Countryside Magazine Contributor, Author at Backyard Beekeeping

Starting Beekeeping: Find a Beekeeping Mentor

May 1, 2022 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Beekeeping 101

Mentoring is a traditional way for beekeepers to teach people starting beekeeping about tending bees. However, finding a mentor, someone who is both knowledgeable about hive management and interested in teaching you, can feel difficult, especially if you don’t know anyone who keeps bees in your area.

Bee Bucks – The Cost of Beekeeping

March 15, 2022 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Hives & Equipment

I’m often asked, “What is the cost of beekeeping?” You’ll notice the cost of beekeeping equipment varies as there are options for different supplies.

A List of Plants That Attract Bees

February 28, 2022 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Plants & Pollination

For thousands of years, bees have been helping feed people, but now in the face of an onslaught of chemicals and disease, they’re in need of a helping hand. One course of action you can take is growing plants that attract bees.

What’s Better? Buying Bees or Catching Swarms?

January 19, 2022 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Beekeeping 101

There are several ways to start beekeeping. Most beginners start buying bees via packages because they are the most readily available. Another way is to catch a swarm.

The Varroa Mite: Know Your Enemy

January 12, 2022 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Health & Pests

Add to Favorites By Josh Vaisman – Honey bees currently face three difficult challenges to their survival — a lack of quality nutrition, ubiquitous pesticides in the environment, and the …

Fascinating Queen Bee Facts for Today’s Beekeeper

January 4, 2022 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Beekeeping 101

Queen bees are fascinating and sophisticated creatures. Before starting your honey bee farm, there are some queen bee facts you must know in order to be a successful backyard beekeeper.

Emergency, Swarm, and Supercedure Cells, Oh My!

March 20, 2021 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Health & Pests

I remember seeing the queen in our first ever hive and thinking to myself, “I’ll never find supercedure cells since I’m going to do all I can to keep her alive forever.” Of course, that’s not really the reality of beekeeping.

Natural Bees Comb Building: Boon or Bust?

December 9, 2020 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Hives & Equipment

The construction of natural bee’s comb is a wonder to behold. Festooning bees clasp legs to form hanging chains, a behavior many beekeepers describe as measuring, and set to work building hexagonal cells using wax flakes they excrete from abdominal glands and shape with their jaws. Each bee appears to work independently, yet somehow cells built by many bees working on different areas of comb come together seamlessly.

5 Tips for Starting Beekeeping

December 14, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Beekeeping 101

Will you utilize the most commonly used hive style, the Langstroth beehive or do you fancy yourself a top bar or Warre beekeeper? For protective equipment, you could use a veil, a jacket with vail, or a full body bee suit – which works for you? Location of your hive can impact your bees based on sun exposure (summer v. winter), wind exposure, accessibility, proximity to neighbors, and so on.