Recently, I have thought long and hard about what it really means to be a queen. As always, when I have something big to contemplate, I turn to the bees. I asked them, what does it mean to be a queen, and why is the mother bee called the Queen Bee? The Queen Bee in […]
Each summer, my husband and I take an extended camping trip with our two pups Reishi and Mollie. Something funny always seems to happen to me on these trips in regards to bees. I always seem to meet a native bee or honey bee that wants to hang out with me or interact in some […]
Last month, we talked about some of the techniques honey bees use to keep their colonies cool in the summer. This month, we are talking about how you can help your honey bees stay cool, as well as ways to support your local native bees. Of course the first thing I am going to mention […]
We are experiencing some record days of heat here in north Mississippi this June. We even had a few record breaking days in May this year. Not only am I trying to make sure I stay cool and hydrated, but I am also looking out for my honey bees as well as all the native […]
You may think that the beeswax comb is only made for honey, but that is simply not true. The beeswax comb in the hive tells the story of the colony. Many times you may hear me refer to the comb as the library of the local terroir. It holds the stories and the flavors of […]
Each month as I sit down to write this article, I contemplate on what the bees would like me to share with the world. I take this time to really tune in and listen to what I think the bees are teaching me. As I contemplate on the message they have for me in April, […]
Did you know that St. Valentine is the patron saint of beekeeping? St. Valentine was known to have married couples in secret when the Roman empire banned marriage because they thought single men made better soldiers. His bravery is one of the reasons we celebrate Valentine’s day each year. Bees have long been associated with […]
Bees are actually some of the cleanest insects, as they carry any debris, dead bees and even the Queen’s waste out of the hive. When the sun is out on a winter day and the temperature is 45 degrees or above, the bees will perform their “cleansing flights”. You may want to stand clear of […]
One of my favorite things about beekeeping is that you can tell what time of year it is and what type of weather we will have by observing the bees. When last visiting my apiary, I heard a lot of abnormally loud and low buzzing. I walked over to the front of one of my […]
The great wheel of the seasons is turning, and fall is just a few days away. There are not as many flowers with nectar and pollen this time of year, and those flowers like goldenrod, asters, sunflowers and vervain are providing a much needed source of food for the bees for winter. Many beekeepers harvest […]
Gratitude for the Bees November is a month that brings up many feelings and customs of gratitude. From the gathering of our families to share a meal, to the shorter days that remind us how grateful we are for the warming rays of the sun. Most of us don’t even realize how dull life might […]
October brings to mind the turning of the wheel of the seasons. It is a time where the veils between the worlds become thinner, and we can feel the presence of our beloved dead. From The Day of the Dead to All Saint’s Day, there is a reason many cultures honor passed loved ones around […]