BeekeepingDaily 12.28.2012 - A day or two off

Christmas 2012 is pretty much history.

Unlike two years ago, it didn't snow. It just rained, and then rained some more. That's okay. We needed the rain and will appreciate the outpouring from the skies this spring.

The seed catalogues are beginning to show up, so there is plenty to look at and look forward to.

Meanwhile, I'm trying to get at clearing some fence rows at the back of the pasture. It's probably been 20 years since a lot of that has been cleared, and back then it was the cattle that my father-in-law kept that did the clearing.

The cattle are gone, but there is plenty of vegetation -- trees, vines, privet, and the like -- to take their place. If I can convince myself that it will warm up just a tad, I'll be out there.

Meanwhile, here's what the good folks at Google have been gathering for those of us interesting in beekeeping.

Web 3 new results for beekeeping
Natural Beekeeping | Walter T. Kelley Blog When I first started beekeeping folks snickered because I wouldn't treat my bees. I took some pretty hard comments from old time beekeepers and commercial ... https://kelleybees.com/blog/2012/12/1429/
Beekeeping in Western Montana | Walter T. Kelley Blog As readers have told us they enjoy hearing about beekeeping in areas different from their own, we asked him to tell us about beekeeping challenges in an area ... https://kelleybees.com/blog/.../beekeeping-in-western-montana...
Beginning Beekeeping Class at Sacramento County Cooperative ... Get details for Beginning Beekeeping Class, including date, start time, driving directions and more. Find other - Workshops & Classes events in Sacramento, CA. events.sfgate.com/.../299655465-beginning-beekeeping-class

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News 1 new result for beekeeping

County eases restrictions on beekeeping Napa Valley Register The Napa County Beekeepers Association devised some best-management practices for beekeeping, which directs that hives should be kept as far away from neighborhoods as possible to keep them from being a nuisance. The association promotes using ... See all stories on this topic »

Blogs 1 new result for beekeeping

Southeastern CT Now Offers Beginner Beekeeping Class ... By Bree Shirvell Denison Farm Market Master and the Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center partner up to offer a beginner beekeeping class. Waterford Patch

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Web 1 new result for beekeeping

Beekeeping at Home with To-Bee Beekeeping at home has never looked so good with this new design from students at the Bexalel Academy of Arts and Design. www.finedininglovers.com/blog/curious.../beekeeping-at-hom...

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Blogs 1 new result for beekeeping

Ask the Beekeeper: Where Have All the Honeybees Gone? | Care2 ... By NRDC Jennifer Sonntag is NRDC's resident beekeeper. Here she talks about why we need honeybees, the issues they're facing right now and what it's like to be a beekeeper in the middle of busy New York City. Care2 Causes

Web 1 new result for beekeeping

Introduction to Beekeeping / February 16 - Fairview Gardens This beginning beekeeper's class will introduce participants to the respectful and organic ways of keeping honeybees. Overall focus will home in on the unique ... www.fairviewgardens.org/.../introduction-to-beekeeping-april-...

December ponderings, mixed with a bit of snow

A large plowed field will be waiting for me in the spring

A couple of weeks ago, a neighbor drove his tractor and plow up the road to my garden and gave it a once-over. We had been generous with the honey we had given to him and his wife, so he returned the favor, and we are grateful to him.

I had in mind extending the garden from last year's dimensions, and I had marked off -- more or less -- the borders that I wanted him to plow.

Kenneth (the neighbor) apparently didn't think I was working hard enough, however, so he proceeded to plow beyond my markings, and now I have a garden that's about 150 feet long and 50 feet. I suspect that gives me nearly twice the growing space that I had last spring and summer.

Whew!

That will certainly make for an interesting planting and growing season next year. Right now, and for the next three months, its planning season. And right on schedule, the seed catalogues have begun to show up. Today, we got one from Totally Tomato.

Looking at the pictures, I begin to imagine what next year might be like.

I do that after walking around the garden this morning as the snow was coming down and even beginning to stick. The snow won't amount to much today, but it was pretty and pleasant and non-threatening.

It reminds me of how different things will look six months from now.

And that difference is one of God's blessings to us.