The eventual goal for our homestead is to be as close to self-sustainable as possible. We’re still a long way off, so whenever we can, we try to introduce species that perform multiple tasks or that benefit the other species involved in our Food Web. Bees are a perfect example of this permaculture philosophy. Not only do we get the honey, which by itself is worth any work incurred by bee-keeping, but we also have access to wax and propolis, which are useful for all kinds of things. Then there’s the bees’ true role within the Web, that of pollinators for almost all of the plants that we and our animals rely on.

The sad part about bees is that they seem to be getting harder to keep. In recent years, almost all of our hives, and even a large portion of the wild ones we know of, have absconded, many even leaving behind brood and honey. So we’re trying to pander more to our bees, by increasing the flowers we have on our property with forest gardens, and adding to the property’s water storage (whether through ponds, cisterns, swales or organic matter in the soil). The aim is to provide such a lush environment here (where we know that chemicals are never used), that they won’t need to go elsewhere.

The other step we’re taking to hold on to the swarm we caught recently is to keep a closer eye on them and watch for any errant behavior. In doing so, we encountered an unexpected issue: our six year old’s fascination. As Leo gets older, his interest in natural sciences is becoming more acute. And with the bees, he begs to be able to go every time one of us suits up. So, we decided to make him his own bee suit.

During our bee experiences, we’ve found that a full suit isn’t necessary; if we hadn’t already bought two a long time ago, we wouldn’t be wearing them. The most important parts are the veil and gloves, beyond which you just need jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. However, seeing as Leo doesn’t really have any shirts that are of thick enough material, we figured a jacket would be a good idea. Also, for a six year old, standing patiently while you tie up all the bits and pieces of an adult veil is extremely hard, so we went ahead and made an all in one veil, mittens and jacket. All we have to do is slip it over his head and zip it up. It’s awesome, and he’s delighted that he gets to look at the bees up close.

You can make this project faster (but more expensive) by buying a thick shirt and wide-brimmed hat. You can then add the veil and mittens, and sew the zipper into place as described later.

If you’re interested in more bee related projects, have a look at our Honey cow (top bar beehive made from a barrel), our bait hives (to attract swarms) and our solar wax melter.