There are four charged queen cells on the bottom of this frame. Each one contains a larva about to become a pupa and then a queen bee. The cells are much larger than the worker bee and drone cells seen above them.

Swarming Bees and How to Prevent Them

Losing a swarm is a lost investment, but these bees are paying for themselves in more ways than one as the hives multiply.
From bees to butter flies, all the pollinators like the flox, one of our early bloomers.

Glory Bee, Spring is Here

Despite the calendar claiming it arrived two weeks ago, spring is finally here, and the bees and butterflies are thrilled.
This hive has at least twice as many bees and it did three weeks ago. I split it to avoid overcrowding.

Honey as Hedge: Why Beekeeping is a Great Survival Skill

Tips and a budget for starting bees at home in the city or on the homestead. Plus, why bees are great for preppers.
A healthy hive of bees after a long winter with some bitterly cold nights.

Self-Reliance Ranges From Sleeper Cells to Beekeeping

From surviving winter hive losses to the threat of domestic sleeper cells, being prepared includes spring chores and self-defense.
I snapped this quick shot when I opened a hive yesterday. The reason it is blurry is because my phone was in portrait mode. There were more bees than I expected this time of year, and it worries me that they might consume their resources before spring, despite having most of a pollen patty still available (on the right).

Homestead Update: Managing Bees in Unpredictable Weather

Beekeeping in January, upgrading the Ruger 10/22, and vacuum-sealing ammo. How unusual weather is shifting this winter's homesteading priorities.
This was an average hive with a decent amount of bees in it this late in the season. You can tell it is warm because they are not clustered,

Early Winter Honeybee Care for Winter Survival

A spate of warm weather gives us a chance to feed the bees before cold and possibly snow hits us around Thanksgiving.
This honey bee is on the blossom of a plant commonly known as "Autumn Joy." It has been blooming for a couple weeks in our area.

Prepping the Bees To Survive Winter

As winter grows closer, the honeybees grow more desperate to set aside stores. Beekeepers help them by feeding them and treating for mites.
Bees on a frame of capped honey

The Fall Honey Harvest is in the Jar

Our fall honey harvest is in, and we set a new record for honey production. Extraction and bottling is a lengthy process because we do it by hand,
Our late spring honey harvest netted 125 pounds of honey, much of it very dark and rich.

Our Spring Honey Harvest is a Big Success

The spring honey harvest is complete, and it yielded some of the tastiest honey Pete has ever produced.
All three hives pictured have double deep hive bodies. The hive on the right has four medium suppers and the hive in the center has three. The smaller hive was split off one of these hives because it was growing too fast. You might think it was split from the center hive, but it is the progeny of the larger hive. This queen is just a superstar when it comes to producing bees and honey.

Bees Thrive as Interesting Weather Patterns Hits the Homestead

We've had unusual weather this year, but it seems to be benefitting both the trees and our honeybees. We expect a record honey harvest.
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