The basics are not always as basic as they seem. This category covers the foundational knowledge that underpins everything else in beekeeping — colony biology, bee behaviour, the role of the queen, how bees communicate, and why colonies do what they do at different times of year. It is also where you will find posts that examine what “good practice” actually means and where the received wisdom of UK beekeeping holds up under scrutiny and where it does not.
These posts are written for beekeepers who want to understand what is happening in the hive, not just follow a checklist. That said, beginners who are serious about learning the biology alongside the practice will find plenty here. A beekeeper who understands why a colony behaves in a particular way is a better beekeeper than one who has simply memorised the right response. Understanding the fundamentals is how you develop judgement, and judgement is what beekeeping actually runs on.
🎵 Here is an audio version if you would rather listen than read.🎵 Cards on the table: there are actually four critical factors, in my opinion, but one of them is not something we can influence. I’m talking about the weather, of course. The weather might even be the most important one – so I’ll … Read more
Some beekeepers are always thinking ahead. They have a plan. They keep records, so they know what’s going on with their bees, and they take time to think about what they will be doing next, and then what next after that. I suppose personality type might come into it; not all folks are wired the … Read more
How do we learn the noble art of beekeeping? I suppose it’s a combination of practice and theory, bolstered by reading books, chatting to others, attending courses and so on. I doubt that I am the only beekeeper who occasionally suffers from the urge to ‘meddle’ — I try things out to see if they … Read more
I have my bees at ‘out-apiaries’ and have never risked keeping them at home. That’s a personal choice which works for me (and my neighbours) but I have far more hives than could ever fit in my garden anyway. I have recently grown my beekeeping empire, bringing my number of apiaries up to seven. So, … Read more
Spring has arrived here in Walrus-land, so it’s time to do some actual bee work at last. This coming season will be a year of expansion. The winter has certainly seen some undesired growth in my waistline, but that’s the wrong kind of expansion for me. Hopefully, my frantic beekeeping activities will help to burn … Read more
There are many ways to skin a cat, apparently, and the same is true of beekeeping (many ways to do it). I don’t understand why anyone would want to skin a cat. It seems harsh, even if cats aren’t your thing. Bees don’t even have skin, so they are way ahead of felines in the … Read more
Honey Bee Polyandry: The Secret to Their Success. Yep, a nice catchy headline, but for most beekeepers the polyandrous nature of honey bees is not much of a secret at all. When a virgin honey bee queen takes her risky mating flight to a drone congregation area she will have sex with many drones (male … Read more
I have a soft spot for certain wise personalities from the past, such as R.O.B Manley. It’s with this in mind that I wanted to write something in praise of the great C.L. Farrar, who died on 2nd October 1970 in Wisconsin, USA. Yes, Varroa mites have changed the face of beekeeping, but much of … Read more