Saturday 30 May 2015

A Bit About Honey and a Date for Your Diary.


The saga continues with bees and honey.  It is as well to remember that honey from the oilseed rape needs to be extracted before it sets in the comb.  That means keeping a close eye on it and removing the frames before they are capped, that is, before the bees have sealed the cells with wax.  The test is to give a frame a gentle shake and if the honey remains in the cells it is ready for extraction.  Too early and the honey ferments, too late and you will have to cut out the comb and warm it gently in an appropriate container  until the wax rises and the honey remains beneath it.  When cool again the wax sets into a block and can be removed  and at last you can get at the honey.  It sounds messy and it is and obviously makes more work for the beekeeper and also for the bees who then have to build more comb  onto the foundation (thin sheets of wax imprinted with shape of comb and attached to the frames).

Unfortunately, we were really busy last week and although we achieved a timely extraction we were unable to run off the honey into jars immediately.  The result was that the honey started to granulate in the ripener and we now have to warm it slightly to make it runny again in order to fill the jars. Oh well, they say you learn by your mistakes so that is one we will not make again. 

Some really good news for Epperstone this week - The Cross Keys pub, which has been closed since the autumn, is to re-open shortly with new tenants.  Contractors are scheduled to start on June 8th  to carry out some work with a view to opening early in July.  In the meantime Des and Trish have been beavering away clearing and planting up the garden and outdoor seating areas until such time as they can open the doors for business.  Although there is no shortage of excellent hostelries in the area a village without a pub  does seem somewhat lacking.  The Cross Keys, being in the centre of the village, was much missed during its closure so we are looking forward to seeing it up and running once again.

The next item on the village agenda is the Open Garden Festival, taking place on Sunday,
June 14th.  In addition to the many gardens which will be open for visiting there will be a number of stalls, cream teas, Granny's Attic, a fun Family Dog Show, the inevitable raffle and, new this year, an exhibition of paintings by local artists.  Definitely an occasion not to be missed.

  





Friday 22 May 2015

All about Bees

The bees have been busy this week and so has the beekeeper.  It seems that there are more bees than beekeepers in the area.  There have been so many phone calls requesting us to collect a swarm that we have run out of equipment and had to turn down the request.  In fact it is not always necessary or even advisable to collect swarms from an unknown source.  Sometimes they have settled in places where they are inconveniencing nobody and can perfectly well be left to do their own thing.  Sometimes, if  they are completely inaccessible but causing a problem, the only solution is to kill them off but that is a last resort and something that nobody likes to have to do.  There are risks as well.  The bees may not be one hundred per cent healthy and can carry disease into the apiary. There is also the risk that it may be a strain of bee that is naturally aggressive and therefore not easy to handle.  A bee that is docile makes life a lot pleasanter for the apiarist. 

That said, we have had a good week.  A strong colony has been split and shared with another local beekeeper and the removal of queen cells from one of our colonies will have prevented losing some of our own bees.  When a swarm leaves the hive it also takes with it supplies in the form of honey to use while it sets up elsewhere.  This is normal (and sensible!) but obviously reduces the amount of honey available to harvest for sale or personal use.....which leads me to say that, at the weekend, we were able to extract 40lbs of honey.


For me this is what it is all about.  There is nothing to beat the scent of freshly extracted honey; it is an annual source of pleasure.  More about that next week.



Saturday 9 May 2015

Events in May

Very strong winds on several days this week blew the blossom off the fruit trees and ornamentals into the courtyard.  It looked like confetti, as though we had had a wedding here.

My plea for rain was obviously heard.  The ground has had a good soaking and the vegetable seeds sown last week have already germinated.

Village attention this week focuses on Footpath Sunday, which will be celebrated this year on May 10th.  Tradition dictates that the footpaths within the parish are walked at least once every year in order for them to remain open.  Of course, under present legislation once a footpath has been registered it is almost impossible to get it closed or diverted and there are strict rules in place which require that specific widths are adhered to and the condition under foot restored if cultivations have taken place.  Nevertheless it is a good opportunity for excercise combined with socialising and is popular with parishioners as well as visitors from outside the parish.

 In many parishes these walks are arranged to take place on Rogation Sunday, when, either before the walks start or during the walks, the crops are blessed.  It is one of the occasions when agriculture and the Church are closely linked.

In the case of Epperstone groups of walkers return to the Village Hall and enjoy a delicious tea, prepared by the Women's Institute. 

Monday 4 May 2015

A Glimpse of the Garden

Well, we had our little bit of rain.  It washed away the dust  and got everything, including the weeds, growing fast.  I managed a stint in the vegetable plot where I planted potatoes, beetroot and peas.  The garden robin sees me coming and waits eagerly for easy pickings.  He is now so unafraid that he frequently lands on my foot; in fact it is I who am afraid in case I tread on him.


The garden is particularly colourful at present, mainly due to the wallflowers which also fill the air with perfume.  Emerging growth on the roses is a dark red which will change to green as the leaves unfold.  The clematis montana is coming into leaf and bud now.  That is a good thing because a blackbird has elected to nest in it but is not sufficiently well-hidden and is easily disturbed. When I have to pass it I take care to look away as this convinces her that she is unseen.


Sunny days and long, light evenings are the attraction for the many walkers who use the public footpath that passes the farm.  Some will simply walk from the village and back, but the more energetic will make it a circular walk, taking an hour or more.  Further afield, on May 9th, Sherwood Forest Country Park is the place to go for the Tree Council's Walk in the Woods when you can join a guided walk, wander through the woods and learn more about the place and its special trees.

On a final note - MORE RAIN- I am sorry, but we do need it; the ground is incredibly dry.