MIXING FOUNDATION & FOUNDATIONLESS FRAMES
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 without?"...
WHEN BEES TAKE OVER YOUR OWL BOX
Where I live, in Southern California, it's common for wild bee swarms to move into unconventional spaces. They particularly favor owl boxes. These man-made wooden boxes, hung high in a backyard tree, are an ideal nesting location for honey bees. Many homeowners are...
STORY OF BEES EDUCATIONAL GAME FUNDRAISER
As part of my business, I often visit classrooms and youth groups to present on bees. Over the years I have developed various strategies for teaching children, but my favorite has been a game I call, "The Story of Bees". The kids and I pretend to be a swarm of bees...
THE BEST WAY TO PROTECT BEEHIVES FROM ANTS
Depending on where you live, ants can be a huge problem for your bees. Keeping ants out of the hive is a constant battle! Luckily, I have come across a new system for protecting our bees from ants.
THE PROS AND CONS OF QUEEN EXCLUDERS
I find myself constantly changing my position on the subject of queen excluders. Are they good or bad for bees? Do they result in more honey or less? How and when should they be used? I've decided, that like most things in beekeeping, there is no "right" answer to...
WHAT’S THE DEAL WITH NITRILE BEEKEEPING GLOVES?
In this article, I will break down the pros and cons of wearing nitrile beekeeping gloves. I am asked almost on a daily basis why I wear them and what level of protection they provide against bee stings. Read on to find out everything you need to know about it....
HOW TO TELL IF YOU HAVE A STRONG HIVE
Assessing your hive's strength is an important skill for new beekeepers to learn. Many help resources for new beekeepers will reference strong hives versus weak hives and call upon the beekeeper to make decisions based on the robustness of their colony, but how can...
HIVE MATES: TERRY OXFORD OF URBANBEE SANFRANCISCO
Meet Terry Oxford who started UrbanBeeSF, a San Francisco based beekeeping venture fighting for environmental policies that would protect pollinators and birds. Read on to find out more. Tell us about yourself. Where do you live? How did you get into beekeeping? My...
HOW TO KEEP BEES OUT OF YOUR POOL
Honey bees need water, but often drown while trying to collect it. Do you end up with bees in your pool or dog water bowl? Well you can keep bees from drowning in your pool by providing a safe place for them to drink! The more attractive the alternative water source,...
HOW TO KEEP BEES CALM
New beekeepers usually have a tough time keeping their bees calm during inspections. My students often wonder why their colony, which was so defensive when they inspected it two weeks ago, is now positively angelic work my way through it. The simple answer is that I...