What is Bee Day?

In this area, at this time of year, Bee Day is the day your Honey Bees are delivered.

There are other Bee Days in some other areas, a  quick websearch can lead one to other Bee Days. for example, I found.

“World Bee Day” https://www.worldbeeday.org/en/ and “National Bee Day” https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Honey_Bee_Day

Well, The Bee Day I am talking about, probably has the same meaning to those that are on a Bee List. Though to varying degrees.

The first time I heard this term was the first year I was on a Bee List. Being put on My first Bee List was obtained by contacting a local Beekeeper. Early in the year. And I mean early. Bee Lists fill up fast. January or February is your best bet.

Once you are on a list, you are expected to pay for your Bees in advance. This makes delivery of the bees much easier on Bee Day for the seller as well as the buyer.

I have only glimpsed a very small portion of my sellers operation. And it is amazing. This family has been in the bee business for over 40 years. They have a very good system for keeping themselves and area beekeepers supplied with honeybees. You can visit their website at http://www.tateshoneyfarm.com/

Early in the year they announce that orders for bees are being excepted. That’s when you can contact them to tell them how many packages of bees you want and get on their Bee List. They then notify you about Bee Day and the cost of your order so you can send them your payment. Then you wait for Bee Day.

This buyer (us) has the small end of the day. The Tate’s beekeeping family has the lion’s share of the day and believe me, it is all hands on deck.
I haven’t seen all the work it takes to pull off a  successful Bee Day but this family sure seems to know their business. I will try to describe the part we have seen.

It’s almost circus like to me.

They have their store behind their home.  By the time we arrive the activities are a bit calmer.  So, usually,  We can drive down the long driveway to the business’s parking lot.

There are always several other cars of people picking up their bees. In the yard next to the business there is usually a tent roof set up. Under this roof are packages and packages of honey bees.

In front of this tent roof they have a campfire going. It’s for bee control. Smoke is amazing. There are always honey bees in the air around this tent roof. Near the camp fire is an open hive super. When we were there it was a deep super with some frames in place.

There is another awning near the front door of the business. With a table containing  file folders and chairs set up behind it.
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O.k now that the stage is set, this is our part.

We always arrive after two o’clock.  Greggo work’s in the morning so after two is our time. By this time Bee Day has slowed down a bit  but,  is far from over.

We get out of the car and go over to the business front door area. They have an awning set up and table and chairs for the attendants. You tell one of them you’re name and they look through their file box and hand you your ticket. Your ticket has your name, the type of bees you’ve ordered, and how many packages you will receive.
You then go over to the bee tent and give your ticket to one of the workers there. This worker then hands off the ticket to another worker in a full bee suit. This worker goes into the bee tent to retrieve your package of bees. Before giving you your package of bees, the worker takes it towards the campfire and open hive near by. They then take a Bee bush and sweep any loose bees off your package and on to the open hive. These loose bees crawl down into the open hive. The worker then hands you your package.

Last year the worker carried our package to our car for us. She realized that I couldn’t carry the package and my cane at the same time.

This Family is really nice.

That’s it. You receive your package of bees and off you go.
Happy me.
I usually have a spray bottle of water and one of sugar water to give them a drink before the drive home. After they are in the car I spray a little of the water on their cage wire and they lap it up if they  want.

O.k. now just a bit of what I know though, I have not seen it personally.

Bee Day starts early for this family. It is always on a Saturday.

Early that Saturday a truck arrives with the honey bees on it. Not a pick up truck. A Semi truck. With 1000’s of packages on it. With approximately 10,000  bees in each package.
People that have ordered bees come to pick up their bees. Early. Some of them with their pick up trucks to receive their packages.

This business is a major supplier in this area. They have traffic cones, a gate, and workers at the driveway entrance to direct those that need to load multiple packages of bees. If you only have a few packages to pick up and are able bodied they have wheelbarrows at the entrance to use so you don’t have wait to drive down into the area to pick up your Bees. You can park in the street and walk down to get your Bees.

I have no doubt they have this down to a science. There are probably difficulties that need to be overcome, as with any business. But this family seems to excel at meeting this challenge.

I look forward to Bee Day.  Mainly because we get some new bees, but also because we get to experience Bee Day as performed by  The Tate’s.

Note of caution: If you don’t like honeybees and/or  have health issues concerning bee stings or phobias concerning insects, I would say,  Bee Day is not for you. It can bee a bit overwhelming even for those without concerns.  Just driving home with a package of live honeybees in the car has an air of concern.

Ha ha.  Love those Bees.

Sugar water is useful in keeping them humming a song of peace.