Spring has sprung! March 19th marked the official beginning of the warmer seasons, and, for beekeepers, that means we’re back in business. There’s not a whole lot of beekeeping to do during the winter months. Before we get the jump on spring beekeeping, it’s important to know what the bees are going to be doing […]

With over 4,000 species of native bees in North America, many people understandably have trouble identifying one from the other. What’s more, curious naturalists often mistake other types of pollinators for bees. It’s easy to confuse a fly or a wasp with a bee because they all share similar coloring and markings. So, how can […]

Honeybees get all the press, but the fascinating story of North America’s native bees — endangered species essential to our ecosystems and food supplies — is just as crucial. Through interviews with farmers, gardeners, scientists, and bee experts, Our Native Bees (Timber Press), by Paige Embry, explores the importance of native bees and focuses on why […]

The queen bee is undoubtedly the most popular bee in the hive. Everyone knows that a honeybee colony has a queen. Vital to colony survival, the queen bee is the mother of all bees in the hive. Therefore, the queen bee must be the boss, right? She is the only one bee necessary for colony […]

Varroa mites can weaken your colony and make your hive susceptible to secondary pests. Oxalic acid is one of the best ways to manage your varroa populations in your hive. Oxalic acid kills 90-99% of the phoretic mites in your beehive. To reach these levels of effectiveness, however, the colony must be broodless. Your beehive […]

Ol Bee Gal, Episodes 1-4 Veteran beekeeper Becky Tipton answers questions from our readers about bees and beekeeping. If you’d like Becky to answer one of your questions, you can follow this link, or post a question in the comments section of an article. Episode 1 Listen on I-Tunes Here are the questions addressed in […]

Bee-ginning with Bees Are you considering keeping bees? In this episode of Keeping Backyard Bees podcasts, Fair Manager Robert Riley sits down with master beekeepers Becky and Steve Tipton, and Ethnobotanist Dawn Combs, a veteran in the realm of “natural beekeeping”. These experts share their knowledge and discuss differences to help Robert and other beginners […]

Maybe you’ve heard people talk about siting your yard for bees. If you’ve looked into beekeeping online for any amount of time, there’s a good chance you’ve come across this topic. Let’s cut to the chase – siting your yard means picking where you’re going to set up your hive. It’s an important first step […]

You have a sweet idea to start a honey business but you are wondering “how much money can one make selling honey?” “Is the honey business lucrative?” “How much does it cost to start a honey business?” Well, we have been there and we know how all sorts of questions concerning the honey business can […]

Picture this — it’s a warm, sunny day and the birds are singing. You’re trying to enjoy a family picnic, but the bees are buzzing about. Should you pack it up and head inside? No! The truth is, people misunderstand these insects. Most bees won’t go out of their way to ruin your day. Here […]

Beekeeping is a fascinating hobby that is enjoyed by thousands of people across the world. Beekeepers come in all ages and from all backgrounds. Almost anyone can become a beekeeper and you can keep bees almost anywhere. Are you considering embarking on the road to becoming a beekeeper? If so, you are in for an […]

No one can deny the benefits that bees give to the world. The world’s food industry depends on them for proper pollination to feed people around the globe. Plants depend on bees to spread their pollen and many homesteaders appreciate the extra help with their crops. Bees are all around helpful to have if you […]

Have you ever wondered why one hive may act differently than others? Or maybe why your once gentle hive is suddenly out to sting anything that moves? Hive temperament can be somewhat subjective (as some people are more tolerant of froggy bees than others), however, there is generally variation from one hive to the other. […]

As your child grows through their first few years of life, it’s fun to introduce them to new things. You get to show them the joy of going down a slide, learning to dance, and eating new foods. Kids have to be introduced to new foods gradually, depending on how many teeth they have and […]

It’s common knowledge that honey is one of the healthy and accessible substitutes for sugar, but along the way to prove that it’s better than refined sugar several myths passed as truths in many people’s minds. Today, we are going to name all the myths regarding honey. In other words, we’ll be clearing honey’s name. […]