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Is zinc toxic to honey bees?
Just the thought of honey bees and zinc toxicity makes you all squirmy and anxious, right? Such a nail-biter of a topic is hard to resist, but here’s the spoiler: I don’t have an answer. Still, it’s a good question and I will explain why. How is zinc toxic? But first, a few words about […] Read more
A short history of the Valkyrie long hive
What should you do when something comes between you and your honey bees? Perhaps something like a walker or wheelchair? Well, if you are creative and innovative, you might discover the perfect solution — one that works for you and pleases your bees. Master beekeeper Naomi Price of Prineville, Oregon did exactly that. Living with […] Read more
What the heck is a honey cone?
Not a week goes by when someone doesn’t have a question about their “honey cone.” How should they store it or eat it or clean it? How can they sell it or save it or reuse it? I always wondered where this spelling variation came from. I used to think it was a simple typo […] Read more
A close-knit family of bees
Gill Jacobson sent us this photo of his wife’s close-knit family of bees. Both Gill and Jane are advocates for bee conservation, and Jane is seldom seen without her “Save the Bees” medallion. Jane found the instructions for her project in a knitting magazine and decided to send one bee to each of their children […] Read more
Slatted racks: everything you need to know
I was a newbee when my mentor took one look at my overcrowded, bearding colony and said, “I think you need a slatted rack.” And then he left. Huh? What the heck was he talking about? And later, when I asked around, people who never used one told me they were worthless. After all, they […] Read more
Distinctive domiciles for solitary bees
Who says bees don’t like castles and cabins, chalets and caves, or even cabanas and condominiums? As the saying goes, “Build them and they will come.” And they do. Pat Barberi of Barre, Vermont has made of hobby of creating unique but functional solitary bee houses from miscellaneous vessels she finds at the secondhand shop. […] Read more