In the bee yard – December
December is a great time to plan for the year ahead. Build, repair, and order equipment, replenish supplies, place your order for queens and nucs, and read!
Yearly Archives: 2016
Another “Quilt” Box Idea
In our area, it is very important to keep the hives dry over winter. One way to do this is to add a moisture wicking material to the top of the hive so that the hot moist air created by the bees will not condense on the cold top and […]
SO What is Your May Plan?
Contributed by Dr. Dewey Caron May and Memorial Day bracket this busy bee month. I start analyzing the pnwhoneybeesurvey responses this month, including those from SOBA members. Results will be posted as soon as I can get them gathered and analyzed. Thanks to all Southern Oregon beekeepers who filled in […]
First Inspection of a New Hive
Now that you’ve installed your NUC into a nest box, what comes next? When and how do you do your first inspection? It’s best to leave the bees alone for at least 2 weeks after installation, except to add more syrup as necessary. I prefer using jar feeders above the […]
Organic Alternative to RoundUp (Glyphosate)
RoundUp has been in the news quite a lot lately – and the news is alarming. RoundUp has been declared a probable carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organisation (WHO). (news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/04/150422-glyphosate-roundup-herbicide-weeds/) Retail stores across Europe are taking glyphosate – the main ingredient of Monsanto’s […]
Garden Plants for Honey Bees
Peter Lindtner’s book Garden Plants for Honey Bees provides a beautiful guide to improving bee forage in your garden. He has a list of plants suitable for hobby beekeepers with 1-3 colonies and only 1/4 acre garden. Here is the list – with permission from the author: Suggested Bee Pasture
Bees! Dead or Alive!! Handling Dead Outs
Contributed by Marianne Heater We are getting our annual fake out February here in Southern Oregon and my beehives are coming alive. Bees are out foraging on alder, hawthorne, early blooming rosemary and crocus. They are busy bringing in pollen that is creamy yellow in color as well as gray […]
Protect Your Bees From Bears
Contributed by Ellen Wright Fencing is an important part of creating an apiary if you share your yard with bears. It is expensive and disheartening to have your apiary destroyed by one. You can build an electric bear fence using a solar charger that delivers an annoying but safe shock. The key is […]
Local Sources for Bee Hive Equipment and Tools
When purchasing hive components, be aware that there can be differences in the dimensions of the boxes from different manufacturers. It is best to check with the supplier to make sure the boxes are compatible with your existing equipment.
