What does handmade pottery have in common with beeswax candles? Where does sustainability come into play? And what do the bees have to do with it? You can read that and much more here: The production of ceramic vessels and objects has an even longer tradition than that of beeswax candles. However, both have one thing in common: They are made of natural materials and are lovingly made by hand. Each piece is unique. Beeswax candles and handmade ceramics have been making a comeback for a number of years as sustainable, resource-saving commodities. Especially today against the background of increasing...

This is my third year in beekeeping. And every year I'm confronted with something new. The saying goes: A first year queen will never swarm. A second year queen may swarm. A third year queen will most definitely swarm. Yup, that about sums up my experience. What does it mean when the bees want to swarm? Swarming is the natural way that bees reproduce. The old queen leaves the hive and takes about half of the working bees with her. The bees remaining in the hive build a new queen. Thus, out of one colony, you now have two. The...

Unfortunately, the varroa mite is a very real threat to the honey bee population. And it's a good thing I didn't know too much about this very tiny but evil parasite before I got into beekeeping or it might have made me think twice. But with some work on the part of the beekeeper, ye can keep these pests at bay. The varroa mite exists only in honey bee colonies. It attaches itself to the bodies of the honey bees and sucks off of them. A large infestation of mites will cause the death of the honey bee colony. For...