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Beekeeping is a specialized hobby and, as such, a beekeeper may need a few specialized items to go through their hives and complete a typical inspection and routine tasks. Luckily, most tools in beekeeping are multi-purpose, and while a beekeeper will need a toolkit of some form, it need not be too extensive (or expensive!). […]

Cranky Bees. They are one of the worst nightmares of a beekeeper. Cranky bees are not enjoyable to keep. They have aggressive tendencies and are overprotective of the hive. Often when you have cranky bees, you will be unable to get near the hive or you will get stung. Sometimes these bees chase you for just

Why Marking a Queen is Not Essential   Without a queen, or without a healthy queen, the colony will be on a path to collapse. Usually, the bees will intervene and take care of things on their own accord. But other times beekeeper intervention will be required. Regardless, knowing your queen is in good health

Like any new hobby, beekeeping has some words that most people don’t understand.  When I first became interested in beekeeping I began to read everything I could online. Luckily, there is  a lot of information online for prospective beekeepers. However, one word kept popping up that I did not understand – Nuc.  What is a

What is Oxalic Acid? Oxalic is a natural organic acid found in many plants including its namesake oxalis, also in rhubarb leaves and spinach.  It is a poisonous crystalline powder with a sour taste. It has been used in Europe as a varroa treatment for many years under the brand Api-Bioxal.   Oxalic Acid is approved

Figuring out if a honey super is ready to harvest is easier than you might think. You’re simply looking for capped honey. Bees cap their honey for long-term storage. It’s the best way for them to keep the frames from picking up pollutants like dirt, dust, and debris from within the hive. Once every frame

More than just a dog person… I have been an unabashed dog person for most of my life. The sloppy kisses, keen intelligence, and bold demand for belly rubs: have long been thought to be the perfect companion, filling a human need for love. But in between vacuuming dog drool out of carpets, throwing bacteria-laden

Bees are remarkably resilient. From hot to cold and through the seasons, bees are adaptable to climates nearly across the board. But with populations numbering in the tens of thousands, the needs of a colony are significant. Bees understand this, of course, and throughout the warmer months, they gather and stockpile resources, to increase their

As a general rule, we recommend against the use of pesticides or any form of chemicals around your bees wherever possible. However, we also recognize that many of you are avid gardeners or are well within your bees’ range of neighbors who will use pesticides. The following guidance is therefore a pragmatic perspective on the

Tips for finding your queen bee Before you tear into your hive, disturbing the bees and disrupting their home, think about your mission. Most times, we don’t need to see our queen up close and personal, we only need to know she is alive, well, and laying a gazillion eggs. In many cases, the brood