I finally replaced the brood frame with foundation in the observation hive. Yeepee! I had put it off as long as I possibly could. I made all kinds of excuses for not doing the thing I should have done a month and a half ago. First, I was not feeling well, then it was too [...]

Today, I had a young beekeeper and her husband over to get ready to pull honey and extract. I was disappointed to say the least. I had visions of about 100 pounds of raw honey. First we had to clean the extractor by piecing sections of pipe from the extractor out the door and to [...]

I guess that I have not gotten too far behind in posting. I see that the last post was on the first of this month so that means that I need to think of some reason to post another one soon. I have let the bees rest for 3 1/2 weeks since I split and/or [...]

Well…just thought you might like to know, the observation hive of the last post surprised me. All the brood had hatched out and I just let the bees chill for a couple of days (more like a week and a half). I finally got around to deciding to call my beekeeper friend to see if [...]

Just in case you are new to this site, my back yard has been the deposit point for several observation hives in the area. I seem to be the only one able to keep the bees alive for any length of time. I did have three last year, but they finally died in November. Not [...]

Since my last post, I have had the privilege of talking 16 times to: 4 H groups at seven different schools, three different festivals, and 2 different garden clubs that spanned six weeks. I am getting ready to do some more promotion on bees at several more festivals in the near future. I just went [...]

I answered a forum question with a short and sweet answer. I think that I might have been kinda insensitive and quick. The question was: Peaches, I transferred my bees to all new hive equipment. I put a new box on top of each the new colonies I am starting from the nucs I brought [...]

Right now, we have only two mites in the United States that we are concerned with. Trachea Mites and Varroa Mites. Trachea Mites are minute eight legged critters that I think are arachnoid in shape. They live in the trachea tubes (breathing or air tubes of the honeybee). They attach themselves to the inside walls [...]

There are three ways to test for mites. Actually two, one kills the bees using one of two approved solutions, and one where the bees continue to live. Using a half pint jar with a canning top and ring, gather about an inch or two of bees and using ether spray liberally into jar and [...]

In order to be chemical free, there are some things you must do  first. 1. You must train yourself to not think of what chemicals you need to put in your hive. You must think what can I do to help the bees overcome the chemical dependency. 2. You will want to think of ways [...]