A smoker is an indispensable piece of equipment for the beekeeper, and you should always have a lit smoker on hand before you open your hives to do any work. As a new beekeeper, you may wonder what you can and can’t use in your smoker to produce the smoke to keep your bees under …
Beekeeping can be a stressful job, and if you do not have the right equipment, it is extremely dangerous. This is why beekeepers use specific methods to help them calm their beehives to make it safer for them to be worked on. Let’s look at how to calm bees before hive inspection? Beekeepers have two …
The soft buzzing sound from the garden drew my attention to a little bee flying between the brightly colored flowers. I wonder why he was alone and if his hive was nearby or if he might be looking for a new home! Can a bee join a new hive? A bee can join another hive, …
Bagworms are known to attack a great variety of evergreen trees: in fact, over 120 different species of them. The moths and their caterpillars can do a lot of damage in a short period of time. The following is going to help in understanding how to get rid of bagworms. These pests not only cause …
As a beekeeper, you’ll want to preserve your beehives for as long as possible. Not only to protect your bees but to avoid the expense and hassle of replacing rain-damaged hives. By waterproofing your beehive, you’ll also be protecting the wood from other weather elements like the sun and snow. But how do you waterproof …
Beekeeping is a gear-intensive hobby that requires equipment for the beekeeper, equipment for the bees, and equipment to extract the honey. Obtaining your gear in the form of starter kit bundles can often save you significant money to get you started with beekeeping. Beekeeping starter kits can be a cost-effective way to accumulate the equipment …
Beekeeping is receiving a recent boost in popularity as many people seek to grow and produce their own food at home. As a vegetable grower, the next logical progression is to encourage pollinators in your garden, and what a better way than to keep your own bees! Many people interested in keeping bees don’t know …
This easy-to-make creamy tomato soup from fresh tomatoes is a family favorite you’ll love and make again and again. There’s no chopping or peeling involved, and you only need a few ingredients you already have in your garden or pantry. When I was growing up, my mom made this at least once a week and …
The first anniversary gift my husband ever gave me was a white peony in a black plastic pot. It sure didn’t look like much at the time, just a few green leaves, some skinny stems, and dirt. He dug a hole and I added some compost before plopping the plant into the ground. That peony …
More and more homeowners are building backyard retreats where they can put up their feet and relax, or gather with a few friends around a real flame in a warming outdoor space. According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, fire pits have become the most popular landscape design element in the United States. A …