Category Archives: 1 Beekeeping

Beekeeping

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

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 →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Feeding Bees, 5 Queens and Queen Rearing, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards | Tagged bee yard, beekeeping, bees, Brookfield Farm, check, hive, honeybees, late winter, Maple Falls, Washington | 13 Comments

Storing Bee Hive Frames in Winter

Posted on November 21, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

I search continuously for easy, efficient, nontoxic ways to deal with bee equipment. Storing frames for winter has been an evolving technique. I am pretty happy with my new set up: stacking frames in boxes set on their sides. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Hive Components, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees | Tagged bee, beekeeping, Brookfield Farm, frames, hive, how to, Maple Falls, store, Storing, Washington, Winter | 5 Comments

New Honey Pump at Brookfield Farm

Posted on November 13, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

I love my new honey pump from Kelley Beekeeping. But like all love affairs, there are ups and downs, issues to deal with, questions to ask before everything works smoothly. She (all wondrous machines are she, yes?) is a straightforward … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, Honey Extraction | Tagged Assemble, beekeeping, Brookfield Farm, Geared, honey, how to, Kelley Beekeeping, Maple Falls, Pump, Washington | 2 Comments

Bee Year 2015 Overview – Brookfield Farm

Posted on November 7, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

The Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey blog went quiet for a while – ok, for quite a while. But it’s back. Bee work, honey work, festivals, Farmers Markets, a bit of fun in the backcountry and some rather massive family … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, Uncategorized | Tagged 2015, beekeeping, bees, Brookfield Farm, Honey Paw, honey pump, Maple Falls, overview, uncapper, Washington | 1 Comment

Making Bottom Screens 2015

Posted on June 21, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

I keep mentioning that I’m “making equipment like crazy” this year, due to good weather and bee hive expansion. One of the things that we make here at Brookfield Farm are our own bottom screens. I don’t use bottom boards … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Hive Components, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees | Tagged 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, beekeeping, bottom screen, Brookfield Farm, honeybees, how to, make, Maple Falls, Washington | 5 Comments

Walk-Away Beehive Splits

Posted on June 13, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

It has been an absolutely busy time in the bee yards. The weather has been lovely, the bees have been out, and it did not pour rain in the middle of the Maple and Cascara flows. Looks like good weather … Continue reading →