Backyard Beekeeping - Page 22 of 25 -

Should You Feed Native Bees?

April 24, 2019 · Josh Vaisman · Ask The Expert, Plants & Pollination

Add to Favorites Do you know if the sugar water will work for wild bees as well? I haven’t undertaken starting my own hive, but I usually have quite a …

Controlling Varroa Mites with Oxalic Acid Drizzle Method

March 6, 2019 · Backyard Beekeeping Contributor · Health & Pests

Add to Favorites By David Bridgers, North Carolina My research project was a collaboration with N.C. State University and Dr. David Tarpy on the control of varroa mites. It is …

What’s Safe to Use in Your Smoker?

March 5, 2019 · Josh Vaisman · Ask The Expert

Add to Favorites H.J.M. writes: Is it safe to use the wood pellets for a Pellet grill in your bee smoker? +++++++ That’s a great question, H.J.M.! The simple answer …

Let’s Talk About Losing Bees

February 5, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Health & Pests

Like many beekeepers, we lost bees this winter. New packages failed to build up in a normal way last summer and were unusually slow to build comb and put away stores into fall. In September, aggressive yellow jacket predation weakened them further leaving them unable to carry themselves through the cold.

What To Know As Spring Unfolds Into Summer

February 5, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Beekeeping 101

If April is the beekeeping equivalent of planting time, then May is when our efforts start to germinate.

Propolis: Bee Glue that Heals

February 5, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Honey & Beeswax

Honeybee propolis is a brown or reddish resinous substance made by bees to protect the hive against animal and bacterial invaders. The word “propolis” is a compound of the Greek words “pro” and “polis” and translates to, “Before the city.” Bees use propolis as a building material to fill gaps and crevices, varnish combs and shape entrances, sometimes creating fantastic gobs that supposedly aid ventilation in the hive.

From Point A To Point Bee

February 5, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Hives & Equipment

When I sell bees to a new beekeeper, the question of moving bees often comes up. I get questions like, “Why do you move them after dark?” or “Can I move them again once they are set?” or “Why do they have to be moved at least two miles away?” These and other questions about the subject are not easily understood and can be very confusing to beginners. Yet, the more we learn about bees the easier they are to understand.

Deep Winter & Preparing For Spring With Bees

February 5, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Health & Pests

Add to Favorites By Tom Theobald As I said in the last article, we share a long and intimate history with the honeybee, much further back than most would ever …

It’s Harvest Time

February 5, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Honey & Beeswax

Extracting, or the honey harvest, is going to befall almost every beekeeper if their efforts are successful and the site of those activities can vary from a garage or the family kitchen to large facilities specifically designed and built for handling the harvest. Many of the new hobbyists may quickly find that harvesting honey in the kitchen can be a test of spousal relations.

Successfully Installing Packaged Bees

February 5, 2019 · Countryside Magazine Contributor · Beekeeping 101

Spring is one of the busiest times in beekeeping, as it is with much of agriculture, but it is also a very rewarding and intriguing time. In effect it is “planting time,” when the scene is set for the coming season, and what takes place in March and April can often have an irreversible influence on what comes over the next several months.

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