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How to Set Up a Backyard Apiary
About six years ago our son (who was 12 at the time) told us he wanted to start keeping bees. Beekeeping was something we were interested in starting and this was just the push we needed to get the...
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Make a DIY Honey Extractor
A honey extractor is usually one of the last pieces of equipment that a beekeeper gets after learning how to raise bees. Starting beekeeping can be pricey, but there are some ways to save money and...
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Why do Bees Swarm?
One of the most disappointing things that can happen to a beekeeper is to have a hive swarm. After it happened to us, we decided we really needed to find the answer to why do bees swarm? If we knew...
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What’s in Your Beekeeping Smoker?
When our son first started keeping bees I had no idea what a beekeeping smoker was used for or what to put in the smoker. The smoker is really a beekeeper’s best friend but there is a learning curve to...
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What do Bees do in the Winter?
Unlike birds, bees don’t fly south for the winter, nor do they hibernate. So, what do bees do in the winter? They try to survive. They spend all their time and energy keeping warm and fed and waiting...
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The Basics of Making a Bee Hotel
Even though we have several honey bee hives on our property, our strawberries were not getting pollinated. After a bit of research, we learned that strawberries aren’t a favorite of honey bees but they...
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Frugal Beekeeping with Used Beekeeping Supplies
When our son first told us he was interested in starting beekeeping, one of the things we were concerned about was the cost of beekeeping supplies. We had to spend quite a lot of time looking through...
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What You Need to Know About Moving Beehives
When you first got interested in starting beekeeping, I know you did tons of research and thinking about where to put your hives. But sometimes things change and you need to change with them. And so,...
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6 Simple Beeswax Uses
Most of the time when we think about raising bees we think of the honey; however, bees make several other “products” that the beekeeper will need to manage. One of those products is beeswax. Since we...
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How to Make Fondant for Bees
Fondant for bees is a little different than the fondant that you find at the bakery. The bakery fondant can have high fructose corn syrup, cornstarch, coloring and flavorings added to it. Making...
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11 Must-Have Beekeeping Supplies for Beginners
When our son first decided he wanted to keep bees and we started looking at beekeeping supplies, we learned pretty quickly that starting beekeeping can be pricey. Since we are really not the kind of...
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Managing Pests in the Beehive
There is nothing quite like the sights and sounds of bees buzzing around, gathering pollen and nectar on a warm summer day. Summer and bees just seem to go together; unfortunately, so do summer and...
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Do All Bees Make Honey?
“Do all bees make honey?” That is a question people often ask us. The answer is, “No.” There are more than 2,000 species of bees and only one bee, the honey bee (Apis mellifera), that makes honey. The...
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How to Make a Bee Watering Station
Most of us realize the importance of being wary of the heat for people, pets, and livestock, but we often forget that the bees could use a little extra help during the heat. There are several things...
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Who is the Queen Honey Bee and Who is in the Hive with Her?
The honey bee hive is a busy place where every bee has a job. The hive consists of the queen honey bee, the drones and the workers. Part of learning how to raise bees is learning what role every bee...
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The Ins and Outs of Buying Bees
Every spring potential beekeepers begin to get excited about starting to keep bees. They read beekeeping books and articles, and talk to experienced beekeepers about everything from setting up their...
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Varroa Mite Treatments for a Healthy Hive
Originally published in Countryside May / June 2017. Subscribe for the full digital issue! Varroa mites have been in the United States since the late 1980s and are considered a universal problem. If...
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8 Ways to Be a Courteous Backyard Beekeeper
Being a good beekeeping neighbor is something all backyard beekeepers should be concerned about. When we started talking about keeping bees we knew we’d have to careful since our property is only 1.5...
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How to Bee a Good Note Taker!
The only way to know exactly what is going on in a beehive it to actually take a peek inside. This can be intimidating, especially to a new beekeeper, but it doesn’t have to be. And experienced...
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How to Manage Ants in a Beehive
There is nothing quite like the sights and sounds of bees buzzing around, gathering pollen and nectar on a warm summer day. Summer and bees just seem to go together; unfortunately, so do summer and...
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