There are reasons and seasons for feeding bees here in Arizona. Our goal as beekeepers is to keep strong healthy colonies that can thrive in every season. A big part of our role in that is to make sure that the bees have adequate food supplies and adequate numbers. If…
Posts by cricket
How to Make Pollen Patties
It’s late summer in Phoenix and my bees are hungry. Why pollen patties? Well, I’ve set out pollen substitute and they are rolling around in it like pigs in mud. It’s quite endearing really. I’ve also been feeding them sugar syrup off and on and I’ve noticed that some of…
Real Flow Hive Pros and Cons
Flow Hive pros and cons is something I’ve wanted to write about for some time. “What do you think about the Flow Hive?” is the main question I get whenever I’m talking to would-be beekeepers or when I’m out in the public sharing about bees and beekeeping. The other question…
Why Relocate Bees Instead of Letting them Stay
Everyone knows that honeybee populations around the world are in trouble, and therefore many of you are willing to do anything it takes to help them out. I know it seems like a noble thing to share your home or property with the lucky honeybees who found you, since most…
Gifts for Beekeepers
Mother’s Day and Father’s Day are coming up soon and it’s always so hard to find gifts for people who don’t seem to ever want anything. Well, I started to make a list of things that I am always in need of because I either run out them or they…
All Natural Honey and Peanut Butter Chocolates
So here’s the story, because all good things have stories… I have a friend who made me some nuc boxes and wouldn’t accept any money from me. I wanted to do something nice for him and I know that he is diabetic and loves sugar free treats. I went a-googling…
How to Get Rid of Bees
“Help! How do I get rid of bees in my house (or tree or shed?)” That’s a question we get a lot as beekeepers. In this post I’m going to talk about bee removal for both the one wanting the bees removed and for the beekeeper doing the removal. Points…
The Truth About Africanized Honeybees
Africanized bees are something that, if you are not a beekeeper and don’t live in Arizona, seem like mythological creatures from a horror film. At least that’s how I thought of them when I lived in Seattle. Honestly I thought they were on par with Sharknado. But when I discovered…
Honeybee History
Humans have a tendency to like sweet things, right? Candy, deserts and sweets of every kind are at the top of most people’s list of favorite things to eat. So it comes as no surprise to know that honeybees have long been a part of our history. The Bible is…
Pest Control vs. Bee Relocation
I am often tagged in Facebook posts where someone is asking for advice on bee removals. Sometimes the comments in these can be very volatile. The most recent post I was a part of had comments advising them to call various exterminators and beekeepers (hence the tag). Other comments made…