Douglas Farm

It comes with the essence of the breed perhaps. The Buckfest bee was created by Brother Adam through many long travels. So, it is very fitting that we prepare for a long trip ourselves to obtain them. This spring we were informed they no longer intended to ship bees across the border. We must now travel to pick them up and bring them across ourselves.

This week we took our first step, beyond phone inquiries. It all starts with applying for our passports. It’s one of t...

Colloidal Silver is silver suspended in a solution, normally water. It's made by grinding or electrolysis.

Silver is a metal that has been used in medical instruments for a long time. It is easily cleaned.

Many believe it to have anti bacterial, fungus, and viral properties.

However, no scientific research has shown it to help medically when ingested or injected. So, it falls in the realm of snake oil.

I've heard of ...

Not that I want to support the anarchy and crazy out of standard hive systems.

But for all you 'Top Bar' beekeepers...

Top bar hives are really the short name for the Kenya Top Bar Hive.

They are hives that are built front to back with comb facing perpendicular to the enterance. The hive does not...

A new batch of Cordovans means its time to mark some queens. Here's some pictures from today:

The Equipment-

Captured Queen

Queen to the top

What's a queen without her Castle?

So I've assembled my two new Queen Castles. Now if I could make a cool outer cover...

Keeping good records is very helpful and good beekeeping practice. Many beekeepers like keeping things on computer. Here are two web applications:

First, a new ap. called Beetight. This application allows you to track hives, yards and other things. It's still new, and updates keep coming, but I think its worth checking out. As its new, its developer is taking suggestions for improvment. A mobile version is availible, good with iphone and droid. Free use for up to 6 hives,&#...

I'm sure most beekeepers have had a swarm at one point. A swarm is the natural way for a hive to reproduce. The old queen makes a new queen. Then she flys off with a number of the hive's workers to make new hive.

Most new queens stay in the old hive while their mother flys off to make a new hive. Thus if a beekeeper replaces his queen every year the odds of having a swarm greatly decrease.

Additionally though, a hive will swarm when they feel crowded and in need of more space...

"The Apiary Inspectors of America (AIA) and USDA-ARS Beltsville Honey Bee Lab conducted a survey between September 2008 and early April 2009 to estimate colony loses across the country. Over 20% of the country’s estimated 2.3 million colonies were surveyed. A total loss of 28.6% of managed honey bee colonies was recorded.

This compares to losses of 35.8% and 31.8% recorded respectively in the winters of 2007/2008 and 2006/2007. While a decrease in total losses is enco...

American Honey Producers Assoc. National Convention:

"Around 600 people registered for the convention, and about 37 vendors. Seminars included “The Honey Revolution – Restoring the Health of Future Generations” with Dr. Ron Fessenden of Colorado and The Sierra Club’s “Working to Protect Pollinators” with Dr. Neil Carman of Texas, to name just a few."

"Three members of the National Guard’s Oklahoma Agricultural Development Team...

Beekeepers around the country are preparing to make their migration to California for February's almond pollination.

"By 2012, the ARS expects almond-bearing acreage in California to top 800,000, a sharp increase from the 680,000 acres of almonds farmed in 2004. The increase has helped drive up the price of honeybees from about $50 per hive in 2003 to as much as $170 per hive this year, the agency reports." -1

"California is the world's biggest producer and exporter o...

2 Great Videos to check out, 1st in 2009 - Where my Bees at?

Music Video Directed by Max Lanman Music Video Produced by Connor Lanman Original Song Produced by James Lanman Lyrics for Do The Honey Bee Co-written by Max Lanman, James Lanman, and Connor Lanman

[verse 1] What up everybody? What up...

1. Baking soda is poisonous to ants, spinkle it around your plants to ensure ants will stay away. (But it will change the ground ph so use caution (blue berries will not like it).
2. Instant Grits, instant rice or instant cream of wheat can be sprinkled around plants or hives. Keep it dry, replace if the rain gets it wet. The ant will eat a piece of whichever you sprinkle, drink water and the grain expands and kills the ant.
3. You can use instant coffee grounds, chili powder, ci...