Tara here, and you’ve found Queen Bee Homestead! Located in Western New York, I have been beekeeping for eight years and now I’m expanding into other ventures. Follow along as we build a barn, get some goats, rabbits, and help you learn along with us!
Free Bees by Splitting Hives
Swarms are a great way to get free bees, but if you’re already a beekeeper splits are another great way to increase your numbers! That’s right, you can get free bees by splitting hives! So, What is a Split? A split is a term used when a beekeeper manually takes one beehive and makes it…
Honey Sugar Scrub Recipe
Make your own honey sugar scrub! It’s easy and delicious! Wait, did I say delicious? Well, this is technically edible, and it does smell like cookie dough! DIY Spa Day Do you want to treat yourself, but don’t want to go out and pay a ton of money for a mask or exfoliant? Or do…
Keeping BEARS out of Beehives
Bears can really wreak havoc on a beehive, ask me how I know! No matter how good you think they are strapped down, the bear WILL just peel it open. Yes, even the little innocent-looking black bears! So, how do you go about keeping bears out of your beehives? Bears and Bees An iconic duo,…
Cheesy Ramp Frittata Recipe
After foraging for your own ramps (wild leeks), you will, of course, want some recipes to go with them! While ramps can be substituted into many dishes, this cheesy ramp frittata utilizes the bulb and leaves! Versatility of Frittatas A frittata is a crust-less quiche. And much like a quiche, you can throw almost any…
Rendering Your Own Beeswax- it’s Easy!
Rendering your own beeswax is easier than you might think! There are expensive gadgets out there that can help the process, but with a little patience, you can do it yourself without spending any extra money! Rendering Your Own Beeswax After processing your honey frames, you will be left with all the cappings. I would…
How to Check on Your New Hives
So you hived your new bees, good job! Now you’ll need to know how to check on your new hives! You want to make sure your queen is laying eggs and has a good pattern. I will go further into detail below! Always Check Your New Hives! It can be a little intimidating- opening a…