As the days get shorter and the flowers fade, beekeepers don’t hang up their veils and call it a year. Winter may look quiet in the apiary, but there’s plenty going on behind the scenes. Winterizing a beehive is all about helping the colony survive the cold months when nectar is scarce and temperatures can dip well below a bee’s comfort zone. One of the first things beekeepers focus on is food. During winter, bees can’t forage, so they rely entirely on the honey they stored d

Location is very important for a hive. If you don’t put your hive in a proper location, it can leave your bees vulnerable to all sorts of...

Once you know how to inspect, you need to know what you look for. Here are the things I look out for when inspecting. The Queen Keep an...

Inspections are one of the most important parts when it comes to beekeeping. It allows you to see the condition of the hive. You can see...

When people start beekeeping they usually get one hive of bees. Once they get their bees and install them into their hive, they start...

During times when nectar is scarce, bees have been known to go and take honey from other hives. This is known as robbing. Like a feeding...

There are particular times of year when food access for bees is low. This is a good time to put out sugar water for them to supplement...

What is a bee smoker? A bee smoker is a device used in beekeeping to calm the honeybees while inspecting the hive. (See below the smoker...

Air flow through a hive is extremely important. It helps keep the hive cool, dries out the honey, and even assists with temperature...

If you have only purchased honey from the grocery store, more than likely what you are bringing home isn't real honey. But what is it...

Before you begin to take up beekeeping, there are things to consider before buying your equipment or how you want to get your bees. Most of the time you are subject to rules that are in your area. You should research these before starting your adventure to decide if it is even worth it. You don’t want to put a lot of time and effort into your new hobby only to be hit with fines or legal troubles. Your Neighborhood/HOA The neighborhood or homeowner’s association may have parti

At some point during your beekeeping, you will get stung. It happens. You will not avoid it, but there are several things you can do to help minimize your chances of getting stung and making sure it is as painless as possible. I have handled millions of bees at this point and I have only been stung about twelve times. Allergies Know if you are allergic to bees. I do not recommend beekeeping if you are allergic. The risk is too great. Know if you are allergic to bees or not be

Once you have gathered all of your necessary equipment, how do you get your first hive of bees? There are several options, but I would recommend one of the following. Buy Full Hive Some apiaries, like ours , sell a hive already loaded with bees. This is the simplest option. You just go pick up the hive and bring it home. Not many apiaries offer this service, but if you can find it, then it is a very convenient way to go. Get bees installed in hive Some apiaries will allow you

As the season progresses, there will be more equipment you will need to take care of your hives and obtain your bees sweet and delicious honey. This equipment isn’t needed when you first start out, but you will want to get it as soon as possible. For the Hive You will need a second deep hive body with frames and foundation. As the population fills the original body you will want to give them room to expand. I recommend adding the next body to the top when you see bee activity

When beginning a journey in beekeeping, it can be overwhelming to navigate your first steps. The best chance you can give yourself is having the right tools. But which ones are right? There are so many things that beekeepers use! What is necessary just to get started? I have been beekeeping for over seven years and here are the tools I would recommend. Protective Equipment You will want a hood. This keeps the sun and the bees out of your face. Bees are curious and like to exp