Catching a swarm is one of my favorite parts of beekeeping. Even though my phone rings off the hook in spring with live bee removal requests, I still feel a thrill when someone calls about a swarm. Most beekeepers love to catch swarms because they are docile and easy to remove. But even the most […]

As Joel Salatin wrote, “Everything I want to do is illegal.”   This can often feel true, especially when you want to live a more self sufficient life. Not all of us are in a situation where we can live in a rural area. Perhaps you have a “city” job that you enjoy, but would […]

One of the best ways to encourage, engage and find like-minded people is to start a club. Clubs are a great way to refresh your enthusiasm toward a subject that you love. Interaction, learning and discussion can recharge the enthusiast’s passion and can help you to enjoy an activity even more.   Each bee club […]

Beekeeping: an art and science that for millennia has only improved due to the use of the scientific method. Every significant improvement in keeping bees has come from this process, yet, for some reason, there are a large number of beekeepers who refuse to accept science, research and even the basic principles of the scientific […]

Many pollinator species have suffered serious declines in recent years. Unfortunately, most of our landscapes offer little in the way of appropriate habitat, forage, and housing. Even the most beautiful gardens are not always healthy ecosystems. Design choices, plant selections, and maintenance practices can make a huge difference in creating your own healthy ecosystem, filled […]

Practicing beekeeping for over 20 years, I have seen the precipitous decline in bee populations. I just lost all three of my beehives this past year, more than at any time in my beekeeping career. Yes, I can replace them, but it is costly at about $180 for each mini beehive nuc. At that point, […]

Many experienced beekeepers go without gloves and for good reason— they are cumbersome! These beekeepers trade comfort and dexterity for the occasional sting. But, if you are a new beekeeper or in an Africanized Honey Bee zone, you are probably in for more than just an occasional sting. Personally, I rarely work without gloves. So, […]

My first real experience with beekeeping was in attending a 1-hour presentation held at our community library. It was the first time I had actually spoken to a real-life beekeeper and if anything, it calmed any reservations we may have had at the time, and upped our enthusiasm to the point where we went home […]

It has been said that every third bite we eat has been provided by a bee. I don’t know about you, but I like to eat. In fact…it might be my favorite thing to do. So when something comes to my awareness that might impend that favorite activity, I pay attention.   In January of […]

I wish that the first book I had ever read on beekeeping was The Backyard Beekeeper: An Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Keeping Bees in Your Yard and Garden. Kim Flottum’s expert advice is a comprehensive introduction to getting started with your own backyard hives. Although I am not an absolute beginner, I still gleaned useful […]