In my last post I talked about feeding stations for my bees. Instead of disturbing the bees and to save time I decided to set up feeding stations made from food grade buckets filled with sugar water. I did not want to assume just because they were bringing in pollen they would have food stores too. I […]

Hello and welcome to The Backyard Buzz! My name is David Avvisato and along with my wife Anita we have been keeping bees for the past seven years in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Actually, I don’t know if we are really keeping bees or just providing temporary housing as they seem to come and go as they like, but […]

Seeing honey bees swarming affects people differently. Beeks start thinking about how to capture the swarm and non-beeks, well, they don’t.  If you don’t have bees then this is for you and if you do have bees you may want to share this with your non-beek friends. I was tagged in a post this morning on Facebook by […]

For those of you just starting out in bee keeping, here is an overview of different frame types, different foundation options and the pros and cons of each.

Guest post by Monica and Todd Warner The outside world thinks that a farmer or beekeeper’s season starts when the flowers begin to bloom or the last frost passes. Where we live, that last frost date is right around tax day in mid-April, but really a beekeeper’s “Spring” begins when that first flower blossoms (early […]

              When the bees start flying I can’t wait to get out there and dig in the hives and the dirt. There’s a huge variety of herbs that are not just great for cooking and medicinal purposes, they’re great for the bees. Planting herbs that attract honey bees is […]

I have decided to set up feeding stations in my bee yard and I want to share my experience with you.

The bee keeper’s collection of tools can range from a few simple items to a large variety of bee-specific gadgets. Much is determined by preference, how many hives you have, and how much money, time and effort you are willing to designate to complete a chore. Here is an overview of some common bee keeping […]

With warming temperatures, you may find yourself mesmerized enough by the increasing hive activity to be tempted to open the hive. But reconsider. There may be another way to evaluate your hive without opening it sooner than you should.

If you study a honeycomb, you’ll notice that it’s composed solely of hexagonal (or six sided) designs in wax. Why, of all the possible shapes, why do bees prefer these ones?

Editor’s Note: This is not a place for ad hominem attacks, but rational commentary and concern. Several experienced beeks have shared their concerns about the Flow Hive setup, even after watching all promotional material. To be clear: experienced beekeepers are on both sides of the fence. We share their opinions below, but that share does […]

I have great news for you beekeepers that want natural comb, but also want the convenience of using frames. It’s like having the best of both worlds, and I highly encourage new beekeepers to consider this method of management for your bees.

Win this Sunflower Print and a Packet of Sunflower seeds to grow in your garden this spring! Also, learn how you can help honeybees by participating in the Great Sunflower Project!

My patented rotatable beehive design mimics the natural cavity of a tree while making the hobby of beekeeping easier for the elderly and those with other physical disabilities or limitations.

This article serves two main purposes: (1) To educate you on what the term means and (2) to show you the definite advantage that one has over the other and why you should know more about small cell bees.