Winter survival of honeybees is one of the most common topics of discussion I have with people curious about bees. With extremely cold temperatures hitting most of the East Coast, this issue has come up again and again. A healthy full-size colony with an adequate supply of honey and a healthy queen can survive extreme […]

There are two ways to acquire mason bees for your bee house. You can supply an alluring environment and draw native species to your yard. Or you can purchase mason bees from a supplier. Attracting mason bees to your yard As I’ve mentioned in previous posts you can attract mason bees by providing the following: […]

There are generally two ways in which you can raise mason bees. You can go at it with a hands-off approach and let nature take its course or you can take some quick and easy additional steps to ensure a healthier mason bee population. Any help really that you’re willing to provide will be appreciated […]

Mason bees look for tiny holes in the wild to lay their brood. Bee-friendly places might be holes bored into trees by other insects or the stems of dried reeds and other plants. Ideally, the hole should be around 8mm (around the width of a pencil) and 3-4 inches deep. The female bee will collect […]

Honeybees tend to get all the attention when it comes to beneficial insects that help to pollinate our world. The sweet honey that they produce goes a long way in moving them up in the popularity contest. But did you know that there are over 4,000 bee species in North America? Many of these bee […]

If you have some extra honey and you are looking to try something new this year, why not try making a batch of mead? Mead is a delicious wine made with honey. Depending on what recipe you use, it can be sweet, dry, sparkling, or flavored with fruit and spices. Honey, yeast, and water Mead […]

Every beekeeper longs for the romanticized version of beekeeping. We like to imagine we have an understanding with our bees. A magical connection that keeps us from getting stung. Unfortunately, this isn’t the reality. Bees have good days and bad, just like us and they aren’t always in the mood for visitors! So, what do […]

Get your keeper a gift that lets them know you get their passion and support their hobby! We’ve put together this list to help you get off to help you earn your gift giving stripes! From practical to fashionable, from high-dollar to low-cost, we have something for everyone! Bee Equipment Get your honey off to a successful […]

I’ve raised chickens since 1993 and in those 24 years I’ve encountered many-a broody chicken. But never have I ever heard of a broody bee…until now. I’ve been fascinated with bumblebees lately. I’ve always found them adorable —like little yellow Teddy Bears buzzing around the garden. But recently I’ve been doing some research to learn […]

It’s the end of November in Michigan, we’ve already had several snow falls, the temperature today is 29 degrees outside, and I just killed a mosquito in our bathroom. It always amazes me how resilient insects are. In the winter, I often look across our field covered in white drifts of snow, sometimes several feet […]

There is conventional beekeeping in Langstroth hives. And then, there is beekeeping a wholly “other way.”

The beginners guide to everything you need to know about beekeeping, this is the all-in-one place to start your first hive!