A different view of swarms

Beekeepers spend a lot of mental and physical energy trying to prevent swarms. A hive that swarms is less productive in making honey than a hive that doesn’t, particularly if the swarm occurs during a honey flow. But, maybe we should stop, take a moment, and consider the good that a swarm can do. First,Continue reading “A different view of swarms”

Honey vs. sugarwater

Feeding bees is a complex issue. For the new beekeeper especially, it’s a dizzying array of options and decisions. So, let’s start with a simple principle: The less you feed your bees artificial food (sugarwater), the better off your bees are. Feeding less, of course, means leaving more honey on the hive. That’s hard toContinue reading “Honey vs. sugarwater”

Howard Kerr on bees: They are what they eat

You are what you eat; so are the bees. An egg gets hormone-rich royal jelly for about three days, but then the nurse bees most of the time stop feeding that. If a bee continues to get royal jelly, she could develop into a queen.

Best Beekeeping Practices Q & A: Howard Kerr

In this new series, Best Beekeeping Practices Q & A, we’ve decided to tap into the wisdom and experiences of some of our veteran members of the Blount County Beekeepers Association and get their recommendations for keeping bees in the East Tennessee area. These folks have been keeping bees around here for decades, and they have a lot to tell us. Our first interviewee is Howard Kerr.