Summer's Insects

   As a bee keeper, this is the time of year when I spend time trying to educate  folks (children, mainly) about bees and their benefits.  But I also find myself defending them and trying to remove the bad rap bees have gotten due to the general public calling ANYTHING that stings a bee.
    So, here is a round up of several stinging and biting insects, how to identify them, and what to do if you end up on their bad side!
   Bees:  there are several types of bees - honey bees are my favorite, but also Mason bees, bumble bees, wood bees (some call them carpenter bees, but I have never seen them heft a hammer), sweat bees, ground bees, etc.
Honey bees:  they have hairy body - adapted to help collect pollen, their protein source.  They have a stinger with a small hook at the end, causing it to become embedded in the victim.  This also means the entire stinger and venom sac is pulled from the bee's body, so it is able to sting only once, and will die soon after. They live in  hives tended by humans, but also can be found in the classic "bee tree" of Winnie The Pooh fame.

Honey bees on comb

Bumble bee: hairier body than the honey bee.  They also use pollen as their protein source. Is capable of stinging many times.

Bumble bee

Carpenter/Wood bees:  These look like and are often mistaken for bumble bees.  Carpenter bees are somewhat solitary, nesting near others of their sort, but not making a hive.  They will eat tunnels into wood - often they can be seen in garage soffits, or porch railings.

                  

carpenter bee

Paper wasp nest

Wasps:          They have a smooth body and a straight stinger able to inflict several stings in rapid succession. Most easily recognized for their  very thin "waist" separating the body into two very distinct sections. Wasps are often feared more than necessary.  Yes, they will defend their homes if disturbed, but most of the time they just want to  live, mate, and eat other insect pests.

Yellow Jacket nesting in a hole near the ground

Yellow Jackets:   These are the nasty ones who end up in that can of soda you were drinking, and can sting your mouth when you take a swig. (Yes, experience talking here!) They are in the same order as wasps and hornets.  They are easily recognized by their bright yellow and black striping.  They are, however, a bit thicker than wasps with a shorter body.  Like wasps, they can, and will, sting multiple times. Avoid leaving food, particularly sweet food, uncovered at picnics to avoid their presence in your food.

Hornets: Again, these guys will sting many times in a quick period of time.  The last time I accidentally disturbed a nest I was stung five times on my fingers before I could even yell. Smooth bodies help identify these, as do their nests which are often found hanging in trees - generally they are quite magnificent to behold.  These nest are made from wood pulp. 

A hornet nest in a tree. 

   
      In all cases, if you are stung, try very hard not to panic.  Flailing your arms and screaming will only continue to agitate the insects and will possibly result in more stings than if you stand still or walk away.  (Hard to remember when you feel under attack, but try.)  Scrape out the stinger (if from a honey bee), do not grab as this will squeeze more venom into the area, resulting in pain and swelling.  Use a fingernail or a jack knife or the edge of a credit card to scrape across the skin and lift the stinger out.  Wash the area and apply ice for any swelling.  Antihistamines (like Benedryl) can help with itching and swelling.
 IF YOU EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS, SWELLING OF THE TONGUE OR THROAT, HIVES(no pun here, really), OR A WEAK  AND RAPID HEARTBEAT, SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.  These are all signs of an allergic reaction and should not be ignored.


Ticks: They live in fields, bushes, woods, even your yard, so you will probably encounter them periodically.  If you find a tick attached to you, carefully pull it out using a pair of tweezers. Wash the area and keep an eye on it.  It is not only the deer tick which is now carrying the Lyme disease.  Look for the red bull's eye rash and pay attention if you start feeling "off" - aching in the joints can  be a symptom on Lyme Disease, and should be mentioned to your doctor.

Mosquitoes:  They breed in standing water, so be aware of water in pool covers, birdbaths, and buckets, dumping and replacing it.  they are most prevalent in the early morning and evening hours, so to avoid bites, stay inside during those hours.  (Okay, reality check - no one wants to spend all summer indoors during the evenings!)  There are various  mosquito repellents on the market, choose the one you prefer, and wear it.  Many folks swear by citronella candles and torches, others by planting lemon grass near patios.  I do not know how efficacious any of these methods, are, but feel free to try them.
   If you are bitten (a misnomer as they are actually stabbing you with their needle-like mouths to draw out blood),  hydrocortison creams can lessen the itching, as can calamine lotions.  Above all, do not scratch , as this can break the skin, introduce bacteria, and lead to infection.
    Have a fabulous summer!

The Hopeful Farmer #5

   Okay, it looks like the farm will have to become its own blog - this does not seem very designer-ish to be talking of fields and trucks and tractors.
    But...speaking of tractors - after many nights trolling craigslist, the hubby went out and bought a tractor today.  It is a Ford 801 - which were built between 1957 and 1962.  It is big enough to do everything we need it for, and a few things we haven't even thought of yet.  It has a live pto and comes with chains, a 2 bottom plow and a back blade! To top it off, the gentleman who is selling it is going to deliver it - meaning we do not have to rent a trailer to transport it.  Here is what it looks like.

This is not actually her, I cannot get her photo to transfer.

When it arrives home, we will have to name her, but I have to drive her to get a better idea of what her name is.

The Hopeful Farmer #4

     We bought a farm!  Yesterday we FINALLY went to closing on the farm.  Now we do not have to ask permission to run up the hill.  I can pull cattails at will.  I can plant the largest garden I want to.  Or not.  Now that we KNOW the sale has gone through, we can really plan - before it was about being, well, hopeful.  Now it gets real.
     Today, after volunteering at the elementary school, my husband and I took a test drive in the tallest truck I have ever driven. If it did not have a handle built into the front of the door area, I would never be able to get into it.  If we buy it, I may have to stash a small step stool behind the seat! It is big, and has a utility cap with the little side cabinets on the outside, V-8 engine and some rust - a perfect farm truck because I would never worry about it if it got a ding or a scratch.
    When the gate is down, I am tall enough to throw feed bags in the back.  However, I do have to climb the back to close the door on the cap.  Ah, the disadvantages of being short!
    Now to coop building and chicken purchases!

The Hopeful Farmer #3

    It has been forever - or at least it feels that way - since we made the offer on the farm.  Okay, so it was a month and a half ago, but in the Spring, for me, losing half of April and all of May for planting trees and bushes is very difficult, and thus seems eternal.
    We have been jumping through every hoop Wells Fargo  put before us, as well as the realtor, the insurance companies - heck, the Universe in general.  Today we did the walk through, and would have closed if one of the attorneys had not been needed in court.  So, (as my Dad used to say) "God willing and the creek don't rise" we will be closing tomorrow afternoon.
    There are so many possibilities; it is very exciting - and scary - and daunting, but all possible.  We walked through the barn today with an eye for chicken coop placement.  Looked with a critical eye at the two ponds which have been silted in for some time and which we will try to reclaim - somehow!

 They are filled with cattails, so we have our own supply of free starch and protein (and you thought I did not really read all my Euell Gibbons books!) as well as some fabulous fiber possibilities from the fluff (is it possible to spin it?) and from retting the stalks.   Lately evenings have been spent on Craig's List looking at second hand pick up trucks, and tractors with bush hog attachments.
   We asked to visit the farm on Mother's Day, and the owner graciously allowed it, and we got some shots of the place in Spring.

one of the stone walls marking the border

    Hiking through the forested area, the kids were already planning  camping trips with their friends. There are lots of different types of wildlife  - deer, bears, turkeys, porcupines, and salamanders! The owner said there have been mountain lion sightings, but he himself has not seen any.

So much better than a computer screen!

We have a lot of very interesting trees on the property.

Apples or crabapples? I still do not know. 

The view from the area I have dubbed "Bald Mountain."

Looking down at the house and barn from the high pasture.

So, keep your fingers crossed that all goes well tomorrow! I'll keep you posted as well!
  

the Hopeful Farmer #2

   So there was good news this week.  We had been waiting to hear from a mortgage agent about whether or not they would take on the farm mortgage and we got the okay.  Our realtor had taken us to a bank he often uses, and we were accepted, but my husband felt like he was being railroaded a bit.  So we went to the folks who hold our home mortgage, and after many appraisals, they approved a mortgage 2 percentage points lower than the other guys were offering.  There are some issues because this is an agricultural piece of property, but  since we are in town and very close to the main drag through town, they made an exception.  Yeah!
    As if the news had spread, today the postman delivered two manuals I had sent for through the NY Farm Net: Harvesting Change:A Planning Workbook for Apple Growers, and The Farmer's Employment Workbook:Job Skills Development for Farmers.   It is getting more real daily.
    I cannot wait to close on the property and get planting. The first things that are going in are the apple trees and the blueberry bushes, followed closely by the chicken coop.   Spent a few minutes comparing chicken breeds as well.  After reading  how to "process" (read "slaughter") meat chickens last night, I think I will start with layers and wait to grow our own roasters. 

Tiny Tips for Healthier Living

   Here we are on Earth Day and I find myself thinking about all the small thing we can do to live a healthier life helping our planet as we do so.

• Grow your own vegetables - good for you and good for the planet as it reduces our carbon footprint.  Transporting the food means walking from your garden plot, as opposed to shipping from other parts of the country or the world.
• Grow organically - a few chewed leaves should not deter you from keeping pesticides out of the garden and thus out of your body.  The Earth (and her honeybees) will thank you. 
• If growing your own food is not an option, shop your local farmers' markets, again lowering the carbon footprint, as well as helping your neighbors. 
• Eat seasonally.  I may long for fresh strawberries in February, but they are not coming from anywhere near where I live.  Get creative with apples and other fruits in storage, or use fruits you put up the previous season. 
• Hang your laundry on a line to dry.  Energy from the sun is free to us all and we have sweeter smelling clothing.  Line drying also causes less wear and tear on your garments. 
• Remember to turn off the lights as you leave a room. I can still here my mother's voice echoing out from my childhood, "Turn off the light/radio/television (pick one) - we are not supporting Connecticut Light and Power single handedly!" (Thanks Mommy)  This will also help your budget!

There are books about all this and more, but how many of us can go totally off-grid?   Try one or two things that you have not been doing and add them to this year's promise to help sustain our earth.

And now some earth facts.  I particularly like #16.

Happy Earth Day

Suddenly spring - or not

  Friday we were at 73 degrees,  so lovely.  Friday night a torrential rain storm hit with wind and tornado conditions in someplaces.  Yesterday it was 40 degrees, last night it went down to 20 here at the GS camp.  Brrr.
    Still, May is rapidly approaching so Spring tasks must happen.  Last year my bee hives became infested with wax moths - YUCK!  They are disgusting and leave a webby mess in the comb.  So before my two packages of bees arrive in May I need to clean out the hive, add new foundation to most of the frames, and figure out how to heat the plasticell foundation enough to kill the eggs that might be there and not melt the plastic.  This is one task I am NOT looking forward to. 
     My husband and I are going over the merits of various apple types as we look through all the catalogues.  He prefers some of the modern hybrids; I am all all about the older varieties.  Compromise may come with him having the hybrid apples and me eventually getting a few rare/heritage breed sheep. I have had my eye on Leicester Longwools and Navajo-Churros, but I also love the look of Jacobs and feel of Icelandic wool, so - who knows.  The planning is half the fun!