native bees

We picked up a native bee hive yesterday from a man at Ipswich who rescues them from where land is being cleared.  They are the Trigona carbinara species.  The hive is not the most attractive looking thing so I will need to come up with some sort of disguise for it - probably behind some upright logs or similar.  Honey production is not really what this is for, as, if you are lucky, you might get a small amount of honey every 2 years of so. We have them for pollination and the "nice to have around" effect.

Also yesterday we did a lot more work on the sweet potato beds and frame for jicama (yam bean).  It is largely completed and planting can occur.

This whole area where we are creating this was an old dam when we bought the property.  It was filled in quite a few years ago and grassed but we want to redevelop it now. Other landscaping to happen in this "garden room"  is a waterfall and dry creek bed for any water overflow after rain  with sleeper and timber flitch bridge. So there is still lots to do.  Fortunately I have access to a bobcat (skidloader) courtesy of a neighbour.

Tom