Resources
Our Beekeeping Method
New beekeepers are catching the bug [ahem]! They are jumping on board with Treatment Free, Foundationless, Natural Beekeeping. I figured it's time to share the non-mainstream practices we adopted that have proven to work well so that eventually they might no longer be non-mainstream. I've created a section called the FF Method where I'll keep all of this information organized. Disclaimer: Our method differs in some regards from popular mainstream approaches. But the bees make the rules. Our ideas are not original. Our method is not an invention of ours and it will probably change and adapt over time. We're just opening up and sharing what we do for those who want to let the bees do what they want!
Other Resources We Recommend
Bush Farms Beekeeping - Michael Bush has been keeping bees for over 40 years. The style of natural beekeeping he advocates is what I have adopted. We're big fans. This website is essentially my main influence and is a valuable reference of beekeeping knowledge.
BeeSource.com - Fantastic beekeeper forum with lots of helpful members and great advice for any beekeeper of any level of experience.
Flower Fragrances That Attract Bees and Butterflies to Your Garden - Is there anyone who doesn't love flowers? They are beautiful and they smell so good! No wonder many popular perfumes are formulated to smell like a flower bouquet. This article, is a great primer for selecting beautiful plants with scents that attract pollinators. Shout-out to Jenna's Girl Scout troop who are currently working on their Flower Garden Badge as part of the Life Skills Journey for providing us this resource.
Creating Pollinator Gardens - My parents are avid bird watchers. They loved having their bird feeder and bird bath visited by birds of all types in the back yard. Planting a pollinator garden for insects to visit is the same idea! You are providing food for them and, in turn, they pollinate your garden for you. It's fun to observe and identify the different bees, butterflies and other creatures that visit.
Bee Pollen Power! - Pollen is the most amazing food you don't know much about. Fact #1: Pollen is more protein dense than meat. Fact #2 Pollen from honeybees made into bee bread contains all nutrients your body needs to be healthy. Amazed yet? Read this study and raise your Pollen IQ!
How to make bee bread - The skinny: It takes several weeks for the 1:1 mixture of honey to fresh pollen before the fermented product is at its best nutritionally. After this simple process is followed you want to store your bee bread in a refrigerator. It has a refrigerated shelf life on the order of years. But like most foods the nutritional value drops off with time.
Pollen Forecast - Need to anticipate how much pollen to expect? This site is great!
Bee Pollen Popular - A fun, informative and engaging handout you can easily share. Engaging and interactive for all ages.
Honey Varieties & Flavor Profiles - Are you the type who appreciates subtleties of origin? Most think all honey tastes the same. Some even happily substitute "honey sauce" for the real thing. If you're getting your honey from a smaller beekeeping operation it probably tastes unique to their locale. Yes, nectar tastes different from different plant's flowers!
South Carolina's beekeeping related laws: SC Beekeeping Laws, SC Honey Processing Laws, Application for Exemption, How To Legally Sell Your Honey, SC Honey Labeling Guidance, Honey House FDA Kitchen laws.