Bee Gifted

Well… last week’s visit to the bees definitely didn’t go to plan! 🤣🐝

I spotted a wasp hanging around Hive 2 and became convinced the wasps might have taken over.

So I suited up and went in looking for wasps.

Did I find any? Nope. But I did find three queen cells and after getting some advice reunited my two hives?

Were the bees happy about me rearranging their entire home at bedtime? Absolutely not. and let me know how upset they were by stinging me right underneath my chin. By the following day, my chin and neck had swollen so much that I ended up getting a check up at A&E.

I can laugh about it now, but it really did knock my confidence around the bees. Every little buzz near my head had me flinching and flapping!

Yesterday I went back and spent a few quiet minutes beside the hive, just watching the girls coming and going. No drama, no sting and no flapping. It felt lovely to be back with them. 💛

Keep upto date with all my bee keeping adventures over in my group https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehivebybeegifted/ hopefully they wont all be this dramatic

Sunday evening means getting my diary and planner ready for the week ahead… especially when Monday is a full-on admin day. Oh, the joys! 😂

This is what running a small business looks like sometimes. It’s not especially glamorous, but all those emails, invoices, accounts, spreadsheets, stock checks and other little jobs quietly keep Bee Gifted running behind the scenes.

I use my brain-dump book to time block my days. Having a set time for each task helps me stay focused instead of jumping between 101 different jobs and finishing none of them!

I’m still learning not to pack every available minute with work, though. Apparently breaks and finishing at a sensible time are supposed to go in the calendar too 😂

Are you naturally organised for the week ahead, or like me do you survive using lists, notebooks and several reminders?

Well… there are officially two hives in my apiary! 🐝🐝

Last week we carried out hive inspection, and it turned into a rather big day in my beekeeping journey because we split my first colony.

During the inspection we found newly built comb, larvae, capped brood and stored honey. It was amazing to see how much had been happening inside the hive since my previous visit.

The colony has now been divided between BG001 and BG002, and I’m feeding both hives while they settle into their new homes.

I still can’t quite believe I started with one hive just over a month ago and I’m already looking after two. I’m excited, proud and, if I’m honest, slightly nervous too!

Earlier in the week I asked for help choosing names for them. Two lovely themes came through: flowers and inspirational women, including Manchester’s own Emmeline Pankhurst. but I still don't think I have quite decided yet.

I am still open to your wonderful suggestions

A little reminder that every Bee Gifted order really does matter, and I appreciate every single one of them 💛

August has been a quieter month for events, so while I’m spending plenty of time learning about my bees, I also need to make sure Bee Gifted continues bringing in an income.

You can currently find Bee Gifted products at Keep It Local in Warrington and The Potteries, as well as The World of Glass in St Helens.

I was delighted to see that a few more items found new homes through Keep It Local this week 🐝

Behind the scenes, I’m also updating my website and Etsy shop and beginning to prepare for my September window at The Potteries Centre.

If you prefer to shop with me in person, my next two events are:

🐝 Saturday 29th August
Poynton Horticultural Show
Poynton Show Ground, South Park Drive, SK12 1BS
9am–5pm

🐝 Monday 31st August
All Are Love MBS Event
The Irish Centre, Manchester, M8 0AE
10:30am–4:30pm

Please keep checking my website, Etsy shop and stockists. If you’re not ready to buy, simply sharing my small business or giving me a little shout-out can make a real difference. It’s surprising just how much it helps small businesses like mine 💛

Today’s little lesson from my beginner beekeeping journey 🐝

What is a honey super? 🍯🐝

This was a question one of my followers asked recently, so I thought other people might be wondering too.

A honey super is the box that sits above the main brood area of a beehive. It contains frames where the bees can store surplus honey.

The brood box is mainly where the queen lays her eggs and the young bees are raised. The super is where beekeepers hope to eventually collect honey but only when the bees have produced more than they need for themselves.

My colonies aren’t at that stage yet. and wont be until at least next season so for now, the focus is on helping them grow, build comb and establish themselves properly so they can make it through the winter.

I’m learning that beekeeping involves an awful lot of patience. You can’t rush the bees, no matter how excited you are! 🐝

Did you already know what a honey super was, or have you learnt something new from me today?

The apiary has had a little upgrade 🐝

A new arch has been added and the plan is to grow bee-friendly flowers over it, with a mixture that flowers through spring and summer. It will hopefully look beautiful, but more importantly, it will provide another source of food for the bees.

We also have stand number two ready and waiting for BG002… although I’m really starting to think my hives need better names than something that sounds like it belongs in a sci-i movie

I’m so excited to watch this little space grow over the next few years. There’s still lots to do and even more for me to learn, but slowly but surely, my plans are starting to come together 💛

I’ve been updating my Etsy and website this week and having a proper look at what people are buying, which products are the most popular… and which ones if any might need a break 💛🐝

So, I need your help! Which of these two is your favourite?

🌻 Sunflower Bee
🐝 Bumble & Kind

No overthinking just tell me which one you’d choose 💛

Today you can find me at Walkden Market for the very first time! 🐝

I have brought lots of delicious honey, including the award-winning Heather honey and some very popular monofloral honeys. Apple Blossom is one of them and I’ve been having it drizzling that over my oats this week. It is so lovely!

I also have plenty of bee-utiful bee-themed gifts for anyone who loves all things bee related… or needs a thoughtful present for someone who does 💛

📍 Walkden Town Centre
Bolton Road
Walkden, Worsley
Manchester, M28 3ZD

⏰ Saturday, 10am–4pm

Come and have a browse, stock up on honey or just pop over and say hello. It will be super lovely to see you!