains "affiliate links" where appropriate. I may earn a small commission or referral fee on your purchase, however this has no effect on your price. It is purely a cost of doing business for the vendor companies. The monies earned help maintain and support this website and free content. Unless otherwise noted, all content on this website is © Nicole Oatney and unauthorized duplication or distribution is expressly prohibited. 
    “Nicole Oatney is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.”
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.