Tag Archives: beekeeping

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

March for Science (revisited)

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Ron Miksha

So, how’d the March for Science go?  I’ll admit that it went better than I expected. My fear (expressed in Friday’s blog) that the effort to support science would be hijacked by a political agenda was only about one-third true. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Friends, Outreach, Save the Bees, Science | Tagged , | 5 Comments

Beekeepers Come; Beekeepers Go

Posted on March 22, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Between 45% and 75% of British beekeepers are newbies – in their first four years. Only 10% have been at it for more than ten years.  I guess it’s similar in Canada, Australia, and the USA. I saw the UK … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Culture, or lack thereof, Humour, Outreach, Save the Bees | Tagged , | 14 Comments

Can’t Get it out of the Comb?

Posted on August 2, 2016 by Ron Miksha

The American Bee Journal  published a timely piece in their August issue. It just hit my mailbox. The article is about avoiding granulated honey in your extracting frames. It’s written by your favourite bee-blogger. Me. I’m not going to repeat … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Climate, Commercial Beekeeping, Honey | Tagged , , , , , | 10 Comments

Canada Day in the Land of Honey

Posted on July 1, 2016 by Ron Miksha

Happy Birthday Canada!  149 years ago, the Fathers of Confederation signed the paperwork that began the Canadian experience. I always figured it was kind of those politicians to give us a summer holiday that suits a beekeeper’s calendar. Across most … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Honey | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Friends Among the Bees

Posted on May 7, 2016 by Ron Miksha

I spent a few hours in the bees today. This was part of our bee club’s beginner beekeeping course and I was one of the instructors, showing 50 new beekeepers the mysterious inner workings of our club president’s hives. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Outreach | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Clipped and Marked? Part 2

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Ron Miksha

I’m not going to suggest how you should hold a queen and a paint bucket when you mark your monarch. For that, I added a video, which you’ll find below. Instead, when your favourite queen supplier gives you a choice … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Queens | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Clipped and Marked? Part 1

Posted on February 19, 2016 by Ron Miksha

If you live north of the equator, you’ve noticed the days getting longer. Your bees have noticed, too. Maybe you’ve already had your first late-winter inspection.  Hopefully, you are not peering into hollow tombs, but instead you’re seeing bustling little … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Queens | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments