Tag Archives: beekeeping

The heat is up

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Ron Miksha

My badbeekeeping blog has largely avoided the topic of global climate change. It’s contentious. Some insist it’s happening; other insist that it ain’t. I have purposefully tried to limit my conversation on the topic because I didn’t want to alienate … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Culture, or lack thereof, Personal | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

A Langstroth Christmas Story

Posted on December 25, 2023 by Ron Miksha

I’ve been posting this piece nearly every Christmas for a while. If you’ve read it before, read it again. Or not. Christmas Day is L.L. Langstroth’s birthday. He’d be 213 years old, if he hadn’t been struck down in his … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Books, Culture, or lack thereof, History, Hives and Combs, People, Tools and Gadgets | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Kim Flottum: a life among the bees

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Ron Miksha

Mid-70s is too young to pass over to the other side. But that was the fate for Kim Flottum, 76, who passed away Sunday, December 10, 2023, after a short battle with cancer. The bright and adventurous bee master, editor, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Friends, History, People, Podcasts | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

. . . it’s like calling an old friend

Posted on December 17, 2019 by Ron Miksha

I’m breaking my longest blogging hiatus since I began spewing my myopic insights on the internet, way back in the mid-90s.  Several folks wrote, asking if I were still alive. I didn’t answer them. Then it occurred to me that … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Personal | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Finally, Iceland

Posted on September 11, 2018 by Ron Miksha

In late August, I returned to Canada after a few days in Iceland. I’ve wanted to travel there ever since I was a kid and I quit being a kid decades ago. So, it was about time that I’d made … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Honey Plants, Travels | Tagged , | 11 Comments

The Lazy Bees

Posted on August 12, 2017 by Ron Miksha

A friend wanted to name his honey farm The Lazy Bee Apiaries. He even made the proper brand (LBA) for marking his frames and rims. But other beekeepers (including me) told him that bees aren’t lazy. Sometimes beekeepers are a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bee Biology, Beekeeping, Friends | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

When Bees Become Culture

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Ron Miksha

I’m in the central European country of Hungary for a few days. It’s a family visit with no work or particular sightseeing goals. But honey bee culture is everywhere. Perhaps only Utah (“The Beehive State”) and the little alpine nation … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Honey | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

YIKES! Small Hive Beetle in Alberta

Posted on July 21, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Two days ago, our apiary inspector announced the unfortunate discovery of the ugly Small Hive Beetle (SHB), species Aethina tumida, in the northern part of our province.  I think that this is the first time SHB has been found in … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments

Shake, Rattle, Roll: Our Little Earthquake

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Ron Miksha

I live in one of the less shaky parts of the world. I don’t think that Calgary has ever had a damaging earthquake. (Granted, the city isn’t much over a hundred years old, so it’s a short history.)  When the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Honey, Queens, Science, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Swarm Season

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Ron Miksha

It’s swarm season here in the north. That will end soon enough, but right now it’s pushed by long days and a heavy dandelion flow. Hives just can’t help themselves. In the old days of skep and gum beekeeping, a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Friends, History, Swarms | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments