The beekeeper’s calendar is directly linked to the seasons. Preparing your hives for changes in temperature and shifts in the weather — before they happen — is crucial for raising healthy, strong colonies. While there are a number of variables that affect the timing of these tasks, getting a head start and preparing your equipment is always a good idea. This …
The In the first article in the series, Beehive Components Part I: Building a Hive from the Ground Up, we covered the basic parts of a hive and how they all fit together. In Part II, we’ll take a closer look at the interior parts of a hive: The frames and foundation. From laying eggs and raising young to storing pollen …
All winter long I waited for spring to come and, with it, my favorite honey: black locust. Well, that didn’t happen for us. Not this past spring season, anyway. The spring rains, on the other hand, did happen — and didn’t want to stop. The combination of blustery wind and heavy rain wiped out our locust bloom here in the west-central part …
The beehive is the cornerstone of all modern beekeeping. It provides a safe place for honey bees to store food reserves and raise the constant supply of young needed to keep colonies healthy and strong. Understanding the various components of the hive and how they function is an important first step to successful beekeeping. In 1852, Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth patented a …
This year marks 202 years since the birth of Charles Dadant, founding father of modern beekeeping and founder of Dadant & Sons Beekeeping Supplies. The second of seven children born to a doctor in the countryside of the Burgundy region of France, Charles developed a passion for beekeeping at the early age of 12 while helping a neighbor remove honey from …
 Even seasoned beekeepers make a few spring mistakes, and for me, this year is no exception. Let me set the scene: It was a cloudy, misting, 58-degree early spring morning. The warmer temps meant I’d finally swapped out the deer sled for the utility vehicle to make my rounds in the bee yards. The engine started on the first try …
With each winter comes the want of spring, and this year has been no different. This year’s winter notes come from Gabe Dadant, who is continuing the Dadant Family tradition of raising bees and passing down what he’s learned to the next generation. Hard Winter Lessons for Young Beekeepers My wife and I have two boys. She is an elementary school teacher and they …
Did you know that colonies raise winter bees primarily during the months of August and September? It's vital that these winter bees are kept healthy for the colonies to survive the winter. Learn about the four key aspects to winter prep.