Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 3
About Beekeeping
This chapter is going to work from the ground up, starting like you do—with a brand-
new package in your brand-new equipment. We'll shepherd that colony through its first
year and into the next season, so next year you'll have all the information you need to
continue.
Start by reading the section on installing a package. Become familiar with the se-
quence of events before you begin. Installing a package is a simple process and difficult
to bungle. However, if this is your first time, it can be a bit nerve-racking.
Lighting Your Smoker
Your smoker, hive tool, and protective gear are all tied for first place as need-to-have
beekeeping tools. But you also have to light and keep your smoker lit. If it goes out when
you take your colony apart, you have a problem, and you'll need to retreat to relight.
Meanwhile, your colony stands open and unsecured.
Lighting a smoker is similar to starting a campfire or a fire in a fireplace. Start with
rapidly burning, easily combustible tinder. Newspaper is perfect and readily available.
Once it is burning, add less-flammable material and establish that. Then, if needed, finish
with longer-burning fuel that will sustain the fire for as long as needed. The following
nine-step process works every time.
Step 1: Assemble your tools: paper, pine needles, punk wood, matches, and smoker.
Step 2: Crumple the newspaper into a loose ball that doesn't quite fit into the smoker and
light the bottom.
