A slightly delayed start to the apiaries this morning, as it seemed like an unofficial open day at meltonbyhoney.com with so many people queuing for local Yorkshire honey! We were especially excited to have a visit from a pop star sister—if you know, you know! A big thank you to all my new and returning customers for your amazing support!
The weather was perfect today after the recent chilly autumn spell, making it ideal for one final visit to the hives. Today’s task was to clear the honey boxes (also known as shallows or supers), and begin treatment for the varroa mite. We always ensure the honey is removed before any treatments, following strict guidelines. The serial and batch numbers of Apivar are recorded meticulously in our medical records, in accordance with VMD regulations.
After that, it was time to add some fondant for winter feeding, insert the entrance blocks, and wish the bees luck for the colder months ahead. Hopefully, if the weather holds, they’ll continue to forage on the last available crop of the year—ivy. But with the first frost, the ivy blooms will be gone, signaling the true end of the foraging season. Thank you, bees, for another season of wonderful honey!
We use Ross Rounds in Beekeeping to produce “cut” section “honey comb.” So from hive to you!
Ross Rounds are a unique beekeeping innovation, designed for honey production that allows honey to be harvested without the need for traditional extraction methods. Invented and patented by Dr. Elton J. Ross in the early 1970s, Ross Rounds were created to simplify comb honey production and offer beekeepers a cleaner, more efficient system. Let’s dive into how they work and why they’ve stood the test of time.
Features:
Circular Design: Ross Rounds frames are circular, creating honeycombs in a round shape. This design is distinct from the conventional rectangular frames used in beekeeping.
Comb Integrity: The honeycomb is maintained in its original form, and honey is harvested directly from these combs.
How They Work:
No Extraction Required: Unlike traditional honey extraction, where honey is removed from the combs using a centrifugal extractor, Ross Rounds are designed to be used as they are.
Comb Preservation: Since the honeycomb is not subjected to extraction, it remains intact and can be used for other purposes or sold as a whole comb product.
Benefits:
Unique Product: Honey in Ross Rounds offers a unique product with the honeycomb intact, which can be a special feature for consumers who enjoy raw honey in its natural comb form.
Reduced Processing: The lack of need for extraction simplifies the honey harvesting process and reduces equipment requirements.
Considerations:
Handling and Storage: Beekeepers must handle Ross Rounds carefully to ensure the combs remain intact and undamaged.
Market Appeal: The distinctive round combs can be a selling point but may require specific marketing to highlight their unique qualities.
The History of Ross Rounds
Ross Rounds were created and patented by Dr. Elton J. Ross in the early 1970s. His goal was to develop a cleaner, more efficient way of producing comb honey. The round design was an innovative solution that made it easier for beekeepers to harvest and sell honey in its natural form without extraction. Since then, Ross Rounds have become a popular method for producing attractive, comb honey products that consumers love.
Ross Rounds provide an innovative approach to honey harvesting, offering a product that showcases honey in its natural comb form without the need for extraction. This enduring design has revolutionized how beekeepers harvest and market honeycomb, making it a beloved choice for beekeepers and consumers alike.
This video will show you how to update ESXi 7U1 to ESXi 7.0U2a using an ISO image to get your system up to the latest release. In this tutorial, the version of ESXi 7.0 installed is ESXi 7.0U1, but this article can be followed to upgrade any version of ESXi 7.0. If your ESXi host has access to the internet, there is a quicker method shown in this video – HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0U2 to ESXi 7.0U2a direct from VMware.
VMware has removed many older legacy processors (CPUs) from ESXi 7.0U2, and also storage and network controllers. Please check the VMware Hardware Compatibility Lists (HCL) here.
It is not recommended to install ESXi 7.0 on USB or SD cards because of higher write I/O, and the SD cards are currently suffering because they are not higher endurance. Problems have been found in the wild.
It is technically still supported; eventually, this may filter down through the server vendors…
Some additional information regarding the use of USB and SD cards with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) and installations.
This video will show you how to update ESXi 7.0U2 to ESXi 7.0U2a in 5 easy steps to get your system up to the latest release. In this tutorial, the version of ESXi 7.0 installed is ESXi 7.0U2, released on 20 April 2021, but this article can be followed to upgrade any version of ESXi 7.0. If your ESXi host has access to the internet, there is a quicker method shown in this video – HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0U2 to ESXi 7.0U2a direct from VMware.
VMware has removed my older legacy processors (CPUs) from ESXi 7.0U2, and also storage and network controllers, please check the VMware Hardware Compatability Lists (HCL) here.
It is important to note in this video when I discuss the use of USB flash drives and SD cards for installations of ESXi 7.0 the word “not-supported” should be replaced with “not recommended“!
It is not recommended to install ESXi 7.0 on USB or SD cards, because of higher write I/O, and the SD cards are currently suffering because they are not higher endurance. Problems have been found in the wild.
It is technically still supported, eventually, this may filter down through the server vendors.
Some additional information regarding the use of USB and SD cards with VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0), and installations.
This video will show you how to update ESXi 7.0U2 to ESXi 7.0U2a in 2 easy steps to get your system up to the latest release. In this tutorial, the version of ESXi 7.0 installed is ESXi 7.0U2, released on 20 April 2021, but this article can be followed to upgrade any version of ESXi 7.0. If your ESXi host has access to the internet, this method will pull the update direct from the internet and update the ESXi host. If you prefer the slower old fashioned method or your host does not have access to the internet, please follow this article – HOW TO: Update VMware ESXi 7.0U2 to ESXi 7.0U2a in 5 easy steps
VMware has removed my older legacy processors (CPUs) from ESXi 7.0U2, and also storage and network controllers, please check the VMware Hardware Compatibility Lists (HCL) here.
Exciting news from Andysworld! All of the Meltonby Honey from the 2023 season has officially sold out. But no need to worry—we’ve just stocked up on our fresh Summer Honey from 2024! Head over to our online store now to grab your jar: meltonbyhoney.com.
Once it’s gone it’s gone ! There will be no more for 2024 ! (it’s a wonder of nature we have any!)
After clearing out the fish house and removing the empty tanks, I’ve repurposed the shelves to store winter feed for the bees. This year, I’ve decided to switch from using commercial Ambrosia syrup, which comes in 18-liter (12kg) containers. Although effective, the syrup is heavy, messy, and liquid, and the bees tend to consume it too quickly. This rapid consumption can overcrowd the brood box, reducing the space available for the queen to lay eggs.
To address this, I’ve decided to switch to commercial bakers fondant for winter feeding. Since it’s solid, the bees will consume it more slowly, allowing them to store it over time. It’s essentially the same fondant used in Fondant Fancies, making it a practical and less messy alternative.
This shelf now holds a weight of approx 300okg of fondant, which is just enough to feed all the colonies this winter! It is screwed to the wall !
Tags: bees, fondant, honey bees Posted in All, bees | Comments Off on Sweet Symbiosis: Transitioning from Fish Tanks to Beekeeping with a Fondant Twist
For 45 years, I kept and bred tropical fish, a passion that began in 1980 when I purchased some guppies. My interest in fishkeeping was sparked by watching Jacques Cousteau on TV, where I was fascinated by the Lionfish and dreamed of keeping one. However, a friend of my dad who kept tropical fish advised that I start with beginner fish like guppies before moving on to tropical marine species.
After my accident in January 2016, managing the fish house became increasingly difficult. Coupled with rising electrical costs, I eventually decided to wind it down. A few years ago, the last fish, a Synodontis, passed away after 20 years. Although the tanks remain in place, mostly filled with water, the pumps, filters, and heaters have been off for many years. Now, it’s time to dismantle and empty the tanks, making space to reuse the shelves for more beekeeping activities.
One day, I hope to return to the hobby because the Lionfish, which I’ve never kept, still eludes me.
Tags: lionfish, Tropical Fish Posted in All, fish house | Comments Off on From Guppies to Lionfish: A 45-Year Journey Through Tropical Fishkeeping and Beyond
It’s time for the late summer harvest, and what a challenging year it has been. Poor weather has led to subpar forage and very low honey stores throughout the season. However, in this last warm stretch of August, things have turned around, and the bees have been busier than ever. As you can see in the photo, the hives are getting smaller now. This happens as we remove the honey-filled boxes, known as supers or shallows. During the peak months of June and July, the hives expand to accommodate up to 150,000 bees. Since that many bees can’t fit into just the brood box—the box at the bottom where the queen lays her eggs and the nurse bees care for the larvae—we add extra space. Now, it’s time to remove those heavy honey-laden boxes and take them to the honey room to begin the long, sticky, and messy process of extracting honey. With any luck, this year’s harvest will exceed our expectations, and we may even have some summer honey for 2024.
Tags: bees, honey, honey bees Posted in All, bees | Comments Off on Late Summer Harvest: Overcoming Challenges for a Promising Honey Yield
In this video, I will show you how to perform a Virtual to Virtual conversion of a Windows virtual machine to VMware vSphere Hypervisor 7.0 (ESXi 7.0) using VMware vCenter Converter Standalone 6.2.0.1, and in the same conversion process shrink and reduce the size of the virtual disk.
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