Tag Archives: bee

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

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

Spring Supers for Bee Hives

Posted on April 6, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Spring arrived early here this year. So I’ve supered the strong hives, many of which were packed with brood, and fed honey to those that had eaten nearly all their stores. … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Hive Components | Tagged bee, beekeeping, Brookfield Farm, frame, hives, Maple Falls, positions, super, supering, Washington | 6 Comments

Checking and Manipulating Hives in late winter

Posted on February 20, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

The sun finally broke out, temperatures went into the low 50F’s so I finally got out to the hives to check them for honey stores, a bit of hive manipulation, and to put in their essential oil patties. The sun … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Hive Components, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards | Tagged bee, bees, Brookfield Farm, cleaning, hive, honey bound, honeybees, how to, manipulation, Maple Falls, Washington | 8 Comments

Making Bee Patties at Brookfield Farm

Posted on January 30, 2015 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Twice a year my bees get some essential oils in their diets. The aim is for general health, to strengthen their immune systems and to combat varroa mites, from the inside. Before I go any further, let me say there … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 2 Diseases/Pests/Treatments | Tagged bee, Brookfield Farm, essential oil, honeybees, how to, making, Maple Falls, patties, patty, recipe, Washington | 2 Comments

Harvesting Honey, Treating Hives

Posted on September 13, 2014 by brookfieldfarmhoney

I have been pulling honey and putting thymol on the hives this last week. This blog’s been silent for quite a few weeks. July and August simply got out of control. Busy Times: July to August In general I was: … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 2 Diseases/Pests/Treatments, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards | Tagged 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, bee, beekeeping, Brookfield Farm, harvest, hive, honey, how to, Maple Falls, Mount Baker, natural, pack goats, treatments, Washington | 4 Comments

Cutting Grass in Bee Yards

Posted on June 18, 2014 by brookfieldfarmhoney

As spring moves into summer here in northwest Washington, the grass grows – with authority. What looked like a tidy-ish bee yard one week can be a jungle two weeks later. So armed with my trusty power scythe, I headed … Continue reading →