Tag Archives: Washington

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

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

Beeswax Chews (or the Big Bits Floating On Top Of Honey)

Posted on February 13, 2016 by brookfieldfarmhoney

I started selling “beeswax chews” at Seattle’s Ballard Farmers’ Market. After explaining what they were to customers, I thought – “hey, a new blog topic”. Now “Beeswax Chews” are what I’ve always called the big bits of wax that float … Continue reading →

Posted in 92 Honey | Tagged beeswax, Brookfield Farm, Chews, Maple Falls, Washington, what are | 3 Comments

The Honey Paw Uncapper – I like it

Posted on January 23, 2016 by brookfieldfarmhoney

Last year I finally purchased and used a Honey Paw Uncapper. It works quite well, but it was a pain to buy. Nothing like sending 200 EUROS (about $215 at this time, I think the exchange made it higher when … Continue reading →