Guest post from Greg... our bee story...

My name is Greg and I was really forced into beekeeping today. It's kind
of a funny story. I met a Russian/Ukrainian man in which I hoped to gain some
valuable bee-insight from. He has been keeping his whole life and this morning
me and my family (pregnant wife, 5yr. old son, 3yr. old daughter and 1yr. old
son) left Ferndale at 5am excited to learn more than what I have read in the two
books I picked up from the local library. Our travels took us to Marysville
where we met up with the gentleman and after a brief introduction he jumped into
our rig and started directing me up the winding roads to a small ranch in
Granite Falls. So excited by his take charge attitude I promptly donned the
veil he threw at me and scurried behind as he ordered me about. Meanwhile my
wife was in the truck laughing and pointing things out to our children.
Apparently she was aware of my demise and the growing language conflict that I
was heading in to well before I did. I ran from this hive to that hive as he
loaded me up with hive covers, top screens, ratchet straps and new frames. I
was so focused into de-coding the broken English and gleaning as much
information as I could I did not realize that I was being full outfitted with
some of his best stock. We went from hive to hive as he showed me his carnelian
pride, talking about what I should look for before expanding, viewing his
personally raised queens, identifying weaknesses in colonies. He than walked me
over to a new hive and said ever since I heard about you I have been preparing
these bees. Now the stark reality of the situation was finally hitting me. He
showed me a very established colony and one young one started from a new queen
last year. Out can the ratchet straps , the covers, and the double screen tops
and in less than 20 seconds he ordered me to move the first hive to the bed of
my truck. On my way to the truck I noticed my wife (now belly laughing) at my
situation. Obviously she was going to be no help here. I carefully rehearsed
my attempt to get out of buying two hives today. I slowly walked up and said
"Sir, I was only planning on meeting with you today to learn about bees, I am
not prepared to buy..." In which he responded " Hurry and load this one , I
have to get to work." I walked back to the truck knowing I was defeated. I
paid the man for his hives and we returned to Ferndale with another 20,000 more
mouths to feed on our rapidly growing hobby farm.
The problem is that I really know nothing about bees and I am worried sick
that I will destroy all of the hard labor and love this Russian man I met has
put into these two hives. What I really needs is a mentor who live near
Ferndale who wouldn't mind helping me get started the total wrong way. My plan
was to be entirely set up to start bees next spring, not have to full hives
thrown in my lap and scrambling the get everything needed to manage them in a
hurried frenzy. Please help!