The win-win

Someone suggested to me that I share my blog with the Loudoun County Beekeepers membership.  As a first year beekeeper this idea sounds both wonderful and terrifying at the same time.  Panic, read it over, correct errors, read it again, smile, remember that it's all about learning.  Deep breath.  Jump in with both feet and don't look back.

My experiences have been different than those of my first year counterparts.  Molly did splits this year, Stephanie's hives both did well, I haven't checked in with Bonni in ages so I'm not sure how her hives are doing.  Shamefully I admit that I didn't reach out to make more friends from our class so I don't know about other people's experiences.  But I know all about my ups and downs.  And when I read past entries I'm very glad that I kept a journal.  And I'm more glad I took a lot of pictures.  In my zeal to take pictures, I probably encouraged robbing and didn't know it.  In checking my hives I probably killed the queen in the package hive in that crucial first month.  I didn't start feeding syrup to the package hive soon enough.  Robbing screens could have been put on weeks ago and maybe the package hive would have had more stored honey.

This blog was initially created to keep my non beekeeping friends and family in the loop, to get them interested in what I'm doing out here in Virginia.  I discounted the notion that what I'd write could be helpful or of interest to other people in the beekeeing world. Now it looks like I'll get to be a part of the learning process and this opportunity will open the doors to further my own learning.  It's a win-win situation.

Now if you'll excuse me I need to panic, read it over, correct errors, read it again, smile, and remember that it's all about learning.