We are all familiar with bees buzzing in and out of flowers, collecting pollen, and building hives. They are such industrious creatures that we would probably guess that they have no time for politics, fighting, or hive wars. When we think of nature, though, many animals or insects are aggressive to each other, even when…
Beehives out in the environment will deteriorate as the sun, and the weather takes their toll on the hives. If your hive has bees already installed and established, you may wonder what your options are for repainting your beehive to restore its look and protect the wood. Can you paint a beehive with bees in…
Cold weather affects bees and their behavior, and if the weather gets too cold, it can be extremely detrimental to your bees, especially a new colony. Installing packaged bees in cooler weather can be an advantage, but if the temperature drops too low, the bees could suffer. So how cold is too cold to install…
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,…
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…