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and constantly checking the bees. In Spring, brand new colonies are started, and the hives are cleaned up. This is the beginning of the season for the bees: "They're just sort of biding time till spring,” he explains.
In Summer, the bees swarm. This means that, when the hives become too crowded, bees move out and make another home for themselves, in a tree or log. Amberson says that this is the happiest time of year for the bees: they are producing honey at full throttle, are busy and productive. But it’s the keeper’s job to capture the escaping bees and rehouse them in a new hive. Says Amberson, "Basically, it’s a matter of physically grabbing the bees, shoving them in a box, and putting a lid on the box. You hope the Queen’s in there too!" This is also the time when the honey is collected by most beekeepers.
In the fall, the Queen stops laying eggs until January 01 February, and the hive goes into hibernation. The keeper must leave 40 to 60 pounds oi honey for the bees to live on until spring. In winter, they form themselves into a massive ball, and rotate throughout the cold month: so that the bees on the ouside will work inwards towards the warm center, and the bees in the middle will work outwards to the perimeters. With the coming of spring, the cycle repeats itself, and the keeper must start all over again.
Beekeeping creates an intense curiosity about the bees and their lives. It seems that you cannot just keep bees and do only what is strictly necessary to keep them alive: these tiny insects are so intricate and exact in their work, that a keeper finds himself caught up in them like a dog fancier is obssessed with his hounds, or a horse breeder is completely wrapped up in his horses. ‘‘It's a fascinating occupation,” says Amberson, who scorns the word ‘‘hobby”. Beekeeping is much more than a hobby to those who have hives - it is a never ending source of conversation among fellow enthusiasts. It is a source of a very nutricious food, and it is' a chance to observe nature's; supremely efficient organization.
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