Monthly Archives: April 2013

Carrot Cake Recipe

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

I like having sweets around the house to eat (because I’m a glutton) and also to share. I prefer candies like fudge or honeycomb but don’t mind the odd friand or sweet cake either. Carrot cake is one of my … Continue reading →

Posted in Garden, Recipe | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Feeding my bees

Posted on April 28, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

When we made the decision to requeen our swarm hive, we decided that it wouldn’t hurt to feed them a little sugar-water at the same time. Basically, feeding never hurts and just might help in pretty much any bee situation. This hive … Continue reading →

Posted in bees | Tagged , | 13 Comments

Not Another Possum Post!!!

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

Yes, another possum post. I keep thinking I know everything the possum will do, what it will eat, and where I can expect my possum-losses to accumulate. I keep being surprised at how many ways my possum can eat me … Continue reading →

Posted in Garden, Nature | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Bountiful Bananas

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

Bananas actually don’t have a season. The plant will throw a spear at any time of the year. This means you never know when you’ll get bananas which only adds to the thrill of a good harvest. For whatever reason … Continue reading →

Posted in Garden | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

Usurping the Queen

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

I never wanted to requeen. I had visions of reaching the end of my beekeeping life saying I’d never requeened. My theory was that bee colonies were clever things that have managed to survive without human assistance for millions of … Continue reading →

Posted in bees | 18 Comments

Do Brushturkeys Eat Chicken Feed?

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

When Frank and I recently spotted a brushturkey in our back garden, it prompted me to wonder aloud, “Do you think brushturkeys would eat our chook’s food?” Frank assured me they wouldn’t. I wasn’t convinced. They do scratch up insects … Continue reading →

Posted in Chickens, Garden, Nature | Tagged , , | 9 Comments

Bees, Sunflowers and Birds

Posted on April 18, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

I haven’t purchased a packet of sunflower seeds in a couple years. I just keep harvesting seeds from one or 2 saved heads and replant. It works really well and I’m getting the hang of creating a nice, small field … Continue reading →

Posted in bees, Chickens, Garden, Nature | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Butternut (or any) Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

We are growing squash in our garden (we call it pumpkin but I think the rest of the world would call it a butternut squash). I’m not exactly sure where the seeds came from. I planted what was supposed to … Continue reading →

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Possum Box Update

Posted on April 14, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

We have installed 3 possum boxes on our property. The first was designed to be home to a sugar glider. No sugar glider moved in but a bee swarm did. That box is now positioned nice and low in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Consequences of that Cat

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Laura Rittenhouse

Well, since that scary cat attacked my chickens, their behaviour has continued further down the same path. Not only do they avoid foraging in the bottom of the garden, they don’t seem keen on laying down there either. For a few … Continue reading →

Posted in Chickens, Nature | Tagged , , | 18 Comments