The Bee Yard

I’ve discovered that being a second-year beekeeper is much harder than being a first-year beekeeper. I came out of winter with four healthy hives, and they are all thriving. While that’s a blessing, it has also meant spending the last few months chasing swarm preparations, relocating queen cells, and trying to stay one step ahead…

The Queen Hotel had a bit more excitement than I anticipated shortly after opening. While moving the resource hive to its new stand, I spotted my new queen in the middle of a ball of bees. At first, I hoped the workers were simply surrounding and protecting her, but I quickly began to suspect they…

Let the Sun Do the Work: DIY Solar Wax Melter Guide My DIY projects don’t always turn out the way I hope, but this solar wax melter is one I’m genuinely proud of. I’ve tried a handful of other methods—crock pot, electric skillet, and more—but they were all messy, slow, and a hassle to clean…

https://beeatitudeshobbyfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/11654.mp4 It’s always gratifying to spot the queen during a hive inspection. I was especially excited to capture a clip of this hardworking queen laying the next generation of pollinators. A queen’s work is never done. During peak season she can lay 1,500–2,000 eggs per day, ensuring the colony continues to grow and thrive. The…

Today we briefly opened the tops of the hives to check on their winter food stores. This time of year it’s important to make sure the bees still have enough reserves to carry them through the colder months when there is no foraging. We did our best not to disturb the cluster. Fortunately, most of…

Last weekend, Dad helped me harvest my first batch of honey. After months of watching the bees build comb and store nectar, it was exciting to finally collect the honey they had worked so hard to produce. We made sure to leave each hive with a full deep of honey to help them get through…