There has been a new discovery in the world of beekeeping that may change the way you think about your queen. Until very recently empty cells in a bee hive were generally thought to be a negative thing. Beekeepers have puzzled over the function of these seemingly useless empty nooks thinking that they surely must be some sort of problem with the queens ability to lay eggs. But, with the advent … [Read more...]
TBH vs Standard Hives, which one is right for you?
April 24, 2010 by 5 Comments
I get asked all the time which is better, standard hives or top bar hives so I thought I would write a little about both and let the user make the determination on which is right for them. You see, it's not so much a question of which one is better, but rather which one is right for you. Removable Frame Hives The Langstroth (standard) hive was developed by apiarist, clergyman and teacher … [Read more...]
Urban Beekeeping for the Beginner
November 21, 2009 by 4 Comments
Keeping bees in an urban environment has been getting more and more popular lately. Cities are rethinking and changing laws when it comes to beekeeping within city limits. Have you been thinking about starting a hive in your backyard? Urban beekeeping presents it's own set of problems that must be addressed by the beekeeper before starting the project. Although the extra steps can be tedious … [Read more...]
Marketing Your Honey
August 30, 2009 by 1 Comment
So, you've worked hard and have some healthy hives that are producing a fair amount of honey for you. What now? Most beginner beekeepers don't have a marketing plan in place before they've gotten to this point. If you've been thinking about putting some of your honey out on the market then read on, hopefully you can pick up a tip or two. There are basically three ways for you to try and get a … [Read more...]
Honey bee life cycle
July 25, 2009 by Leave a Comment
The honey bee life cycle, here referring exclusively to the domesticated Western honey bee, depends greatly on their social structure. Colony life Unlike a bumble bee colony or a paper wasp colony, the life of a honey bee colony is perennial. There are three castes of honey bees: queens, which produce eggs; drones or males, which mate with new queens and have no stinger; and workers, which are … [Read more...]
National Honey Bee Awareness Day
June 23, 2009 by 1 Comment
The past couple of years, CCD has allowed many in the public to read about problems, hear our concerns, and for some, actually get involved. But for as many side benefits that CCD has created, what will happen when that same chatter goes away? Will we wait for the next tragic circumstances to unfold and hope we benefit from that also? Or is it time to perhaps do something ourselves to further … [Read more...]
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