The Pickled Prepper
A frame of bees with pollen and honey

Testing for Mites to Raise Healthy Fat Winter Bees

The bees look strong heading into the fall, but our mite check turned up some Varroa mites in one of our larger hives.
look closely and you can see the larvae

The Exciting Part of Bee Season Comes to an End

Bee season has peaked and the brood nests will get smaller and smaller. What you do now will determine if your bees make it through winter.
Pet's bee yard

A Busy Day in the Bee Yard

Monday's beehive inspection revealed some surprises, both good and bad. We've got supers on two hives and are making honey for our spring harvest.
Two boxes of Zatarains rice

We Find Time to Prep as Food Shortage Looms

Walmart continues to be well stocked and while prices are up, there are still good buys to be found for preppers
Five bee hives in a rpw

I Double the Size of my Bee Yard Overnight

I started the year with two beehives that successfully overwintered. After splitting the hives, I now have five with a six on the way.
Placing a white dot on a queen bee.

It is Queen Rearing Time in the Bee Yard

Finding and marking recently mated queens is like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack, but we managed.
Bees on a frame of capped brood

How to Check for Spring Swarms Before Your Bees Abscond

If a beehive swarms, the bees may be gone for good. It's a good idea to inspect your hives and take steps when you see signs of a swarm.
Five frames of bees

Checking on my Bees; My Beekeeping Reputation Depends on their Survival

With my beekeeping reputation on the line, I was hoping for at least two of my three hives to make it through the winter.
The Lorob Bees oxalic acid vaporizer

Rain, More Rain, Snow, and Gassing my Bees

We got warm weather, but there was no sun, just rain and more rain. As soon as it clears up and warms up, we're going to kill some varroa mites.
Bees on Asters (left) and Goldenrod

Goldenrod and Asters Help our Bees Prep for Winter

You could consider bees preppers. They stock up nectar (carbs) and pollen (protein) to help carry them through the long. cold winter.