Author Archives: brookfieldfarmhoney

About brookfieldfarmhoney

Brookfield Farm, a small off-grid apiary in Maple Falls, WA focuses on the beauty and bounties of Washington’s wilderness. I sell honey from our bees, whose naturally-treated, antibiotic-free hives are home to bees who fly Washington’s mountains and farmlands. Herbal salves and lip balms from Brookfield beeswax. Delicately infused honeys and vinegars. Varietal honeys from independent Washington beekeepers. Karen Edmundson Bean: beekeeper, photographer. Her love of the wilderness inspires her to discover new ways of bringing the wonders of nature to others. Brookfield Farm : the tastes, textures, sounds, and images of nature.

A new barrel hoist (photos from last summer)

Posted on January 1, 2018 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Well, here it is new years day, too cold for both the bees and me. So it’s “catch up” time from last summer’s events. A friend rigged a new barrel hoist for me that hooks to the front of my … Continue reading →

Posted in 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards, 92 Honey, Uncategorized | Tagged barrels, Brookfield Farm, hoist, honey, Maple Falls, moving, Washington | Leave a comment

Solstice 2017 at Brookfield Farm Bees & Honey (and a bit about bees)

Posted on December 23, 2017 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Happy Solstice to all from Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey here in Maple Falls, Washington. The entire family gets behind the return of longer days here in the Cascade foothills. To celebrate most of us go for a walk in … Continue reading →

Posted in 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, Uncategorized | Tagged 2017, bees, Brookfield Farm, Goats, Livestock Guard Dog, Maple Falls, Solstice, Washington | 2 Comments

Fireweed: a lovely plant, a delicious honey

Posted on December 9, 2017 by brookfieldfarmhoney

“Fireweed, what is it?” I get asked this question quite often at my booth at the Ballard Farmers Market in Seattle. Usually when someone is holding one of the two raw fireweed honeys we have on the table: A fireweed/snowberry … Continue reading →

Posted in 92 Honey | Tagged Brookfield Farm, fireweed, flowers, honey, Maple Falls, Washington, What is | 4 Comments

Beekeeping After Hip Replacement Surgery

Posted on November 28, 2017 by brookfieldfarmhoney

In June of this year, I had my left hip replaced. I like to think of it as a rebuilt: my truck is on its second engine, I’m on my second hip. Now I can think of it with pleasure, … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees | Tagged beekeeping, Brookfield Farm, hip replacement, Maple Falls, surgery, Washington | Leave a comment

Hiving a Swarm post Hip Replacement Surgery

Posted on July 15, 2017 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Five weeks out of hip replacement surgery and the bees swarmed. A potential disaster that is shaping up to be just fine. I … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping | Tagged bees, Brookfield Farm, hip replacement, hive, honey, Maple Falls, swarm, Washington | 2 Comments

The Longest Winter

Posted on February 13, 2017 by brookfieldfarmhoney

It’s been a long winter here in the mountains in the northwest corner of the lower 48 states. It started snowing the first week of December and has just recently stopped. We did have a 1 ½ week break where … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards | Tagged bee, Brookfield Farm, hives, Maple Falls, snow, Washington, Winter | 11 Comments

Close Hives : Different Honeys

Posted on January 7, 2017 by brookfieldfarmhoney

I am labeling honey to take to the Seattle’s Ballard Farmers Market, where I have a booth every Sunday 10-3. When I got to the fabulous honey from my friend Mark at Northwest Queens, in Arlington, Washington, I realized I … Continue reading →

Posted in 92 Honey, 94 Plants | Tagged Arlington, Brookfield Farm, honey, Maple Falls, Northwest Queens, Styles, Wahington | 1 Comment

2016 A Year To Forget

Posted on December 27, 2016 by brookfieldfarmhoney

I’m back. I have been away from the blog world for a while. 2016 was not a good year personally or bee-wise. At the moment it is snowing, so not a lot to talk about regarding the bees. … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 10 Comments

Spring Beehive Tidy And Preparation 2016

Posted on April 2, 2016 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Spring has arrived in Whatcom County Washington (the northwest corner of Washington state). It has arrived two weeks earlier than last year, which was early as well. The sun and flowers emerge fast on the heels of a very web … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Hive Components, 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards | Tagged beekeeping, bees, Brookfield Farm, hive, honeybees, how to, manipulation, Maple Falls, spring, Washington | 3 Comments

Post-Winter Hive Check 2016

Posted on March 12, 2016 by brookfieldfarmhoney

We had some clear weather at the end of February, and I took advantage of it to check the hives. For the record, Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey had a 13% loss of beehives from September to March. I’m often … Continue reading →