beekeeping 101

Beekeeping 101  Class dates and times: February 20, 2016   10am-1pm  Cost for each class is $45
Beginning Beekeeping classes at Village Green Nursery. 12 max, 5 min
A three hour class to get you ready for bees in your garden in 2016.
This class will introduce you to the life cycle of the honey bee and the basic tools and equipment needed to set up a hive or two in your yard.

The instructor, Christine Ranegger, has been a hobby beekeeper (managing about 25 hives) in Seattle for 8 years and is an Apprentice Level beekeeper as part of the Master Beekeeper Certification Program with the Washington State Beekeepers Association.

Some supplies to get you started will be available for purchase.

Bee-Killing Pesticides Found in Over Half of Plants at Major Retailers

This is why I GROW, buy and sell bee safe plants, un-sprayed. Because I've known for YEARS that this has been an issue.  I've gardened organically for years. I've tried to run Village Green by my own values and standards.

All big commercial growers use these, it's the market demand for perfect plants that sets this standard. Find a small grower (like me) who grows local, sustainably grown plants that are not sprayed. NOT easy to find.

It's not easy to get people to change their habits and patterns. Go to hardware store or grocery/drug store for for building supplies or whatever...., "ooooh, pretty plants" (no thought as to how they are treated) buy, plant, contribute to the problem. UNTIL people refuse to support the industry, it will only get bigger and the people's voice will get smaller. I've been talking about this for a very long time. Finally, it's in print where hopefully millions will read it and take a minute to see how they might be supporting this massive greedy industry that only tells you part of the truth.
it's not something the media tells us, nor the giant profiting chemical companies, trust me, if humans invented it, it's worth asking LOTS of questions about it

  

http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/06/25-1

Weeds and what I think of them...

So there's this plant....
 It's usually called the Weed.    And since I'm weeding the garden, my first inclination is to take it out. Then I look at the visitor on the flower.
 Its a honey bee.
 I decide to leave the flower because who am I to decide what the bees need?
  If she's there collecting nectar, she needs the flower more than I need that weed gone.

I leave a lot of weeds in my garden. I love how plants will self seed and place themselves right where they need to be.... besides, how do I know where is THE best spot to grow?
I can only determine what I want.

I also watched the wild song birds visit those weeds and eat the seeds, and I wonder... when did I decide I know better then what the wildlife needs???
 And so, now, I leave weeds in small patches somewhere to encourage all the wild birds to visit my garden to help keep the pest population in check.

Gardens are supposed to be alive with life. I'll let nature happen and just enjoy it. If I'm willing to observe and listen, I can learn from the visitors.

Vera
Artist,  gardener, mother, teacher and student. Living authentically

Village summer camp

Session 1 Lost skills July  7-10,  ages 9-14, 10-4  Mon-Thurs   $645 15 kids max....tomahawk throwing, blacksmithing, bow and arrow, spoon making at the fire and so much more   . Each child will bring home a hand hammered project like a plant hanger or fire poker and have some clay pieces that will be fired in the kiln. Tomahawk throwing, shooting a bow and arrow, as well as hammering hot iron, changing it’s form and shape, help to develop concentration and focus, build self-confidence, respect of self and surroundings and a deeper awareness of themselves and their skills.       ***Most important skills above all else, Respect for self, others and how to be a steward of the land. How we can walk softly, be peaceful and bring honor to the woods, by our own gentle way of being and listening to her and being comfortable in the silence. We must learn to listen to fully hear

Session 2  Bee week July 14-17  ages 9-14,  10-4 Mon-Thurs.  $525  15 kids max
   Hang out with the bees, identify the guard,  patterns of flight, determine the drones, read, share and story tell about bees, discuss the importance of bees, make bees out of clay. Tend to the chickens, garden projects: including compost, planting and harvesting herbs for teas, make sun tea and more.  Hand crafts, needle felting soft sculpture and more. All about the best plants and flowers for the bees. Build honeybee boxes, inspect the hives, build mason bee boxes. Perhaps watching a swarm capture (happens frequently/unpredictable)    *** Most important skills above all else, Respect for self, others and how to be a steward of the land. How we can walk softly, be peaceful and bring honor to the woods, by our own gentle way of being and listening to her and being comfortable in the silence. We must learn to listen to fully hear

2 week Break in between

Session 3  Nature speaks Aug 4-7, ages 6-8 yrs. 10-3pm Mon-Thurs. $495  ..10 kids max...explore the web of life: the bugs, worms and soil, feed and keep the worm bin alive and happy, use the worm poop in the seed starts, conduct experiments with the worm compost, explore mushrooms and toadstools and take spore prints, climb trees, conduct experiments with seeds, soils, compost.    15 max  Each child will have  maintained the worm bin by feeding the worms, harvested red wigglers and vermicompost, gathered fresh eggs,  planted many seeds, harvested food, made several projects out of clay, and a whole lot more. Dirty, they will be dirty.  ***Most important skills above all else, Respect for self, others and how to be a steward of the land. How we can walk softly, be peaceful and bring honor to the woods, by our own gentle way of being and listening to her and being comfortable in the silence. We must learn to listen to fully hear
**50% down, balance due by May 30 to save spot, or lose deposit.

**Strict cancellation policy  25% of cost is non-refundable if cancellation is more than 45 days of start date, and 50% if  less than 45.

**Sign up and pay in full by Feb 15 to get $25 off. Call to register and pay by phone. (206) 819-8544
Registration form due by May 30

Please provide lunch and a water bottle. We will have fresh snacks from the gardens 
FOOD allergies, regretfully we cannot register children with life-threatening air borne food or bee allergies (fear of bees can be overcome, I’ve seen it many times here)

A few things to know about how the campers will spend their days:

We will eat fresh foods in the gardens, harvest wild greens, watch, listen and identify birds and bird calls, take spore prints from mushroom and funghi and identify them (no eating-though many here are edible) Build and tend a fire.  Lots of listening to nature, We will have spent time Identifying plants, both edible and poisonous, as well as read up on medicinals and native fruits and berries and more in most of these sessions.

Fun and adventure are only part of our camp day and our mission. We strive to assist in the development of valuable life skills like communication, teamwork, thankfulness, awareness, patience, common sense,  self confidence, problem-solving, respect for self, each other and nature.

****How many of us wonder if we could have been really great at some type of craft or skill, given an earlier start? Summer Camp attendees have the rare opportunity to try their hands at many crafts and skills that are no longer widely taught. Maybe your child is a natural with a bow? Or perhaps they are skilled in the blacksmith shop. It is amazing what new things a child can learn when you take away the distractions of modern technology and put them in an environment with a skilled teacher.    The ‘Lost skills’ camps are designed in such a way that the campers must demonstrate self control, respect and awareness of self, others and surroundings as well as deep listening (intuition) before they are given an opportunity to shoot the bow, throw the tomahawk or hammer hot iron.  All of our hands-on activities take place in our 2-acre village.

Camp counselors and camp help will be hired staff of Homeschool teens and students, as well as adults with camp staff skills
If you have a teen interested in a week or more of summer side work, who's interested, please send them my way.

Slowing down, enjoying the view

Mason bee boxes

I love the smell of coffee in the morning and a piping hot Quiche coming out of the oven.
  Nothing makes me feel more in touch with life than slowing down and cooking something really delicious, eating from some of my handmade plates and drinking from hand crafted mugs.
 Today, I decided to use my Heirloom china from the aunt I was named after to take a step even further into an intimate part of myself  and my history. I invited some guests over to share that kind of day with me and wanted to make sure it was extra special and memorable, so, naturally I made a theme out of it, by incorporating freshly harvested honey to each item on the menu.

To get a feel of what it's like to live here, and spend time in my space, the table was set up out on the deck, overlooking the bees and my gardens and nursery. Watching them is a favorite past time, with a cup of tea, and a moment of quiet. The meditative work of a hive can calm me down in a very short time.

Being the kind of hostess I am, one who wants to go all out, giving guests a REALLY special treat... I started the meal with fresh wine grapes grown in my neighbors gardens, fresh cracked honey glazed walnuts, and warm honey butter scones with homemade strawberry jam. These are no ordinary scones. Buttery, slightly sweetened by the honey, flaky, drizzled with even more honey, they simply melt in your mouth.

     

 Having fresh eggs from our 11 laying hens means we are never short on eggs, and quiche is a favorite here. Today there were 2, the first was a rich caramelized onion and mushroom, the second a red pepper, onion and feta. Perfect crust, flaky and lightly browned.
  A salad of butter lettuce, mission figs, goat cheese and walnuts drizzled with honey, fresh from the hives was served as an accompaniment, light and flavorful.

    

Being here is like stepping back in time, slow food is the term given to food grown and prepared in this manner. There's a feeling of a simpler life, less hectic, perhaps like being on one of the islands. This does not feel like the city.

                        

Simple syrup made of lemon verbena and honey perfectly blended with sparkling water reminds me that summer has only just been here, not long ago.

                                             

 
       The day was filled with  friendly warm and comfortable conversation,. Exactly what I crave.

Village Green honey

Honey harvest West Seattle

 Honey harvest season is here!

 Let's have a community Honey spin out!

       How it works...

September 15  11-4pm    $15 per hour

First-reserve your time slot!       Choose a time (please call/come in to reserve your slot and pre-pay, cash or check only)  Come 15 mins EARLY.  If you are late, you lose your spot and there's no refund.
11 am  (helps set up)
12pm
1pm
2pm
3pm
4pm  (taken-Katy)
5pm (last to spin helps to clean up)  (taken-Katy)
Plan for at least and hour, from my experience, 6-8 frames take about an hour to spin out
It takes 2 people to spin it out, so bring a friend (small children welcome, but you really need more help than that!)
 Bring your own clean food grade bucket for your honey to land in.  For 8 trays, anticipate 8-12lbs of honey (hard to be sure) You can take it home to jar it.
We'll be spinning in adjacent basement (away from bees!) next door. 10203 26th Ave. SW. Chainlink Gate will be open, please walk down. Blue house with green trim

I almost always miss a very important detail, so please ask.
Plan to help clean up with wet sponges and water...it's a sticky gooey job that literally tastes fabulous!  Bring your frames (in hive boxes works best)

Vera Johnson
Village Green Perennial Nursery
10223 26th Ave SW
Seattle Wa 98146
206-767-7735
vjvillagegreen7@gmail.com

Vacation Rental, West Seattle

Airbnb House

 

Beekeeping supplies West Seattle

Village Green now carries beekeeping supplies!
Making your garden or yard home to a colony of pollinators supports your community’s ecosystem, strengthens your connection to this incredibly important species, and—perhaps best of all—means that fresh, raw honey is never far from your pantry.

Queen bee bee'ing cared for by her girls. She's actually laying eggs here.

Complete boxes, priced as fully-built or materials only.
10 frame hive   $198.00 unbuilt
10 frame  built $243
10 frame $318 built (with colony, limited)

8 frame
8 frame $154.60 unbuilt
8 frame $ 199.60 built/complete
8 frame $274.60 built (with colony, limited)
Click the link below for single component pricing:
Bee Hive Pricing List Village Green

'Keeping bees in towns and cities' by Luke Dixon

Today-I received a gift.

 A book. Did I order this book? I have no memory of it...but my memory is getting worse...

 

Over a year ago I received and email from a gentleman inquiring about my bees and beekeeping.

I told him what I could and didn't know what to expect. He said he was writing a book. I felt honored to be asked about my experience...but here it is-in writing! We are in the book!

page 142.

 

 

What a pleasant surprise!

Author:

Luke Dixon

Thank you!

White Center Garden tour 2012

   I have never organized a community wide event before....and now I can say that I have.

I was asked to do so this year- 4 weeks ago, with no prior knowledge of how it works-literally no formula whatsoever...nothing indicating how this event takes place- I was asked to 'wing-it'
   I had an idea or two of my own...however I was so very grateful when the original coordinator and founder of the White Center Garden tour -Peggy Weiss- answered my email and request for assistance. I asked her to please share her ideas with me as to how she organized the event fot the first 14 years.  She was so excited to see it in my hands and was more than pleased to offer her suggestions-take it or leave it, and just share her knowledge with me. WHEW! Thank you Peggy!
  Who will participate, who wants to know about it, how do we get the advetising together...pay for posters, postcards, media press release and so on-how do these things work?
 I asked a team of extremely resourceful people to help me-and we pulled together a very fun event-according to all the wonderful feedback from the gardeners, tourees and the community.
That is what makes it all worth it.
White Center Garden tour photos by Ellen Cedergreen

  This years garden's-with the exception of one, were given 2 days to decide they would be on the tour, and 2 weeks to prepare. In typical garden tours-folks have about 3-6 months to prepare and aticipate the excitement...
 I feel extremely grateful to have a connection to so many gardeners and the pool of vast knowledge about so many different kinds of gardening techiniques-so we were able to offer the garden tour as an educational tool to tour goers as well as inspiration.  My goal with the garden tour is to offer people the opportunity to see the many styles and different systems that there are-none being better than the other.
 I like to gently remind folks that gardens are for all levels and all styles. Kids gardens all the way to manicured. Gardening is an experience to appeal to all the senses and every style should be recognized for it's own personal adaptations.
 I live in the most culturally diverse community...why not show off as many garden styles?
I hope you enjoyed the tour, and I hope it has inspired you to read about some new techniques and implement some in your own yards and gardens.
My hope here in White Center is to see more yards and lawns converted to gardens-so we can all enjoy the benefits and community aspect that happens naturally when you spend time out-of-doors connecting with the neighbors and friends made by sharing information and working together.
   That is what makes a community a neighborhood, or a neighborhood a community.

thank you for coming out to the Garden tour-and if you missed it this year-there's always next year.
Cheers
Vera

Honeybees arrive and in they go!

 Happy bee keeper! I am trying Carniolan bee's this year. I have not had good luck with Italian bees.
By the way-we have Local honey for sale

 This is how they arrive- in a crate with the queen in her own small crate inside-so they can adapt to her pheromone, and feed her.

 Literally 'shaking' the bees into the hive

 Watching all the bees load into the hive (see the box tilted)

 Checking to see if the Queen went down into the box-Success!!!  She did!
The blanket is to keep her from flying up and away -if we lose the queen-the whole colony will leave.

Permaculture

Sat April 23rd 1pm  

Permaculture

Join Laura Sweany here at Village Green as she discusses ways for home gardeners to easily implement Permaculture design to your yard and garden!

The word Permaculture comes from permanent agriculture, and is a form of no-dig, no-till gardening or farming. Permaculture gardening replenishes the soil as nature does in forests and lands not used by man... decomposing (rotting) organic substances. This creates new soil and feeds the old stuff. It builds a new layer each year as last years weeds, manure, mulch all rot down and become rich new soil.

$35 for this information packed class

Leave with lots of inspiration and ideas! Be here 15 mins. early to get familiar, and look around.

Apple trees, figs, blueberries, raspberries, huckleberries and more to choose from. Plus a huge selection of Organic vegetable starts!

Mason bees are hatching!

Yesterday as I puttered around the garden, pottting, trimming, planting and grumbling about the weather- Rain AGAIN??
I became keenly aware of an inordinate amount of bugs buzzing about...what is this all about????
  Seeing how I've only recently aquired a large quantity of Mason Bee houses and have placed them in varying groupings around the nursery, I am not accustomed to the vast amounts of happy pollinators that were Extremely happy to hatch aas soon as the SUN came out for a few hours!!!
 My heart was singing with joy- the SUN came out and warmed me- ahhhhh.... AND there were 100's of happy fuzzy bees (they DO NOT sting) all around!
 Spring! Spring! Spring!
Now let me say- they remind me of cute little fuzzy bunnies - however they will not eat my veggies nor my fruit- they will pollinate them!  BLISS!
Perfection!

If you plan to have fruit trees, berries or any kind of flowers or edibles- you really should keep mason bees.
They are so simple, so cute and they are fascinating to watch.
I must repeat- they DO NOT STING!

Honey collection

On a HOT, hot day
AND during the Sonic Boom of 2010...
we collected 2 gallons of honey....
While working the hives, we heard the huge KABOOM 2 times...
I was just thinking- ok-if this is it...I have some honey to eat before I go!