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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.
Installing the winch on my UTV was one of my priorities.

Autumn Arrives on the Homestead

As the temperatures drop, we have to wrap up our summer activities and prep for winter. This includes securing our livestock and upgrading the UTV.
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,
This double-row of firewood on six pallets is about a third of the firewood we have on hand for the coming winter.

Autumn Arrives with Last-Minute Chores

Temperatures are dropping as the sun sets earlier, providing motivation to finish our chores and prepared the homestead for winter.
The beehives are behind the garden. Those are green beans in the foreground.

Homestead Injury and Why More Hands Help

There's plenty of work to do on the homestead, but an annoying injury slows Pete down. The garden continues to thrive.
It's been so dry the honeybees gather on the edge of the chickens' water to drink their fill.

Bee Stings and Mustard Seeds

Our homestead requires hard work, a little pain, and a willingness to kill as well as nurture and grow.
The sunflowers are in full bloom. Behind it, the beehives are barely visible and you can see one of the raised beds in our garden.

Summer Projects on the Homestead

Summer is a great time for outdoor work on the homestead. I have to put up with sweat and dodge raindrops, but its a productive time of year.
This cucumber is too big for pickling, so it will end up in a salad or fed to the chickens.

It’s Been a Busy Summer on the Homestead

We've been super busy on the homestead with both planned and unplanned chores. It's prime time for outdoor activities.