Spotted Bee Balm - a wonder to behold and rarely found outside of sand prairies. It's a very unique plant; as tough as it is beautiful. Our spotted bee balm came from seed and was one of the first plants to arrive in our restored native prairie. In the sand plains, spotted bee balm reaches … Continue reading Spotted Bee Balm – Good for bees, medicinal, beautiful
Did your honey bees die? What's next? Do you start over? Can you find out what went wrong? Was it all your fault? Read on to find out how we coped with the loss of our first colony. Keeping bees is like keeping sunbeams. They are amazing, beautiful, and fleeting. They are also, mostly, out … Continue reading What do you do When Your Honey Bees Die?
When it comes to beekeeping, two is better than one. Or is it? Does it ever make sense to have only one colony? Attend any bee club meeting or read any honey bee books, and you'll come across the recommendation to start with at least 2 hives. There are solid reasons for this advice! Two … Continue reading Does it Make Sense to Start with Only ONE Honey Bee Colony?
Restoring our native prairie has been one of the most exhausting and frustrating experiences. Read on to see what's happened in the past 3 years and where we are headed next. We chose to restore the 12 acres of tilled field to native prairie in order to restore the land. Our farm has been cropped … Continue reading Native Prairie Restoration Years 1-3
Varroa mites can decimate your honey bee colony. They weaken the bees, decrease lifespan, and lead to high viral loads. What can be done? Every major honey bee organization recommends taking regular mite counts to assess the health of your colony. An increasing mite load can spell disaster for your hive - increasing disease and … Continue reading What if you are Doing Mite Counts Wrong?
