The recent warm weather has had spring arrive with a boom of flowering resources almost overnight. What we get to observe when that happens is the mad rush by the bees to gather pollen and return to the hive. This makes the beekeepers heart sing. The bees are collecting pollen — their primary protein source. This signals brood rearing, (baby bees) colony expansion, and seasonal growth. A strong pollen flow means a thriving hive and a healthy ecosystem. Pollinators support fruits, vegetables,...

March 30th is World Apitherapy Day ...but what in the world is Apitherapy? Apitherapy is the medicinal use of products derived from honeybees. It is considered an alternative or complementary medicine and includes using honey, pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, propolis, melittin (bee venom), hive air and even the practice of beekeeping itself. Though it may feel like a modern wellness trend, its roots stretch back thousands of years, across cultures and continents. “Before I ever cared for the...

Hard to believe March is upon us already. Not to sound ungrateful, mind you, because spring is my absolute favorite season. This happens every year however. Markets close, hives get wrapped up, and it feels like it will be forever until spring. So we shift our focus. Winter becomes a season of its own rhythm. We move into the winter holidays, wax crafting, cleanup, and equipment repair. That carries us through November and December. Then we head to conferences for learning and connecting...