Queensferry Men’s Shed have been meeting up each Friday in the classroom. After coffee and a biscuit, they have been tackling various jobs around the project. Last week 1 April, a group rotavated the new plot, whilst others set to in the polytunnel. This week the the team potted on some 1000 plugs and started on the hanging baskets, ready for sale in the shop. Some just came for coffee and a chat.
Queensferry Heritage Trust Open Day
We will be at the Open Day on Saturday 9 April from 10-45 to 2-45. The event takes place at Rosebery Hall, South Queensferry. Do come along and say hello.
Beekeeping Hive Talk
As you can see from attached photo the Apiary site is now taking shape, “double” brood boxes now placed on 5 hives which will lead to them being strong colonies for this Summer with a further 4 hives awaiting bees which will be bred from existing stock later in the year.
Our Winter/ Spring task list is nearly complete thanks to the many attendees on Sundays & Mondays. Work now will be on general hive issues :- ensuring that brood frames are healthy, identifying and marking the new Queens, placing on honey supers , drinking tea & sitting relaxing at our bench.
There is a notice in Classroom window with walking directions down to the Apiary site to watch the bees flying during the day. There are Bee Aware safety signs on fence & displayed information re bees.
We are still meeting every Sunday and Monday from 1:30 pm, but are more likely to be down at the hives.
PS even got seed and plants in the ground
Men’s Shed Up and Running
The Queensferry Men’s Shed held its first meeting on Friday 18 March, with eight stalwarts keen to become involved. There was talk of potato growing and deep digging, all over coffee and biscuits.
If you would like to join in, then why not come along on Friday 25 March from 10 am. There may even be hot cross buns.
Beekeeping Buzz
Beekeeping in March
We are still meeting every Sunday and Monday from 1:30 pm down at the hives. Jobs done so far include building ramps for the bees and laying astroturf on the paths around the area. The bees are now flying quite happily, which gives us a chance to check on their diets and where they are going. Lunch this week has been mainly from snowdrops and the profusion of catkins.
Men’s Shed Launches
Thanks to all those who attended the open meeting for Men’s Shed on 8 March at Craigie’s. Particular thanks to Lorna Russell from QCCC, who provided tea, coffee and sandwiches and to Tim Green from Age Scotland for his continued support.
The group will meet as a shed for the first time on 18 March at 10 am at Craigie’s classroom.
Tools, tools, tools
Our thanks to Grant Young and the team at Edinburgh Prison for the kind donation of some wonderful tools. We now have a great set of forks, spades, hoes, rakes and picks to tackle any job. Rest assured they will be well used.
Men’s Shed Update
There was a good attendance at Rosebery Hall and our thanks to Tim Green and Graham Reece from Age Scotland for coming along to speak about existing sheds. Thanks also to Lorna Russell from Queensferry Care, for all the hard work and providing the refreshments and to Rosebery Hall for hosting us.
The next meeting will be at Craigie’s Project classroom on Tuesday 8 May at 2 pm.
Men’s Shed
Information meeting to be held at Rosebery hall on Tuesday 23 February between 1:30 and 3:30 PM. All welcome to attend.
Beekeeping in February
Apiary
February programme:
Meet Sunday & Monday 1.30pm
(If weather dry at the apiary site, if poor at Community garden classroom)
This is still the quiet period with bees being inactive & not flying, or they shouldn’t, hopefully we will not need to disturb bees this month as they have enough fondant feed. We will not know how well the individual colonies have survived this winter until it is time to place additional brood boxes and honey supers possibly around late March, we are hopeful that all 5 hives will be healthy and raring to go for the Summer .
But this “Quiet” period gives us the opportunity to carry out maintenance and prepare for the coming year; it will also give people the chance to see the parts and workings of a hive without having the “bees”
Task list:
- Finish hard standing path around hut
- Tidy dry stane retaining wall
- Prepare ground at apiary for flower planting (thought we would try and compete with that garden lot)
- Erect frame stand for boxes
- Build lean to storage
- Complete internal joinery to hut: ceiling trim, floor, shelves, painting and step
- Make & fix landing boards & complete painting to all hives
- Continue with assembly of varroa floors, frames & brood dummy frames