About the Author

Kristi Cook

Kristi Cook lives in Arkansas where every year brings something new to her family’s journey for a more sustainable lifestyle. She keeps a flock of laying hens, dairy goats, a rapidly growing apiary, a large garden, and more. When she’s not busy with the critters and veggies, you can find her sharing sustainable living skills through her workshops, articles, and blog at tenderheartshomestead.com.
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Articles by Kristi Cook

Single Deep Splits with Mated Queens
March 30, 2023 · · Beekeeping 101

Keeping up with the various types of splits and the myriad variations of each can seem daunting at first.

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American Foulbrood Versus European Foulbrood
March 3, 2023 · · Health & Pests

American foulbrood and European foulbrood are perhaps two of the most commonly misunderstood diseases among beekeepers.

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Small Hive Beetles
January 1, 2023 · · Health & Pests

The small hive beetle, while not nearly as large as a bear, is one pest that can bring total destruction to a colony within days of arrival.

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DIY Telescoping Outer Cover 
January 1, 2023 · · Hives & Equipment

Add to Favorites If you’re into DIY projects, beekeeping has you covered. Everything from bottom boards to inner covers to every sized hive body can quickly be built at home …

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What to Do Before Buying Your First Bees
December 27, 2022 · · Beekeeping 101

Before you run out and buy your first set of bees, there are a few things you should do to ensure your venture into beekeeping is a success.

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Breeder Queen Selection
December 22, 2022 · · Beekeeping 101

Here’s a short guide for breeder queen selection: what to look for when assessing and what you can expect along the way.

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Honey Bee Starvation
September 21, 2022 · · Honey & Beeswax

Preventing honey bee starvation is one of the first skills a new beekeeper needs to master and yet is highly variable according to region.

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How to Make Pollen Patties
September 9, 2022 · · Health & Pests

To get started making your own patties, you’ll need a recipe. Many are readily available online with many folks adding various supplements such as essential oils, amino acids, or probiotics. However, it’s often best to begin by keeping it simple.

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Making Splits: Nucleus Colony
September 1, 2022 · · Hives & Equipment

Making a nucleus colony is a simple skill that any beekeeper at any stage can readily accomplish when keeping a few basics in mind.

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Varroa Treatments Explained
August 26, 2022 · · Health & Pests

Treatments to combat varroa vary. This article will help you start your quest to select the best varroa treatments for your apiary and management practices.

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