Hive Education

We're excited to share our new beekeeping calendar, designed to guide you through the year for your seasonal hive management.

This calendar will help you follow along with what we do in the hive each month, like a monthly hive checklist—everything from when we feed our bees to how and when we treat for varroa mites, and much more—all while preparing for the winter months ahead.

We know that every year can be different, but this calendar gives you a clear direction and purpose during your hive inspections.
By following these steps, you'll be better equipped to care for your bees through all the seasons.

Disclaimer: Beekeeping is an evolving process, and there are many ways to care for bees.
Nothing is guaranteed, and success requires consistency, attention, and hard work.
This calendar is a helpful guide and can help in beginner beekeeper planning, but every hive is unique,
and adaptation may be necessary based on your specific conditions.
Pollen Patty Recipe
2:1 syrup - 275 oz. Or 17lb 3 oz wt Canola oil - 1.6 cups Corn oil - 1.6 cups Honey b Healthy - .4 cups Nozevit - 2.84 Tbls. Bee Pro (pollen) - 5 lbs. Ultra Bee (pollen) - 6 lbs Cinnamon - .5 lb.   First weigh out all of your wet ingredients into a 5 gallon bucket. Then weigh out your dry ingredients in the same bucket. You will then use a mixer to mix all of your ingredients. This batch makes 30 pounds, so make sure... Read more...
Beginner’s Guide to Beekeeping
Everything You Need to Know to Start Your First Hive — From a Family Who’s Been There There’s something special about beekeeping. It connects you to nature in a way... Read more...
January
Items Needed This Month Fondant Patty Items Needed Next Month Fondant Patty *OAV or *OAD (weather permitting) 1:1 sryup and pollen patty supplement (weather permitting) *OAV (oxalic acid vapor)  *OAD... Read more...
February
Action Items Overwintered   Check for bees.. Are there lots of bees or no bees on the ground in front of the hive? Nicely knock on the hive and listen... Read more...
March
Items Needed This Month Fondant Patties (optional) Tools to apply OA mite treatments (dependent on weather) Oxalic Acid (OA) - You can find this product on amazon or in some retail... Read more...
April
Items Needed This Month Tools to apply OA mite treatments if you didn't apply last month Oxalic Acid (OA) - You can find this product on amazon or in some... Read more...
May
Items Needed This Month 2-4 Gallons of 1:1 syrup (stimulates brood build up) depends on strength of hive and foraging OAE mite treatment 2nd deep box (new hives) Double Screen Board (swarm management)... Read more...
June
Items Needed This Month 3rd deep box (Honey Super) Queen excluder (optional) 1 Gallon of 1:1 syrup (only if needed) Items Needed Next Month 1:1 Syrup (only if hive is struggling) Read how... Read more...
July
Items Needed This Month 1 Gallon of 1:1 syrup (only if hive is struggling, and doesn't have honey super on) Mite testing kit (testing cup, soap solution, 1/2 measuring cup, tub to... Read more...
August
Items Needed This Month 1 Gallon of 2:1 syrup, feed after you remove honey super Mite testing kit (testing cup, soap solution, 1/2 measuring cup, tub to collect bee sample) If... Read more...
September
Items Needed This Month 2:1 syrup Feed before mite treatment and after if needed Formic Pro mite treatment Mite testing kit (testing cup, soap solution, 1/2 measuring cup, tub to collect bee... Read more...
October
Items Needed This Month 2:1 syrup Only add if hive is light and temperature is still fairly warm in the forecast. Not highly recommended. Entrance Reducer Items Needed Next Month Tar... Read more...
November
Items Needed This Month Tar Paper or Bee Cozy Bee Beanie (winter board) Entrance Reducer OAV or OAD mite treatment Items Needed Next Month Fondant Patties or make your own patties. Recipe here Action Items... Read more...
December
Items Needed This Month Tar Paper or Bee Cozy if you haven't added them last month Bee Beanie (winter board) if you haven't added it last month Entrance Reducer if you haven't added it last... Read more...
How to Test for Varroa Mites
The #1 killer of beehives (at least here in Utah) is the Varroa Mite. To be a successful beekeeper requires knowing your mite numbers. Testing and treating for mites is a very important part to beekeeping. If you haven't treated for mites during the year then you most likely know the outcome by the following spring. That usually ends up being a struggling or dead hive. Testing for mites can be challenging for beekeepers because to get an accurate count, requires doing the test properly. Here are some common mistakes... Read more...
Fondant Patty Recipe (winter feeding)
Fondant Patty Recipe: (makes Approximately 3 patties (1-1/2 lbs each) 1. Bring 16 oz. of water to a boil in a large pan 2. Pour in 4 lbs. of sugar 3. Stir and heat until it boils and sugar is dissolved turn down heat a little to medium high (7 on my stove) 4. Bring to 243° Fahrenheit at sea level to 500 ft., you will need to adjust for elevation. I use 238-240°F on the Wasatch Front. (Use candy thermometer or infrared thermometer) Stir every couple minutes or so... Read more...
Introducing Bee Package To Your Hive
Swarm Season - What's it all about?
As Spring has begun to sprout in fits and starts of 70F weather then snow the next day, winter is reluctantly losing her grip on the world. Our Bees have... Read more...
Beehive management is different every year, but them same!
As I reflect on my years of beekeeping (going on 12 years). One of the lessons I've learned is that NO 2 years are the same. The beekeeping management principals... Read more...
DIY Mite Testing Cup
I never thought in beekeeping that one of your greatest tools would be a cheap little cup to test for varroa mites. In beekeeping I am always learning new tricks... Read more...
How to Test for Varroa Mites
The #1 killer of beehives (at least here in Utah) is the Varroa Mite. To be a successful beekeeper requires knowing your mite numbers. Testing and treating for mites is... Read more...
Should I feed my bees in the winter?
Greetings everyone! The new year has begun, and it's been pretty nice out comparatively speaking. This week I got to peek under the "bee beanie" in my backyard hive (the... Read more...
Salvation Salve
I was attending the Utah State Beekeepers Association annual Convention as a second year beekeeper. I heard a talk by the Association President Gayland Yak, an owner of Yak Brothers... Read more...
When does Spring Brood Build up begin?
Spring Brood build Up Starts As I write this we just celebrated “Presidents Day” (February 18, 2019). Between now (February 25th and the First of March our bees will start... Read more...
Honey Bee Healthy Recipe
Honey Bee Healthy Recipe (this is a concentrate, 1-2 Tablespoons are to be added to a gallon of 1:1 or 2:1 sugar syrup) Ingredients needed- 1 cup boiling water 1... Read more...