calming bees

Understanding Bee Roles and Behavior

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Honey bee collecting pollen from a yellow flower with visible pollen baskets on its legs

If you are new to beekeeping, you have probably already realized that opening a hive can feel like stepping into a different world. Bees are not just buzzing insects flying around aimlessly; they are communicating, coordinating, and reacting to everything you do. If you want to be successful in the bee yard, understanding their behavior … Read more

How to Light a Bee Smoker (and Keep It Lit)

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A beekeeper holding a stainless steel smoker releasing white smoke, preparing to begin a hive inspection on a sunny day.

Lighting a bee smoker seems simple—until you’re standing in your bee yard with a handful of smoldering burlap and a hive full of increasingly annoyed honey bees. If you’ve ever struggled to keep your smoker going long enough to finish an inspection, you’re not alone. In this post, I’ll walk you through how I light … Read more