Last Updated on June 20, 2024 by Michelle
I am a huge fan of impromptu, unplanned, teachable moments…
One such moment recently was way better than any field trip this homeschool mom could have planned or lesson I could have prepared. Take it from me, if you ever hear a neighbor mention they’re getting bees delivered tomorrow, most definitely ask if you can watch!
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Who knows, he may even have extra beekeeper’s gear and ask your daughter to suit up and help.
And yes, she started longing for some bee hives that very day. No, we don’t have any yet. For now, 8 hens, 1 difficult (but beautiful) rooster, 5 young chicks, 4 ducks, lots of rabbits, an adorable momma holstein, a sweet baby holstein on the way (due within a month), and a 120-tap maple syrup operation, and we’re not quite in a position to add one more thing to our homesteading plate.
While I’m not an expert of apiaries, I know my fair share about the all-natural amazing sweetener in our sugarbush. Some of the many resources I’ve shared about maple syrup over the years can be found right here. Or check out my book, Sweet Maple.
UPDATE: We joyfully added an apiary on our farm not too long after I wrote this. I share links to more I’ve written and recorded on the topic below.
But if you like researching something thoroughly before taking a leap, as she does, here are some interesting resources you may enjoy on bee keeping:
This free ebook gives lots of details about the natural way of keeping bees as well as directions on building your own hives.
This blogger in California offers lots of great tips for bee keepers.
If you’re into podcasts, you’ll enjoy this one all about bee keeping, run by a husband and wife duo who operate a bee business in east central Illinois.
I stumbled across this interesting blog post on how bees are like chicken (and why natural bee keeping is better).
And this is an interesting description of commercial beekeeping and industrial agriculture today.
This Ultimate Guide to Beekeeping is super handy.
I share about adding an established nuc of bees to a colony, or you can listen in to my podcast episode on the topic on apple podcasts or right here:
Then, if you’re seriously in the mood to have everything you need to know about beekeeping in the palm of your hand, you definitely want to snag your own copy of this amazing book, written by my friend Amber Bradshaw, who has an amazing off-grid, built-it-themselves homestead in Tennessee and knows everything about bees.
Or maybe you’re not interested in bee keeping at all and would just like to see an adorable picture of Scout… I can definitely oblige…
In another month, you’ll have to hold me back from sharing dozens of mug shots of Scout’s sure-to-be-adorable baby calf. For now, go enjoy a beautiful, fleeting, summer-day moment. If some impromptu, teachable moment slips in the back door, all the better.
UPDATE: Read about Scout’s little one–sweet Selah–and the joy she brought to our homestead, right here.
How to Make Honey Butter
ANOTHER UPDATE: We added bees to our homestead fall 2018. Sadly we lost two hives that winter, I explain in this facebook live. But joyfully we harvested 8 pounds of honey as well. I explain more about that, and show you how to make amazingly delicious Honey Butter in this youtube live video:
My Favorite Way to Eat Honey
If you like raw honey, you will love this…
More Information You’ll Enjoy
How to prepare bee hives for winter.
The two different ways to add bees to a colony
How to find the best maple syrup, sugar, cream & more
How to make floral-infused honey.
This small, family-run apiary sells some of the best honey I’ve ever tasted.
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Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. Psalm 90:14
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Two days ago while winging through the countryside, top down in my Tbird, I passed a farm selling honey. I saw the hives and thought, I’ll bet Kayla would give that a try.
Today I read your blog. We’re all connected. Amazing.
Yep, bees are on her “list,” right after pigs, I believe. But the calf is arriving soon… and multiple gallons of milk a day to go with it. 🙂 So I don’t know how soon bee hives will make their way onto Restful Falls Farm. But I wish I could join you on a ride in the country in your Tbird!
I can only imagine. I’m getting bees this spring and already have my hive built.
For me, it was sitting up with my daughter through the wee hours of the morning to watch a calving. We were staying at the fairgrounds for 3 weeks while she was competing in 4H events:
— egg laying
— swine (two females, one purchased by a breeder)
— equestrian events
As an adult, she always reminded me that I spent Mother’s Day loading pigs on the slaughter trucks for 5 years. Best of times.
I love this! (And so exciting to be getting bees!!! Congrats!)
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