There are so many things to study and consider before deciding to be a beekeeper. We talked to several wranglers and decided Byron from Sweet Texas Gold honey was a good choice. He is calm, knowledgeable, and reasonably priced. Rob was supposed to accompany me to pick up the bees, but he had a work trip. I decided to enlist the help of my version of “Thelma & Louise”. Also known as Brenda and Patti! They are sponsors of my hives and are excited to get to experience this momentous excursion with me. I am so excited they are coming and thankful to have the support. I have done lots or research and am prepared to be a great beekeeper to 500,000 of my new best friends. BTW- email me texomafarmsemail@gmail.com if you want to learn more about sponsoring a hive and what it means for you.
In my final prep, I texted Byron about some last-minute questions. I was preparing to make the sugar syrup that I need to install in the hives when they land on property. Now I was thinking a couple of gallons or so was what I needed…nope. He wants one gallon per hive. That is 8 gallons at a concentration of 3 parts sugar to 2 parts water! That is like “meth” for a bee! That is the size of a bedside table full of syrup. How am I and two senior ladies going to lift that in the truck and back out again? Not to mention…where do I get a bedside table sized liquid container. Never fear. In small towns there is always a feed store, mission accomplished. But I also needed 16 bags of sugar, that is a crap ton of sugar. I decided to go to the “Gordonville Mall” as we locals refer to our Dollar General Store. As I was waiting in the check-out line a “gentleman” says, “Little lady, you makin’ moonshine with all that sugar?” I am sure glad my Botox is still active because I guarantee my face would have conveyed all my thoughts at once. For instance…”Is he serious? How do you make moonshine? I bet he’s made moonshine. Maybe you need fresh veggies instead of those moonpies and hotpockets.” Best to stop thoughts here. I loaded up and headed home for two hours of melting sugar!
Thank goodness for great neighbors. I realized I needed help with Rob out of town. Keith and Mary Lynn are our new neighbors, and we already owe them dearly for some dog favors! Why stop now. They were so sweet to come over and help me get the container up in the truck that evening and met me at the farm the next morning to unload it next to the apiary in anticipation of the afternoon's activities. Total life savers! It definitely takes a village to raise 500,000 bees.
Once the “Thelma and Louise” got to the farm, we piled in Rob’s truck and headed about an hour out of town to The Bee Supply Co. in Blue Ridge Texas. I was so incredibly nervous and this took me by surprise. I had done my research, my wrangler was meeting me back on the farm, but I was still terrified. I diagnosed my fears throughout the day. I was afraid my friends might get stung. I was afraid to look like a “newbee” in the bee pick up line. I was afraid that we couldn’t get them tied down well enough and the tops would fly off. I was afraid to drive on the highway with 8 hives of pissed off bees. I was just afraid. I continued to internally counsel myself and eventually resolved each of my fears into excitement. We three ladies killed it! We owned that we were newbees and they were happy to help us.
Brenda became our resident rachet strap expert thanks to You Tube, and we were ready to load up and head home.
Byron met us at the farm and we began settling them all into their new field full of wildflowers. It will take them a while to get settled, and in a week or so we will check the frames to see if they are thriving in their new “digs”.
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I made this fun movie to capture the day. Enjoy, we sure did!
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