So you have decided to buy a commercially produced product. Great. It is even inexpensive. $2!But they charge $14 shipping. For an item that is literally the size of a matchbox.Undaunted by their exorbitant shipping costs? I mean, you are going to spend money on screen wire, unless you cut it out of your neighbor’sContinueContinue reading “Cone Trap – Brushy Mountain Bee Farms”
Tag Archives: workers
Bungees
So you decide to attach the box to the rope ladder with bungee cords. Good idea. Because you will have limited options when you are on top of the ladder, you wrap the bungee cords twice around the box, and then connect them to a carabiner, one on each side.You start up the ladder, andContinueContinue reading “Bungees”
Nylon Screen
Congratulations. You just wasted 15 dollars more (you are only getting $200 for this, by the way). The nylon does not hold up, flopping closed before you ever even apply the glue to it. Worse, because you cut it to try it out, you can’t even return it to Home Depot. Would you like toContinueContinue reading “Nylon Screen”
Cone Trap – Hardware Cloth
It makes sense. If bees can get back into the cone the way that they got out of it, you need to change the cone. The pokey entrance was not enough to dissuade (or you decided, like I did, to try the combination first) and you reinforce the cone with hardware cloth ($18 at theContinueContinue reading “Cone Trap – Hardware Cloth”
A New Day
It is a bright, new day, and you have it all figured out.Overnight, you worried the idea over and over. And finally decided on a course of action. You are going to swap out your ShopVac for the one your wife has. Hers is more powerful, and won’t lose suction so easily. You have installedContinueContinue reading “A New Day”
Aluminum Screen
OK, you have decided to go with an aluminum screen cone. Good call. Aluminum screen is hardy, weather resistant, and a little bit pokey – so you can keep the bees from reentering. So now you are off to the local hardware store to buy an $8 roll – the smallest available – of aluminumContinueContinue reading “Aluminum Screen”
Keep Working – Night-Time Edition
You really aren’t too bright, are you?Bees stung you through the suit, you flailed in response, dropping the vacuum and falling off the ladder. As you fell, you dislodged the bucket with the bees, which fell on top of you.Your screams could be heard for miles.Lee Robinson, who advised you not to continue, tried toContinueContinue reading “Keep Working – Night-Time Edition”
Back to the Drawing Board
Sometimes, it is best to just take a beat, and read, and think, and plan a little more. Sure, there is a time for action, but sometimes, you gain insight by putting the chutzpah on hold and plotting things through a little better.The books talk a lot about trap-outs, and how they work. Essentially, youContinueContinue reading “Back to the Drawing Board”
Be Still
This week I am taking a class for work at the University of Montana in Missoula. It is a gorgeous campus, with walking trails and bountiful nature all around. Adjacent to the building where the ecosystem restoration class being held is a raised bed garden with glorious wildflowers.Being who I am, I immediately began scoutingContinueContinue reading “Be Still”
Sweet, Sweet Success
Honeycomb, ready for crush and strainLast week, I posted the results of the honeybee removal from the previous Saturday, and was pretty proud of how it had gone (you should read it, if you have not already). In what was an extremely long day of work on a 24-foot ladder, Shannen and I:Opened the wallContinueContinue reading “Sweet, Sweet Success”
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