Swarm season!! It will be here before you know it and are you ready? It is still winter and you aren’t doing a lot in the bee yard. But there are things that you can do to get ready for swarm season in the spring. If you keep bees, you more than likely will have […]

There are so many knowledgeable beekeepers who don’t know the first thing about teaching. Despite their passion, the interesting subject matter and years of experience the information is lost on their audience. So, how can we better share our love of bees and educate our community? Read on for some helpful tips on how to […]

Sometimes life happens and beekeepers end up with an abandoned or neglected bee yard. It is time to rejuvenate the bee yard.

Here in the mid-Atlantic in Maryland, we have had a mild winter with at least a dozen days since early December above 50 degrees. That means flying bees looking for early spring/late winter nectar and pollen in the landscape… and they are coming up short. Unless you plan ahead and plant perennials and trees that […]

Most new beekeepers make the mistake of starting with just one hive. It makes sense. Beginners are often hesitant to get any bees at all! A second hive might seem to you like more work, more responsibility and it doubles the cost of your new hobby. So, why do experienced beekeepers recommend you start with at least […]

Have you often thought about keeping bees but were discouraged by the high set-up costs? Frugal beekeeping is possible if you cut some corners. The price tag can cause sticker shock to anyone who looks into buying equipment and bees, keeping many potential beekeepers from jumping into this highly rewarding hobby/small business. Most people are […]

You really don’t need to know a lot to bring home your first bees. Just take care of some important basics, and learn as you go.

Feeding Weaker Hives If you have several colonies of bees in your yard, feeding a weaker hive during a dearth can set off robbing – which can totally wipe out weaker hives. One solution is to use an “open feeder”. This is a super easy DIY project and all you need is a plastic pail […]

Unwrapping a brand new, wooden beehive is exciting! Most kits come with a few tools and simple veil to round it out which makes you feel like you’ve got everything you need to start keeping bees. A popular Costco kit proclaims on the box, “All you need to add is a package of bees!” Unfortunately, it’s […]