Is there anything tastier than fresh, local honey? Once you’ve got your honey bee colony established, it’s time to start collecting your own supply of honey! Here are some tips and things to consider. “The only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey… And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it.” –Winnie-the-Pooh (1926) by A. A. Milne Collecting Your Own Honey Having an endless source of honey right in your backyard may sound luxurious, but many new beekeepers have ..read more

A very important part of successful beekeeping deals with honey bee health. Learn about the most common bee pests and diseases and how to manage them in your apiary.  This is the last installment of our Beekeeping 101 series—your hives should be humming along now!  Common Bee Pests, Diseases, and Problems Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) During the winter of 2006, beekeepers began to report much larger than normal losses of bee colonies. These colonies would fail suddenly, with most of the ..read more

You can’t be a beekeeper without any bees! Here’s how and where to obtain a colony of honey bees for your apiary. The Basics of Bee Society Honey bees are social insects with a structured society. The queen bee is the single most important bee in the hive, but she can’t do all the work alone!  There are three basic roles in the bee community: the worker, the drone, and the queen. Worker bees are females and are responsible for a variety of activities, such as tending the queen and her eggs ..read more

What beekeeping supplies, clothing, and equipment will you need to raise bees? Here are the items that will help you get off to a good start. In our previous post, we discussed some of the basics of getting started beekeeping—knowing your local laws, selecting the right location, and providing the right habitat. Now let’s get into the clothing and equipment that you’ll need to handle your bees.  Beekeeping Clothing Begin with the basics of beekeeping clothing. Always have a veil for your face ..read more

Thinking of raising honey bees in your backyard? Besides producing delicious local honey and wax, honeybees pollinate garden flowers and plants, given them a big boost. Bees are also quite independent! Learn the basics of beekeeping and whether it’s right for you with our Beekeeping 101 Guide. Almost anyone can master the skills necessary to be a good beekeeper. Your journey to successful beekeeping begins with preparation. You should learn all that you can about bee hive management before your ..read more

If you’ve decided to move forward with raising bees, let’s get down to business: Know beekeeping rules and regulations, choose the right location for your hives, and make sure you have the right habitat.  Here are answers to your practical questions. Note: This is the second post of a Beekeeping 101 series. If you wish, go back to the first post to fully understand the pros and cons of raising bees. Know The Laws Your county or municipality may have restrictions on beekeeping, such as how many ..read more

Before your bees arrive, you must consider where they are going to live. There are three basic types of beehives. Let’s figure out which style is right for you.  In our last post, we discussed beekeeping clothing and equipment. Now let’s talk about a home for your bees … Most new beekeepers purchase hive components ready to assemble, but it’s certainly possible to build your own hive. If you do, it is very important to follow the exact measurements for the type of hive you desire. Incorrect ..read more