Ground nesting bees are a species of bees that lives underground or inside the soil by creating the underground galleries concealing as patches of bare soils in the lawn. They prefer to nest in dry to wet soils and wet soils of yards are their preferred choice for them to colonize.
Read More »Best Mason Bee Nesting Materials (2022)
Mason bees are solitary bees but can live near each other in nests. For best results in mason beekeeping, be sure to use the best mason bee nesting materials that you have access to. The best materials ensure that your starter population of mason bees flourishes and grows in number. Both beginner and experienced beekeepers can keep mason bees with ease. The bees work with most materials you will think of as long as they are natural and organic plant material. Even then, research indicates that some materials are more friendly and favorable to mason bees. They take to these materials quickly and build compartments more willingly. Pipes and tubes are the preference of mason bees. They love those that have a diameter of around 8 millimeters.
Read More »Smart, Simple, Dollar-Stretching Ideas for Senior Gardeners
There is something about getting outside in the fresh air, and working with plants and soil, that is good for the soul. However, bending, digging and reaching are sometimes difficult, especially if strength or mobility is limited. Try these inexpensive, low-maintenance ideas to help keep your garden and landscape accessible and enjoyable.
Read More »How to Make a Homemade Bee Feeder
Honey bee colonies sometimes experience periods of resource shortage. It is alright to feed honey bees when they do not have enough food resources to keep the colony going. Feeding the colony requires you to have one or more types of feeders. There are also many different types of feed that can be given to honey bees and the main ones are sugar syrup and pollen. Pollen is usually fed in powder form, or in the form of pollen patties. Sugar syrup fed to bees is of 1:1 ratio of sugar and water, or 2:1. This article delves into the feeding of honey bees and how to build a homemade bee feeder for your apiary.
Read More »The Importance of Keeping Records as a Beekeeper
Beekeeping benefits a lot when you run the operation while keeping proper records. Both beginner and experienced beekeepers can appreciate the importance of keeping records as a beekeeper, to the best of their abilities. Various factors determine what type of records you can keep in your beekeeping operation. The factors also influence the data or information you capture. Beekeeping records can contain text, numbers, diagrams, pictures, audio captures, and videos in use alone or in various combinations. Technologies applied in beekeeping help with data collection for records, as well as with better storage of the records.
Read More »Declutter Your Life with These 4 Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning Techniques
Regardless of the season, it’s never too late to give your home a spring cleaning. As the old saying goes: “A clean home is a happy home.” You can make your home even happier and healthier by using eco-friendly cleaning methods. Not only will you avoid exposing your loved ones (and your pets) to potentially harmful chemicals, you’ll also help the environment while cleaning and decluttering your home.
Read More »How to Split a Hive
Beekeeping comes with a number of maintenance and management activities that beekeepers have to carry out periodically. The frequency of carrying out these activities varies by necessity, and by preference of individual beekeepers. Splitting a hive is one of these activities. It is mostly done to prevent swarming. Beekeepers seeking …
Read More »How to Treat Wax Moths in Beehives
Honeybee colonies face a great number of threats in their beehives. The wax moth is one of the many pests that can cause damage to bee colonies. There are two types of wax moths: the lesser wax moth and the greater wax moth. Both have similar methods of causing trouble in a beehive. The greater wax moth is more prevalent in beekeeping regions, and causes more damage than the lesser wax moth. In this article we will discuss how to treat wax moths in beehives, but first, let us take a look at the wax moth itself.
Read More »Terramycin Powder for Honey Bees to Control American Foulbrood
Today, beekeepers have to contend with diseases, pests as well as state and federal regulations governing the beekeeping industry. Terramycin helps beekeepers control one of the most significant diseases of honey bees - the American foulbrood (AFB) disease. This guide takes you through use of Terramycin in its powder form to help bees weather the disease in the beehive. Beekeeping has become an important agricultural practice raking in millions of dollars each year from sales of honey and other bee products. However, unlike some decades back, establishing and running an apiary is no longer a simple affair. The days when the main concern of beekeepers was simply establishing honey bee colonies are long gone.
Read More »The Warré Hive – the Beginner’s Introduction
Modern beekeeping for honey bee conservation and beehive products makes use of a variety of beehives. Among these is the Warré beehive. Other beehives are the top bar hive and the Langstroth beehive (check out our article on the comparison of these beehives). This beginner’s introduction to the Warré hive explores the history of the hive and its key features. It also looks at other important areas for beekeepers using the Warré hive, including its management and components of the hive.
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