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…
Posts by cricket
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…
How to Make Pollen Patties
It’s late summer in Phoenix and my bees are hungry. 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 my hives are not…
What’s the Best Fuel for Your Smoker?
This is a question that beekeepers each have an opinion on. New beekeepers often buy the pellets because that’s what is in the catalogs next to the smokers. But I have yet to meet a seasoned beekeeper who uses them, though I’m sure there are some. I’m more of a…
Creating a Bee-Friendly Low-Desert Garden
One of the great things that happens when you become a beekeeper is that you become acutely aware of what is blooming in your area. This also means you probably also become a gardener or at least a garden consultant to all your neighbors. In the low desert areas of…
Frame Feeder Hack
Beekeeping is a learn-as-you-go experience. Some do a lot of reading and research up front and do a little better than others who jump right in (that’s me by the way.) Either way, you don’t know what you are doing until you do it, month by…