Monday, 13 July 2015

No...We're Not Keeping Bees!

 
 
I love bees. I could watch them all day, busily buzzing away from flower to flower. My girls are both very wary of bees, despite my best efforts of getting them to appreciate these beautiful, honey making, creatures.
 
 
So when two very large 'hives' arrived, they were both a little perturbed. "We're not getting bees are we Mum!" Now we had recently discussed the joys of hen keeping, and I was growing veg in the garden, so bees could be seen as the next step! "No...we're not keeping bees", "Phew!" They replied. Now, I would love to keep bees, I'd have them alongside those hens I'm after, but sadly no bees. Gosh the stress it would induce on my little family!
 
 
No, these are not for bees, these are for compost. When we redesigned our garden, there was nowhere to hide the ugly Dalek ones. I'd seen bee hive bins and loved them, some didn't look that substantial, and after seeing some blown over in the recent storms we had, I was after some heavy duty ones.
 
 
After a bit of Internet research I came across Sunnyfields Poultry Housing. They are a small family run company, based in Devon. Mainly making the most delightful poultry houses (one day, maybe!), they also make these amazing compost bins. I have to say, it was love at first sight.
 
 
Now, they aren't cheap, but they are very well made, and I got a bit of a discount as I ordered two. How long will they last, I'm not sure, maybe I should have asked...but when it's love at first sight! Anyway, they've been painted black, and I think they look fab!
 
 
Now all I need to do, is work on the concept of keeping bees for real, until then I'm planning on including as many bee friendly flowers as I possibly can!
 
 
 
 
I will be back later in the week, I've got my Mum to thank for a few things. I'm also going 'off line' for a couple of days a week, as part of my keeping balanced lifestyle...will let you know how I get on!
 
 
Amanda :) xxx
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 

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29 comments:

  1. Lucys Cottage13 July 2015 at 12:21

    They look really smart Amanda! :)

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  2. SaraJ13 July 2015 at 12:34

    Very sophisticated composter! :) x

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  3. Sharon - creativity and family13 July 2015 at 12:52

    The 'hives' certainly look great, maybe one day you will get your bees :-) I shall be interested to learn how your 2 days offline go. I always keep Sunday blog free and Saturdays are a bit hit and miss but it means a lot of catch up reading on the Monday, especially as a lot of people seem to post at the weekend! Enjoy your garden, it's looking beautiful x

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 00:35

      I'm a little bit addicted to my iPad...it will do me good to pull away a bit! More uninterrupted time in the garden :) xxx

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  4. Jill at emeraldcottage13 July 2015 at 13:01

    I love those compost bins! Now that's something you don't say every day lol no seriously they are fab, really pretty, so much nicer than plasticky ones!
    Jillxo

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 00:36

      Never thought I'd fall in love with any either! Strange world ;) xxx

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  5. Helen Philipps14 July 2015 at 01:13

    Love all your garden changes, it looks amazing! The beehives look so stylish there, and are so practical. I have had two beehive composters for years and just repaint them now and then. Lots of people think I keep bees and I feel a bit sorry to disappoint them! Have a great week, and enjoy some wonderful peaceful garden time, dear Amanda.
    Helen xox

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 03:23

      That's good to know Helen, I was hoping that the investment would be worthwhile! :) xxx

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  6. CJ14 July 2015 at 02:09

    They're absolutely lovely, really pretty to look at and they look nice and sturdy. Good luck with your plan for real bees one day, it's something I'd love to do as well, but I'm not even at the chicken stage yet. CJ xx

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 03:24

      I'd love chickens one day but we are struggling to get someone that would care for them if we are on holiday :) xxx

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  7. Lynne14 July 2015 at 04:19

    The hives look wonderful Amanda. Our compost heap is a home made one, pallets mainly, at the bottom of the garden. Yes, we are too close to people to keep bees - you have to be conscious that not everyone is comfortable around them. But we do have a lot of bee visitors, we do our bit by providing lots of bee-friendly flowers. xxx

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 08:38

      I'm hoping to have a cutting patch next year, with lots of bee friendly flowers :) xxx

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  8. Miss 14 July 2015 at 04:37

    so beautiful, and such a good idea!! I just like bees on fabric or something like that but not around me (even if we need them for flowers!!)

    I had the same cat when I was Young, called Oscar, exactly the same with his little white socks...what a great souvenir!!
    Miss xx

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 08:39

      Their little white socks are so cute aren't they Miss! ;) xxx

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  9. Vintage Jane14 July 2015 at 05:35

    What a great idea ...
    M x

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  10. Heldasland14 July 2015 at 07:24

    Im with your girls as much as I love honey ,boy ,do I love honey but the thought of keeping them fills be with fear. Your bins look fab.

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 08:40

      They are actually quite gentle, I've no fear of bees...wasps are another matter entirely! :) xxx

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  11. Clare14 July 2015 at 08:22

    I did wonder the other day, well they look fab we have one of the darleks ones which lives, I mean is hidden under our horsechestnut tree. We had a swarm of bee's in the garden once and they are not as scary as you might think, a local bee keeper came and took them away and very happy he was with them.
    Clare x

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 08:41

      I've never had a swarm, I did wonder if they might think the composter so were hives and I'd get one! ;) xxx

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  12. Down by the sea14 July 2015 at 13:13

    I have always hankered for a bee hive composter in the garden since Geoff Hamiliton made one many years ago. Unfortuntely our garden is beside fields and the rats made their homes in the plastic compost bins so we had to get rid of them and we aren't keen of giving them new homes! Sarah x

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict14 July 2015 at 13:37

      We had a rat (I know there's never just one but it helped thinking this!) who lived in our compost, when I opened the lid up he'd pop, in the end I would sing all the way down to the bin, then bang the side before I opened it! Funnily enough we never saw him again once we got Minnie...or it might have been the singing ;) xxx

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  13. She loves to crochet14 July 2015 at 15:49

    The beehive compost bins look so much nicer than the plastic ones, I thought you had taken up bee-keeping too until I read your last post right through. I also grow as many bee friendly flowers as I can. Hope your online break goes well, it's good to switch off. Hx

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict16 July 2015 at 00:18

      They are lovely aren't they H, yes, keep them flowers coming! :) xxx

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  14. Unknown15 July 2015 at 00:21

    I adore bees and watching them in the garden I am not sure if I had the confidence to keep them though as much as I would like to. I have installed a little bee house in my garden on the wall and the bees have been filling it up so that's nice to see. I will have to look this company up as life is changing for me and I may get my dream to keep my chickens very soon :-) Enjoy your computer free days. dee xx

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict16 July 2015 at 00:20

      I might look into them bee houses Delia, they sound interesting. Your changes sound interesting too...good luck, and I hope you get your chickens! :) xxx

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  15. serendipity15 July 2015 at 12:01

    They look fab. Just the sort of thing for our new smaller garden. I love your new studio. What a great space.

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    1. Vintage Sheet Addict16 July 2015 at 00:21

      Thanks, they would fit perfectly into your new space, and look good too! :) xxx

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