Winter Food Check: A Quick Peek for Food

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 the colonies were doing well. Out of the five hives, only one needed a little extra food added.

It was especially encouraging to see activity in all five hives. Even the smallest colony — the one I wasn’t sure would make it this far — was alive and moving. Seeing that kind of resilience is always rewarding.

Winter can be tough on honeybee colonies, so moments like this are a welcome reminder that the bees are hanging in there and continuing to push toward spring.