by Texas Homesteader ~
Natural beeswax is useful in so many ways. But the beeswax in the hive needs to be cleaned to filter out hive trash. But how?
I want to make sure not an ounce of that precious beeswax is wasted. I’ll use it for salves, Beeswax Candles and more. But first the raw beeswax from the hive needs to be purified.
by Texas Homesteader ~
Around the end of March RancherMan & I start thinking about splitting our beehives. Splitting a hive accomplishes 2 things – it expands the number of hives in your apiary. (yea!) But it also gives the bees a little elbow room by putting empty frames in each hive allowing for expansion.
You see, if the bees get to thinking things are too cramped, they’ll swarm looking for more space. And that’s something no beekeeper wants since there’s been lots of time & effort into managing their apiary. We did our splits by swapping empty frames for full ones. It was easy!
~by Texas Homesteader ~
Sunflowers & honeybees – Two of my favorite things in one shot!
~TxH~
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by Texas Homesteader ~
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Bees harvest their own food. But sometimes during the dearth of summer when not much is blooming, a beekeeper can help keep the bees fed by using a frame feeder filled with a syrup made of sugar & water.
There are many ways to feed the bees. And there are many feeding devices you can buy & use to accomplish that. But here’s what we do:
by Texas Homesteader ~
Sometimes you need a quick hive stand that you can construct quickly. Maybe you’ve captured a swarm and you need a hive stand NOW!
We’re using concrete cinder blocks & 4×4 posts to make a beehive stand in just 5 minutes. Come see how easy it is!
by Texas Homesteader ~
Honeybees will fill a honey super box with honey. But how do you prepare the hives in advance of adding a honey super box or know when it’s time to place it on your beehives? Read on, dear friends.
Today I’m showing what we do to prepare to harvest that all-natural sweet honey we love!
by Texas Homesteader ~
Ever since beginning our beekeeping endeavor, I can no longer just merrily bounce across the yard. Now I’m taking very deliberate steps to assure I don’t accidentally step on one of our honey-makers!
~TxH~
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by Texas Homesteader ~
RancherMan came in from the pastures & told me it was time to suit up, we’ve got a bee swarm to catch. Woo-hoo!
Apparently he saw a swarm of bees about 15-ft up in a tree right near our pasture gate. We’ve never captured a swarm before so here’s yet one more opportunity to learn something exciting about beekeeping! And maybe get to add a new hive of bees to our group as well.
