Becoming a swarm-catcher

The sound was unreal. An intense drone, a roar of wings frantically beating. I searched the treetops and almost missed them, a tight coil of bee bodies scrunched on an alder branch practically touching the ground. One of my hives had swarmed. I was expecting it. It was a new nuc – a nucleus colonyContinue reading “Becoming a swarm-catcher”

Help: My hometown is burning

Just a few days after the Pear Lake Wildfire started, a group of people gathered at Kelly Lake, the local swimming hole. They watched as the smoke from the Pear Lake Wildfire huffed and puffed and wondered why the firefighters – some of whom were also taking a break at the lake – didn’t putContinue reading “Help: My hometown is burning”

Home again, home again

There was a time when I didn’t want to be a country girl. I had just turned nine and we had moved to my grandpa’s farm outside Clinton, in the south Cariboo. I was worried I would have to wear farmer pants, or overalls I guess they’re really called, and chew on hayseeds. I’m notContinue reading “Home again, home again”