Kristi Cook, Author at Backyard Beekeeping

Types of Comb and What They Tell Us About Our Bees

April 17, 2022 · Kristi Cook · Beekeeping 101

Understanding the various types of comb and how bees utilize each type of comb within the hive is just one element of keeping bees healthy and productive all season long.

Pollinator Haven

March 25, 2022 · Kristi Cook · Plants & Pollination

As their populations continue to decline, we can ensure their recovery by providing pesticide-free food sources, adequate shelter, and dependable water.

Wildflowers for Pollinators/Bees

March 13, 2022 · Kristi Cook · Plants & Pollination

While it is true that much of beekeeping is far from our control, providing a local food source in the form of wildflowers for pollinators is doable with a little planning.

Which Garden Veggies Do Bees Pollinate?

February 13, 2022 · Kristi Cook · Plants & Pollination

Even if we lose all of our honeybees, we will not, as a nation nor as mankind, starve to death. However, because roughly a third of the food we eat requires bees for pollination, we will be forced to greatly modify our food expectations.

Cleansing Flights

January 9, 2022 · Kristi Cook · Health & Pests

As with other living creatures, the “outcome” of cleansing flights can be a helpful tool in determining overall colony health and hive conditions, allowing the attentive beekeeper to make informed management decisions.

Learn How Bees Can Be Sustainably Managed

December 2, 2021 · Kristi Cook · Beekeeping 101

The most sustainable manner of keeping bees requires Beeks to learn skills beyond hive inspection, feeding regimens, and pest control. Learning to create splits and raise queens are, without a doubt, the most sustainable manner of reducing costs.

Catch and Release Powdered Sugar Roll Varroa Mite Test

November 26, 2021 · Kristi Cook · Health & Pests

Knowing what a hive’s mite load is can mean the difference between a hive surviving the winter in a healthy state ready to tackle the next honey season and an almost guaranteed untimely death from the viruses and diseases contributed to high varroa loads.

Varroa Mite Treatments: Hard and Soft Miticides

November 17, 2021 · Kristi Cook · Health & Pests

Regardless of where you keep bees, varroa management is a constant topic within any beekeeping community. And with good reason; without proper varroa control, we beekeepers lose our valuable colonies.

What’s Wrong with My Filtered Beeswax?

October 31, 2021 · Kristi Cook · Ask the Expert, Honey & Beeswax

Filtering beeswax can take a bit of trial and error as you get a feel for the process. However, with a bit of practice, you’ll be an old pro in no time. So first, let’s talk about the bubbles you’re seeing in your wax as that’s the first indicator of what is most likely the underlying cause of your multi-shaded wax.