Bye Bye Bees

Posted on Thursday 29 March 2007 at 10:57

Dave is adamant about selling most of our hives. I'm not sure how I feel about that, because the industrial world in which he works is very unstable right now. It's that whole thing of how they say you can count on five or six career (not just job) changes in your life these days.

He says if he stays at his job, he won't have time for the bees. If he ends up in a different job, odds are he'll have even less time for the bees. What it comes down to is, we're not going $100,000 into debt to start up an operation.

I have a teensy, tiny, momentary pang because if I liked the bees, I could keep it going for him when he's not around. But the fact is, the closest I'll get to them is the extracting room. I don't like them that much. I always have wondered at the irony that the one job he really loves is the one I so strongly dislike having on my back step.

Why is this so?

It might be my shampoo. But they always buzz me and do their best to get tangled in my hair. He can be in the middle of the hives, tearing them apart, and I'll be over in the garden 300 yards away getting stung.

It might be the fact that several years ago, he made me help him move the hives, and I got stung on my, er, nether parts when moving from a crouch to a standing lift. (Is that confession going to come back to haunt me in Internet history?)

It might be the fact that I've had wasps crawl up my sleeve and sting me. They bite and sting at the same time, and keep stinging, because unlike honey bees, their stingers don't rip out of their bodies after the first shot.

Or maybe I'm just a big wuss. But the fact is, I would far rather write about honeybees than work with them.

My honey says he'll keep his equipment for a time when he has time. So, maybe the day will come. In the meantime, he's keeping enough hives to maintain our direct sales, while eliminating the need to ship barrels three hours away to the bulk honey depot in Winnipeg.

Maybe this isn't even funny, given our job concerns right now, but.... Call it corporate streamlining. ;~)

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Posted by GrandmaRosie on Friday 30 March 2007 at 12:14 - Link

Gosh, sorry to hear you may stop beekeeping. DH and I are just trying to learn to keep bees. In the planning stages so far, wish I were close enough to buy some hives from you!!

Well

Posted by HSBFrontPorch on Friday 30 March 2007 at 12:16 - Link

I'm glad that you're not having to get rid of all of the hives at least. This way you'll still get to enjoy and share raw honey, but your hubby won't feel quite as much pressure to keep up with the larger number.
~Nancy

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Posted by morningsunshine on Friday 30 March 2007 at 09:19 - Link

sad days. ah well, things will work out for the best - I am a firm believer in that! I also wish I was close enough to buy some hives from you. of course, we do not yet have our setup for bees, so it wouldn't do any good anyway!

best wishes!

Sunshine

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Posted by homesteadinthemaking on Friday 30 March 2007 at 10:02 - Link

My Dh would too like to get a couple of hives but I am a little leary. After reading this post I am even more leary. I hope all turns out well with your Dh job. I know how scary the unknown is.
Blessings,
Trixi

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Posted by Rhen on Friday 30 March 2007 at 10:14 - Link

Sorry to hear about your downsizing. Smart to keep equipment though! We are in the planning stages of getting bees. DH is really looking forward to it.
God Bless,
~Rhen

So interesting!

Posted by Pattisea on Friday 30 March 2007 at 02:21 - Link

I've always wanted to "grow" bees! For some of the reasons you've mentioned, plus the fact that our neighbors don't want bees in THEIR yards, we haven't!

I hope that things work out for you and your family; it is strange and amazing how we can adapt to change!

Patti

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Posted by BlueApple on Friday 30 March 2007 at 06:15 - Link

I'm afraid of bees, but I've always admired those that work with them. Hopefully, one day when things are better your husband will be able to keep more of them again.
Julia