Bee Hive Relocation

Spring is here and the bees are swarming on St. John.  So much so that a swarm decided to make our outdoor shower their new home!  Last week I noticed buzzing around our newly installed wall sconces.  Since the fixtures were original to the house, repurposed for the outdoor shower, I assumed the buzzing was due to wiring and figured I'd get the electricians to take a look at the sconces again.  The next day George looked up and there they were!  

The Winter Olympics & The Cinnamon Bay Hiking Trail

The start of the Winter Olympics has got me missing cold winters this week.   Luckily it's simply a fleeting thought, as I think about all the snow that's fallen on the US and Canada recently.  We might not have gotten our share of fallen white snow, but certainly have gotten our share of beautiful yellow fallen leaves caused by our 75 degree winter temperature.  And although I didn't get a chance to go cross-country sking this weekend, I did manage to go on a beautiful island hike!


My favorite time of day for a hike is early morning well before 9 AM!  It's still cool out, the trails are quite, there are loads of birds and animals to observe, and most of the time I'll have a trail all to myself!  St. John is filled with wonderful hiking trails as two-thirds of the island is protected by the Virgin Islands National Park.  Here is a picture from a vantage point on the Cinnamon Bay Trail.

The Cinnamon Bay Trail starts off of North Shore Road, across from the Cinnamon Bay camp ground and ascends to Centerline Road, at the island's center.  The trail is 1.1 miles each way and a solid exercise hike.  Unlike many of our trails, this trail ascends rather then descends first.  The trail is lined with fragrant bay rum and cinnamon and includes a detour to visit ruins.  Here are a few things I found particularly inspiring on this hike.  I can see these becoming fabric patterns or colors in the near future.


Warm Wishes,
CC

Beekeeping in the Virgin Islands

Last week I graduated from beekeeping class. It was a very proud moment! The class was a 12-week pilot program sponsored by the V.I. Department of Agriculture on all three Virgin Islands. Here's a picture of me at the graduation ceremony on St. Thomas.

I confess my initial motivation was the honey. I love honey! I cook with it, bake with it, and use it often. But once I started learning about bees that quickly changed. We take a holistic approach to beekeeping on St. John. We're not honey hunters here! It's all about the bees, caring for them and ensuring their well being. The honey comes later. 

St. John graduated 24 beekeepers in this class. Here's a picture of the class after visiting our classmate's hives. Thanks Mark & Mark! Picture is courtesy of photographer and fellow classmate Kathryn Wagner.

Beekeeping unites people from all walks of life.  The group is composed of a chef, a midwife, a musician, a hairdresser, energy healers, photographers, landscapers, carpenters, and a designer of course.  Just to name a few.  It's an eclectic bunch here on St. John. 

Some of my classmates have already started hives.  I am patiently waiting to start my own.  Starting a hive is quite different here.  First off we work with Africanized bees not the Italian variety popular stateside.  It's the species we have in the Virgin Islands, and importing honey bees is certainly frowned upon as our local variety is plentiful and healthy.

A hive is started by either rescuing a wild hive or catching and attracting a swarm through the use of pheromones and a swarm trap.  The later being less work but more difficult to find and catch.  In contrast, rescuing hives can be a labor intensive yet rewarding endeavor.  It involves going out to a location where someone wants to remove an unwanted hive.  This picture is from a recent rescue and removal effort, the hive was in between the floor and ceiling in a home on Gifft Hill.

It's funny, I had a natural and normal fear of bees when I started the program.  That fear has turned into respect and today I am much more confidant and at ease when working with hives.  We learn that our state of mind certainly affects the bees.  Calm beekeeper = Calm bees. Hmm, I think this will become my new personal mantra! But I'm never lax about it, wear protective gear and spent a lot of time in class learning when and how to properly approach and handle bees to avoid attacks.


I never thought beekeeping would be something I would ever do, but once I started to learn about bees it became positively addictive!  Although some of my classmates have plans to develop bee businesses, my goals are modest.  A strong, healthy hive, and just maybe a little honey for me and my friends :-)


More of beekeeping in the Virgin Islands soon!
CC