Over the Rainbow This is just to inspire you. When I saw this picture, I wanted to run right outside and mess with bees. These gorgeous newly-painted hives belong to Rick Cheverton in Knoxville, Tennessee. Looks like fun, right? Now I’m really eager for spring!
When I was only knee-high to a goat, my grandfather took me for long rides each evening at dusk. He loaded me into in his Chevy just as the deer began to venture from the woods into the orchards for dinner. He loved to watch them, excitedly calling, “Look there! One, two, three…” I loved […] Read more
A friend and master beekeeper from Connecticut, Bill Hesbach, wrote the following account about his misadventures with an oxalic acid vaporizer and a face mask. First posted on BEE-L, the story is a cautionary tale of the hazards of working with oxalic acid, and a reminder that when things begin going south, they sometimes just […] Read more
Does a screened bottom board have any value? My vote is a resounding “Yes!” even though they are basically useless as a way to control varroa mites. A screened bottom board, especially when used with a sliding varroa drawer beneath it, can be a valuable diagnostic tool for the beekeeper. And for the beginner, it […] Read more
The photo below was sent to me by Erik Brown in Virginia. Eric wrote, “I was inspired to make your no-cook candy boards for my three Langstroth hives this year, but I was dismayed to find that Brushy Mountain doesn’t carry 8-frame ekes. I was on the way to my father’s, who is a woodworker, […] Read more
Broodminder, the company that brought us affordable electronic devices to monitor the in-hive environment, has now given us a way to compare results with other beekeepers. BeeCounted.org is a site where Broodminder users can post their data for anyone to see and analyze. The best part is there is no fee, no sign up, or […] Read more
Many of you may remember the Valhalla hive from several years ago. The Valhalla was a long hive designed by Naomi and Larry Price for beekeepers who were unable to lift heavy equipment or reach stacked hive boxes. The Valhalla hive was unique in many ways, including the fact it used standard Langstroth frames. This […] Read more