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Still Winter-land in Minnesota!
This colony is dead...see snow on top It is March, soon spring will be here! However, it is a bit discouraging when it snows 3-4 inches and then it is barely above 0F! (-1F, -18F) as I write. However...
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March: Feeding Pollen Patties
Pollen PattiesMarch 8, 2015March in Minnesota can be challenging for the bees as well as for the backyard beekeeper. It is a month of transition, winter will be officially over in 12 days! And March 20...
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Pollen Patties Recipes
Homemade PollenHere are 2 recipes for pollen patties for honey bees.Homemade bee pollen substitute patties recipe (no pollen):1.5 cups (8oz.) fat-free soy flour1.5 cups (12oz.) granulated sugar 0.5 cup...
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Backyard Beekeeping II starts Tonight in Eden Prairie!
EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY EDUCATION 8040 Mitchell Road...
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Neonicotinoids....not Politically Correct?
Planting time! I feel that I am going to get a lot of heat for this post but I wanted to stick to the facts and science and not fiction.Neonicotinoids must be classified as highly toxic to honey bees....
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New Tool to Combat Varroa Mites! OXALIC ACID!!!
Varroa mites sucking bee blood (hemolymph) passing on viruses March 12, 2015 It is a great day today in the fight against Varroa mites! The EPA announced its decision to register the new active...
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Early Warmth & Bees in Bird Feeder!
Honey bees visiting bird feeder It has been very nice in the past few days, with temperatures well above normal for this time of year in Minnesota....in the 50's and 60's, too quick and too warm too...
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Early Pollen in Minnesota!
Bee entering the hive with pollen on her legsSunday March 15, 2015 was a spectacular day...warm and sunny. The bees were taking advantage of the beautiful day and were collecting a lot of pollen for...
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Spring is Here...Take a Beekeeping Class in Eden Prairie
I know that it does not feel and look like spring ...yet...But I promise you warmth is on its way! Listed below is what the Eden Prairie Community Education Center is offering in 2015...
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Last 2 Beekeeping Classes in Eden Prairie for the Season!
Backyard Beekeeping I class is starting next week: April 15. Then in May the second part Backyard Beekeeping II will take place on May 6th ; both classes are offered in Eden Prairie, MN. I will be...
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Hiving/ Installing a Bee Package
Beautiful Bee PackageSoon, many of you will pick up their first bee packages...So exciting! Many of you will also have to hive/install your own bees in their new hives by yourself. Yes, you can do it....
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You Hived your Package now What?
Hive after hiving Bee package I know many of you hived your bee packages for the first time in your life, in the last couple of weeks. That is wonderful! By now your hive should still look like this...
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Honey Bees and their Nutrition
Apple blossom Nutrition affects honey bees, like any other animal. They require a balance diet of sugar, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water to be and stay healthy during their life. With the high...
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Last Beekeeping Class of the Season in Eden Prairie
Karine and 2 students learning beekeeping! I am happy to teach the last class of the Beekeeping Series this season. Backyard Beekeeping II, will discuss such topics as: 1st class: Honey Bee Health:...
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The Great Divides!
Italian Colonies left to divide Dividing or splitting a healthy colony is good bee management. The advantages are numerous: It increases your number of hives, it decreases the size of the parent...
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Are You Raising Varroa Mites?
4 Varroa mites on an adult honey beeDo you know how many Varroa mites do you have in your colony? Are you treating, not knowing how many "ugly vampires" you have?Varroa mites have a great impact on the...
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Add your Honey Supers!
Colonies with supers on! This week in Minnesota will be warm and perfect for our honey bees. They will go out and gather lots of nectar, and pollen. Make sure you are adding supers, so the bees have...
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Controlling Varroa Mites
Varroa mites on Bees As you know by now, the biggest threat and challenge that we face as beekeepers is the parasite Varroa mite which vector many deadly viruses to our honey bees. Varroa mites have...
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Summer is Finally Here!
Look how tall those hives are? July 14, 2015 Now that June is over, the swarming tendency is decreasing. Usually in July the weather is very warm, and honeybees are very happy. The nectar flow is on!...
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My Tallest Hives Ever!
These 2 hives are really tall! July 21, 2015 After just one week of my last visit, I had to add one more super on each of my Italian colony. It is so high that I needed to bring a step-stool so I could...
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