Category Archives: Tools and Gadgets

Comb on demand

Posted on April 9, 2019 by Ron Miksha

Here’s something that I never thought anyone would manufacture. It’s fully-drawn comb, just the way bees would make it, if bees were machines. I’m impressed with the technology, but I’m not sure how marketable these manufactured combs will be. Perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Hives and Combs, Strange, Odd Stuff, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged | 12 Comments

Late-winter Feeding

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Ron Miksha

Today is the last day of winter in the northern hemisphere. But the temperature – here in Calgary, at least – feels spring-like. It’s been in the mid-teens (60° F) for a few days. It’s the first chance for many … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Honey for the house

Posted on July 8, 2018 by Ron Miksha

We had a late spring. Our main flow hasn’t quite started. In another week, the bees will be gathering ten pounds of clover and alfalfa honey each day here in Calgary. There’s a nice flight today but five days ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Honey, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Smokers, beware: Playing with Fire

Posted on July 1, 2018 by Ron Miksha

Today, I will end this mini-series of blog posts about smokers with some safety tips. Smokers can be dangerous and yada, yada, yada – some readers have already tuned out. But here’s the cost.  I know a South Dakota beekeeper … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Smokers, beware: Bee Smoker 101

Posted on June 30, 2018 by Ron Miksha

If you’re somewhat new at beekeeping, you haven’t been using a smoker for long. You might not know some of the peculiarities of the hot little machine. I’ll give some basics here. Tomorrow, we’ll look at smoker safety, aka, how … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged | 5 Comments

Smokers, beware: Stuff I’ve Smoked

Posted on June 29, 2018 by Ron Miksha

Yesterday, I started a discussion about whether beekeepers should use a smoker. (Smoke or no smoke?)  I think you should use one, but you’ve got to be smart about it. I’ll write more about smart smoking tomorrow, in a piece … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Books, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , , , | 17 Comments

Smokers, beware: Smoke or no smoke?

Posted on June 28, 2018 by Ron Miksha

Smoke or no smoke?  Good question. It surprises me that there are beekeepers who have completely forsworn smokers. Such quixotic folks ply their trade without smoke, believing (perhaps correctly) that a bee smoker invalidates the organic status of their honey. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , | 31 Comments

Welcoming some new friends

Posted on April 28, 2018 by Ron Miksha

The bees arrived. It was getting late. I was getting anxious. But just after the sun settled for the night, my friend Mark arrived with our two packages. He brought us 13,637 worker bees and two queens. We counted them. … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , | 12 Comments

Have you lithium-chlorided your bees yet?

Posted on January 17, 2018 by Ron Miksha

A friend (Thanks, Thomas!) sent a note this morning about a new mite treatment. It was developed at the University of Hohenheim, Apicultural State Institute, Stuttgart, Germany. Findings were published in Nature.  So, I am guessing that the science – … Continue reading →

Posted in Diseases and Pests, Save the Bees, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , | 23 Comments

Creamed Honey

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Ron Miksha

I’ve written about ‘creamed’ honey before, but I think it’s time to mention it again. I don’t know what you call smooth honey – some folks call it creamed (though no dairy products are involved), spun (though no spinning is … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, History, Honey, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , , , | 13 Comments