Tag Archives: hives

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 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

Why We Are Leaving Bellingham Farmers Market on June 30

Posted on April 28, 2014 by brookfieldfarmhoney

The story behind the groundless demands by the Bellingham Farmers Market Board for Brookfield Farm to remove over 50% of our established products, which have been selling at the market for over a year. This makes the market economically unviable for us, and we are leaving it on June 30. Continue reading →

Posted in 93 Marketing / Business | Tagged antibiotic-free, Bellingham Farmers Market, Brookfield Farm, hives, honey, leaving, Maple Falls, natural, raw, Washington, why | 3 Comments

Spring Hive Check List

Posted on March 29, 2014 by brookfieldfarmhoney

It is spring here: periods of sun between bouts of rain. I’ve taken the sunny days to do the spring hive assessment, which requires opening all of my hives (about 80) to check them and give them their spring essential … Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Feeding Bees, 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards | Tagged beekeeping, Brookfield Farm, checking, chores, cleaning, hives, honeybees, Maple Falls, spring, Washington | 14 Comments

Two Hives In One

Posted on March 17, 2014 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Finding two queens and their colonies living in one hive during post winter check up. Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 5 Queens and Queen Rearing, 9 Brookfield Farm Bee Yards | Tagged bee, Brookfield Farm, hive, hives, Maple Falls, over winter, queen, two, Washington | 3 Comments

Making Mouse Guards 2013

Posted on November 4, 2013 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Making Mouse Guards : the design, how we make them, why we left it so late Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Hive Components | Tagged bees, Brookfield Farm, hives, how to, make, Maple Falls, mice, mouse, mouse guard, Washington | 8 Comments

Bee Hive Foundation : So Many Foundations So Little Time

Posted on February 16, 2013 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Bee hive foundations : plastic, wax, foundationless. What I see as the good side and bad side to each of these. Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 4 Hive Components | Tagged bees, Brookfield Farm, foundationless, hives, how to, Maple Falls, plastic foundation, Washington, wax foundation | 7 Comments

Naturally Treated Hives at Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey : Pt 1 of 2

Posted on November 24, 2012 by brookfieldfarmhoney

What “Naturally Treated” hives means at Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey, Maple Falls, Washington. Part 1 : Treatments and methods used. Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 2 Diseases/Pests/Treatments, 4 Hive Components | Tagged 1 Beekeeping, Brookfield Farm, hives, how to, Maple Falls, naturally, treated, Washington | 9 Comments

What Colors Do Bees See (and painting bee hives)

Posted on July 21, 2012 by brookfieldfarmhoney

What colors do bees see. How the colors we see differ from bees. And painting bee gear at Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey, Maple Falls, Washington Continue reading →

Posted in 1 Beekeeping, 6 Honeybees -interesting stuff | Tagged 1 Beekeeping, 8 Brookfield Farm & Bees, bees, Brookfield, Brookfield Farm, color vision, colors, do, hives, Karen Bean, Maple Falls, painting, see, Washington, what | 45 Comments

Walk Away Splits in a Bee Busy Week

Posted on May 4, 2012 by brookfieldfarmhoney

How to do an emergency walk-away split (don’t look for the queen, you’ll find out later where she is) and a crazed bee busy week at Brookfield Farm Bees And Honey, Maple Falls, WA Continue reading →