Asher Farm Market & Asher Farm

There is so much going on at the moment, I noticed when I started I wrote on the blog three times in March, then once in April, once in May, I hope this isn't my only post in June!

I keep tapping away at this site and its shaping up well.  I have set up a market place on SquareUp for ordering but that takes photos and descriptions and decisions and decisions... there are always labels to create or print and product to package! Some of it I NEVER even imagined. But slowly but surely its coming together... I think.

We've had another small group of baby chicks! They are too cute.  I'll try to post a few pics to facebook, did my first photo album over there today, it might well be a disaster. LOL  I'm never sure exactly what's going to happen on Facebook when I hit the goofy button. Such is life... maybe like that box of chocolate thing.

The bees are amazing!! I would take some hive pics but its a little difficult to think of it when I'm suited up and working them, and a selfie is out of the question in the suit!! LOL  I'm not one of those amazing brave souls who work bees with no protection.  I wear a full suit.  I tried a light suit in the beginning, just a canvas top and veil, and I had a diastrous encounter one afternoon that ended with my poor beleaguered husband dragging me by my arms into the house to rinse the bees out of my hair!!  I was screaming my head off and had been stung better than 20 times. Its actually pretty hilarious... now... but not so funny at the time. We had been working a big hive that was fairly defensive.  My husband was actually getting stung on his legs, because bees don't seem to like him. Then I got stung through my jacket, so I quietly asked him to step out of the vicinity.  The bees were becoming more agitated, as soon as he stepped out of the proximity they began to settle.  I finished my inspection, re-stacked my hive boxes, picked up my tools and began to ease away from the hive.  I had a pull over jacket that only covered me to my hips, and unfortunately one of those angry ladies had gotten under the bottom edge and was now INSIDE the veil with me, flying about my face.

You resign yourself to come experiences when you're handling bees, and I knew I was probably about to get stung in the face. There's not much I can do, I'm gloved, jacketed and veiled and I still have bees all over me.  Sure enough, the sweat on my face and her agitation, she stuck me. Now honey bees die once they sting you. So she stings me just under my right eye, yes it hurts but its really NOT a big deal... then she does the UNIMAGINABLE... she crawls across my face, and turns and starts to crawl up my nose.

I have just handled a big hive, probably 60,000 bees strong. No problem, I took a sting in my face, ok cool... but when that hussy went up my nose???  

HOLY SWAMOLIES BAT MAN I LOST IT!!!!

I couldn't blow her out, and I couldn't get out of my gloves and jacket, and veil fast enough to pull her out!!  I'm running across my front yard screaming..."SHE'S IN MY NOSE, SHE IS IN MY NOSE!!!!!!"  AAAAHHHHH!!!!!!

It wasn't like coherent screaming either, it was full on, I've lost my mind, put me in a straight jacket because I need it, hysterical screaming!! My husband Wayne wasn't even sure what I was saying.. I'm running, and peeling off my equipment, and I am still covered in bees... then to add to this insanity, I trip and fall on the ground!!!  And I just lay there crying and screaming about that bee in my nose!!! She was out by now but I had bees stuck all in my hair, they were every where, he's yelling at me to get up and in full hysterics I'm crying that I can't. That's how he ended up dragging me into the house to the shower and sticking my head over into the tub to rinse the bees off of me.

Now, I just wear a suit! I do realize I'm very fortunate because I am not overly allergic to bee stings. And please don't blame the dear bees it wasn't their fault I acted like an idiot and incited them. It did mess with my head a little and it was hard to go back to the hives after that. A full suite restored my ease and confidence in working with these amazing little ladies.

The three new hives have been nothing but a pleasure to work with, and its been a joy again to share their amazing secrets. I've picked up an odd habit, I'm fully suited except for my right hand, I'm working bear handed. Not sure why I started it but its working well for me.  I have confidence with my left hand gloved, but careful dexterity with my bare right hand.

You know the journey is never perfect, but its always a learning experience!!