Water For Bees, Part 2

Last Fall we noticed that a new neighbor across the canyon had moved in several bee hives, and that his honey bees were drowning in our bird bath because the sides of the dish were apparently too steep for them to climb out of the water.  See Water For Bees from November 26, 2014.

I was so impressed with the design of a landing platform for bees from City Boy Hens that I decided to make one for our yard, although I did not go so far as to make the very handsome exterior container for it.  Instead, we have it sitting in a large fiberglass pot.

Landing Platform

First I went to the lumberyard and bought a cedar fence board and to Smart & Final to buy a food-grade five gallon plastic bucket.  I bought a regular bucket from the lumberyard first, but when I reviewed City Boy's instructions, I realized that the water in the bucket would go into the hive, and so it should be a food grade bucket to avoid introducing unnecessary chemicals into the hive.

Next I cut the cedar board into lengths that would fit inside the bucket and used the jig saw to cut two circular pieces for the body of the landing platform.  I also cut some smaller strips of cedar to use as cleats to join the two circular pieces together, and then drilled quarter inch holes in the piece.  I did not use any glue on the platform because, again, glue would introduce unnecessary chemicals.

Cleats Secure The Two Sides

The next step is to fill the bucket with water.

We've seen bees on it several times, but it will probably become more popular with them in the warmer weather later on.  Meanwhile, the bees continue to patronize our broccoli and lavender plants to make their honey.

The Eyes Have It

The new batch of Yukon Gold and German Butterball potatoes have arrived.  Cindy cut them up the other day into pieces with "eyes" and pieces that without.

Potato Pieces

The eye pieces are currently resting in the dark cupboard under the stairs, and the other pieces became part of dinner.

In a few days Cindy will plant them, eye side up, in grow bags to begin producing a new crop of Yukon Gold and German Butterball potatoes.

Have I mentioned that I love potatoes?

Gardener's Thumb

Cindy had been having a lot of pain in her left hand and thumb for quite a few months, and, of course, was far too stubborn to go to her doctor about it.  The pain and inflammation were so bad that her thumb was curling into her palm and she was unable to flatten out her hand without considerable pain.

She thought that this was the result of planting the garden last Spring and using her left hand to push up on the kneeler she uses.  Why the left hand?  Because you usually have something in your right hand, such as a trowel or another plant if you're right handed, so you use the left to push yourself up and that part of the left hand takes all the weight. The constant stress on her thumb probably tore something and the resulting inflammation caused the pain.  Eventually she began to lose range of motion with the thumb and even began to lose the ability to pick things up with that hand.

After watching her struggle with the turkey and heavy cooking pots at Thanksgiving, I was finally able to persuade her to get Class IV laser treatments from our chiropractor, Dr. Colleen Murphy; after the first treatment, she was able to flatten her hand again.  Since then the pain and swelling have been decreasing with every treatment, and we're very encouraged by this.

Now if she would just let it rest for a while it should be well by the time planting time arrives again.