by Hilary | Dec 19, 2023 | Equipment, New Bees
Every year I meet at least one excited new beekeeper who received their first beehive as a gift. While this may seem like a wonderful present to give, it’s actually not a good idea to gift a new beekeeper a beehive. Read on to find out why! Why Not? Although the...
by Hilary | May 15, 2022 | Equipment, Honey, How To, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers
Honey extractors are the standard when it comes to harvesting honey, but you can harvest without one. One method of honey harvesting called ‘crush and strain’ offers a simple alternative. Keep reading to find out when and why I use this method, plus how I...
by Hilary | Apr 4, 2022 | Equipment, How To, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers
Swarm are designed to travel. When a swarm lands, a beekeeper never knows how long they will stay put. I have often rushed out of the house to catch a swarm only to have them leave in the time it took me to drive to their location. If you hope to catch a swarm this...
by Hilary | Jan 24, 2022 | Equipment, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, New Bees
Many new beekeepers wonder if it’s really necessary to wear a bee suit. They see other beekeepers online wearing minimal to no protective clothing and they aspire to be like them. As romantic as it looks, there is a reason bee suits exist. Read on to explore...
by Hilary | Jan 2, 2019 | Equipment, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, Natural Beekeeping, New Bees, Troubleshooting
Many beekeepers are intimidated by foundationless beekeeping. They aren’t sure their bees have enough time build out before winter without assistance or they worry about cross-comb. They often ask me, “Can I do a mix of some frames with foundation and some...
by Hilary | Sep 14, 2018 | Equipment, How To, Natural Beekeeping, Troubleshooting
Depending on where you live, ants can be a huge problem for your bees. Some beekeepers have mild ant problems and can get away with dusting cinnamon. For the rest of us, it’s a contsant battle protect beehives from ants! Luckily, I have come across a new system...