This Is Sacred to Me
The VI Honey Man came this morning to remove a large nest of bees from our “bush” property.
Bees had been living in an old metal barbecue grill just on the other side of the fence from the house we rent across the street from SunDog House. I was afraid that if we moved the puppy, Harvey over there, he would, in his playful puppiness disturb the bees and get badly hurt if they attacked him.
So we called the Honey Man.
Michael spent part of yesterday opening the chain-link fence (and fixing it so it could be closed up again) so the bee expert could easily access the nest.
I am absolutely in awe of what this man does. Bees are such an integral part of life on Earth, and he is so skilled and knowledgeable about how to live in harmony with them, that I get very emotional just thinking about it. I feel that he’s a High Priest, deserving of the utmost respect and admiration. He is a second generation beekeeper, and his 9-year-old son is following in his footsteps.
There were thousands of bees in this nest. They had been there for many years, and they were just getting ready to send out a bunch of new queens. The Honey Man said we called him just in time.
I had a few errands to do this morning, but he was still here when I returned, and I couldn’t stop watching him. He was just outside of the window of what we now call “Hairy House” because the dogs usually have free reign inside and out. For this occasion, however, we moved them all back to SunDog House. Michael and I watched from inside to avoid getting stung.
The Honey Man painstakingly sorted through the buzzing swarm, cutting pieces of honeycomb and scooping bees out of his way, working with a small smoker to calm them when necessary.
He will come back either tomorrow evening or Monday evening to move the bees that return to the wooden hive he used to replace the metal one that they’d been using. Until he’s finished with this task, we will stay with the dogs at SunDog House.
July 10th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
I love bees, honey and the work they do. We have quite a few bee keepers near home.
July 11th, 2010 at 8:01 am
Great Caesar’s ghost! Look at those things! Did it occur to anyone to bake some biscuits? No black bears on that island I can tell you. Hurricane candles? Arthritis treatment center? That is the most workers I have seen in one place on St Croix in my entire life!
July 11th, 2010 at 11:55 am
Biscuits, no. But we had some of the honey on toast this morning. The little guys seem to have settled back into their routine, but with the make-shift wooden hive, so the Honeyman will be back to get them tonight or tomorrow night.
July 11th, 2010 at 12:49 pm
Wish We had some pics of him in his suit with that big face thingy. He still got stung a more than a few times, though.
July 12th, 2010 at 1:39 pm
During one of the past droughts, I found my bird water basins with a lot of dead bees. I put rocks in them to provide ramps so they could climb out. Now there are very few drowned creatures. They seem to come when the genips are flowering.
We were e-mailed pictures of some stateside patio grill that had a cover over it since the autumn. In late spring the owners noticed something pooling under it — Honey!
July 13th, 2010 at 3:54 pm
Wonderful homage to an honored skill. We’re so lucky to have people here who are thoroughly committed to keeping this alive. The Ag Dep.t. has been offering a 12 week beekeeping course and it’s been filling up.
It must have been very inspiring watching him work and seeing his son helping him.
Thanks for posting this Terry ( and Michael ).
July 16th, 2010 at 11:37 am
Thanks, y’all for reading and commenting.
July 21st, 2010 at 5:24 pm
Y’all? Oh right…you live with a southern facing view.
October 1st, 2010 at 7:56 am
We have a hive of bees at our home above Green Cay and would like to visit with the Honey Man. Could you please share his contact information?
Thanks for your help.
October 1st, 2010 at 9:24 am
The Honey man will come to you, Evelyn, You can call him at 772-1772 or 642-8740.
Good luck!
November 23rd, 2010 at 6:41 am
Oh my God…..just look at that there were thousands of bees in this nest.
November 23rd, 2010 at 7:16 am
I would like to say that this blog really convinced me,Well I love bees, honey and the work they do. you give me best information! Thanks, very good post
December 27th, 2010 at 7:29 am
We’re so lucky to have people here who are thoroughly committed to keeping this alive. The Ag Dep.t. has been offering a 12 week beekeeping course and it’s been filling up.
July 10th, 2011 at 7:55 am
I TOO HAVE FEAR OF BEES! but if you harm them bees will be disaster for you but if we do not disturb them they dont harm us… hats off to the bee expert could easily access the their nest.
November 29th, 2011 at 8:27 am
I love bees and I am too fond of honey, yummy! And I have a bee’s nest at my home.