New Packages and Splits

New Packages and Splits

Our 2016 season colonies are off and running! They are not all queen-right yet, but it's something we'll be monitoring when possible as we go along. Here is Aidan helping me prep and level the hive stands near our...

Continue reading →

Over-winter Colony Report

Over-winter Colony Report

It's been a long time since posting. When I'm at home, the kids manage to do a pretty good job of keeping me away from the computer. But it's time to take stock of where things are at with...

Continue reading →

Preparing the hives for winter

Preparing the hives for winter

We have been taking steps on preparing the 5 hives in our NE Iowa bee yard for winter. The decisions on what exactly to do are not straightforward - I learn new things that some people do each year....

Continue reading →

Honey Harvest part 5 – final totals

Honey Harvest part 5 – final totals

We thank God for a bountiful honey season. There are always a number of factors and things that can come up out of your control that will reduce or negate the honey that you can spin out. This time...

Continue reading →

Honey Harvest part 4 – field trip

Honey Harvest part 4 – field trip

Jana organized a super field trip experience that took advantage of the honey extraction that was going on. There were 5 stations that different groups of kids rotated through in our house and garage. station 1 - honey extraction -...

Continue reading →

Honey Harvest part 3 – Extraction

Honey Harvest part 3 – Extraction

We actually began extracting the night before we planned - Labor Day night - after the kids went to bed. Jana described it as two kids the night before Christmas or two kids in a candy factory. We just...

Continue reading →

Honey Harvest part 2 – removal

Honey Harvest part 2 – removal

On September 6th, the day before Labor Day, we went to the bee yard to pull off the honey supers. It went real well, but perhaps involved a bit more moving of the boxes than turned out to be...

Continue reading →

Honey Harvest part 1 – Bee escapes

Honey Harvest part 1 – Bee escapes

On September 5, we went out to the bee yard on my folks property to prep the hives for honey super removal on the following day. My brother Cory drove up from Colorado (near Boulder) for the weekend, so...

Continue reading →

In the news – KTTC airs segment

In the news – KTTC airs segment

I'm not sure exactly how they found out, but I got the call the morning of our launch that they were interested in doing a feature. Had to juggle some things, but we made it work and I got...

Continue reading →

Honey harvest is right around the corner

Honey harvest is right around the corner

This photo is from August 15 from our NE Iowa apiary. The "prize" hive is on the far left. The workers there have been drawing out wax so nice and fast the past couple months, plus hauling in the...

Continue reading →