by Hilary | May 11, 2016 | Gardening, How To, Just for Fun, Lists
I often tell people that they don’t have to become a beekeeper to help the bees. In fact, the best way to help bees is to plant flowers! In this way, you can help not just honey bees, but our unsung native species as well. So, what flowers are best for bees?...
by Hilary | Apr 26, 2016 | How To, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, Natural Beekeeping, New Bees, Troubleshooting
Whether you live in an Africanized honey bee zone or not, it is important to monitor your bees temperament. Find out what you should observe about your bees’ behavior, how to keep it under control and what to do when things get out of hand. What’s the deal...
by Hilary | Apr 19, 2016 | Equipment, How To, Just for Fun, Natural Beekeeping
Try this! You can make aromatic smoke packets out of paper bags, dried herbs, and citrus peels for your bee smoker, either as a sweet smelling addition to your typical fuel source or as a replacement fuel. Before we get started, I wanted to take a moment to introduce...
by Hilary | Apr 8, 2016 | How To, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, Troubleshooting
This week, you are spared from reading anything at all! Instead, you can absorb your dose of beekeeping knowledge by watching the video below. I teamed up with local queen breeders Wildflower Meadows to bring you this instructional video. I feel pretty proud of it...
by Hilary | Mar 26, 2016 | How To, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, Natural Beekeeping, New Bees
The other day, a child in one of my children’s bee classes asked me if I would run away if I saw a swarm of bees. I smiled and told her, “No, I would run towards them because I’d want to catch them!” In fact, I have done this. I chased a swarm...
by Hilary | Feb 28, 2016 | How To, Intermediate & Experienced Beekeepers, Natural Beekeeping
Every spring bee swarms land in my yard. In fact, this week not one, but three swarms descended upon me within a period of just 5 days! You may be feeling somewhat jealous of my good luck at this point…So, why am I so popular, and what are the best ways to...