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Honey Gems Apiary

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Ipswich, QLD
Honey Gems Apiary

Keeper and catcher of spicy flies. Message if you see a swarm from Ipswich to Gatton and surrounds.

15/06/2024

Been quiet, life is busy but the bees keep on buzzing 🙂

Changed my label to update the number of hives I now have.

A little gift in the making for the end of the year.

20/08/2023

Bring on Spring! Girls in the super have built out two frames so things are happening!

Got stung today 😞 so did Mr 5. That was entertaining…. But drone shots were cool!

13/08/2023

Came outside to find offerings left for my bees. (By children)

12/08/2023

Super happy with this new (to me) way to filter the wax. Good old paper towel. Filtered all the gunk out and I’m left with this wax. This is the best I’ve got so far!

Knowing the hot summers I get here, I’ll be able to have a little slow cooker crock pot farm on my wall to melt the wax using the sun, then melt it over the stove to put into moulds! Huzzah! Let’s go 🐝!

Bless Mr 7 who turned the stove off when it started to over flow into the pot.

05/08/2023

I’ll meet you at the lavender bar…. 🐝 🌸

05/08/2023

Spring is ramping up early…. Couldn’t walk out near the hives today without being covered in bees! Exciting times ahead.

(Happy, foraging bees… hahahah)

08/07/2023

Thank you past me for planting plenty of winter flowering plants…..

08/07/2023

With the cost of electricity going absolutely bonkers, time to try using the suns rays ☀️

It’ll be slow going, I’m doing it on I swear the coldest day this year, but once the sun comes out it’ll get to a decent temp here to hopefully melt the wax for free :)

29/06/2023

Winter sees 🐝 bunker down and while it is cold here in the mornings, the days are reaching mid 20’s so the ladies are still out collecting and filling frames.

The last time I took honey, I didn’t have a decent filter system. Finally! I was able to quickly filter the little bits of grit and have honey from my own hive! Huzzah! A small give back after all the time and effort hahaha.

Shout out to https://instagram.com/ozbee_beekeeping?igshid=MTIzZWMxMTBkOA== for the nifty filter fabric.

20/05/2023

Happy World Bee 🐝 Day!

Made my first wax sheet. Lots of trial and error and a bit of mess, but I got there!!!!!

20/05/2023

This I celebrate all who came together in the with - doco coming this August! 5.5 million impacts & COUNTING! 🐝 🐝 🐝

28/04/2023

Not much going on right now, starting to head towards winter so less checks.

Here’s a native bee hanging around my strawberry plants instead :)

23/03/2023

Put the supers on today! Girls keep wanting to build up so up they can go!

11/03/2023

On today’s adventures…. The eldest had the camera.

We had a fun day of 1/3 queen spotting, comb in the lid (now have a cover so hopefully they stop that nonsense) and a bowl full of comb and not ripe honey. Huzzah.

And everything is sticky 🤣🤣🤣

And I got stung on the hand…. Little w***h made a bee line and nabbed me on the hand… grrrr

23/02/2023

The highway is a bit blocked up…..

12/02/2023

Cleaning the wax I got my jar and a half of honey from (plus other bits of collected over the last while.)

The black muck in the middle is from brood cappings. Every time a baby bee hatches it leaves a little shell in the hole. Once melted, the wax flows out and I can throw away the muck and debris.

11/02/2023

Checking my ladies today, good signs of needing a super in spring!

The is a bit slow going. Might need to introduce a new law and order to get the ball rolling in it.

Need to put a hive mat in one 😂. They started building in the lid, whoops!

11/02/2023

Liquid gold 🐝 🍯

Got a new toy, a wax press to squeeze all the honey from the comb. Slow going as I’ve only got a small sieve but all good :)

10/02/2023

Finalllyyyyyyyyy

Came in from a slow boat from China 😂😂😂

Watch this space…

02/02/2023

Happy place watching the ladies come and go……

Not much happening here in paradise right now, trying to stay cool and not turn into a puddle 😕 🥵

20/01/2023

Love watching Queens return to their hive…..

12/01/2023

This is my entry into the World Record for "Most Photos of Women+ Beekeeping Uploaded in 24 Hours"!

Help us set the record NOW by uploading a photo of you beekeeping to your own social media!
Sister Hives Australia
Extreme Excellence World Records & Media

11/01/2023

Painted and named. Just need to fill the boxes (gradually, nothing crazy!!!).

Two new names will join this fun when we get back up and running which I’m excited about!

10/01/2023

Ants have really taken a toll here. I’ve lost two hives in the last two months and they had started on my original hive. Thankfully we still have this one left. I did a quick check today and saw the queen and lots of eggs.

Due to the reduced numbers though, hive beetles are having a field day. I cut this small corner out as it’s the only larvae I could see and I’ve frozen it. Stop that cycle 😡

Hopefully I have better luck next season 😞

Edit: I think this is wax moth, not SHB.

08/01/2023

Today’s work. Just need to put the adjustable legs on it and paint!
One very lucky girl (and lucky bees!) 🐝

07/01/2023

I’m the one with the hair brained ideas and I’ve married someone who has the skills and technology to make it happen 🤣.

New stands which will be ant proof. 🐜

24/12/2022

Last check of 2022!

Small hive is still chugging along, one day they’ll fill this box. Can’t rush this pretty lady. Lots of eggs and empty frames ready for more eggs, just need more nurse bees.

Flow Hive is being a pain, new queen = no new bees for a while = drop in hive population = *waves in Small Hive Beetle* = remove super to allow bees to re populate. Maybe next year I’ll get honey *sigh*.

20/12/2022

Sad day today. Opened up a recently split native bee hive as I’d seen a few phoird flies and small hive beetles…. Boyyyyyyyyyyyyy came up after a gym session and there were heaps 🙈😭.

Opened up the box and shed a tear. Poor ladies. Your work will not be in vain, I’ll clean the wax out and reuse it for next time. Full super of honey tainted by these horrible little flies. What a waste….
Check the comments for 🤮 maggots 🤮

*I did not do this split, it was done by someone else.

12/12/2022

Took the plastic off the super on my native hive, lots of bees everywhere.

This little whiteish one is a newly hatched house/nurse bee.

The honey is so sickly sweet!

09/12/2022

This heat sucks, but these ladies never seem to stop….

Address

Ipswich, QLD
4306

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