Bees – Low Technology Institute

Upcoming Bee Presentation: Beginning Beekeeping, Sep. 7, 10:00 a.m., Edgerton Library

July 23, 2019

This September 7th at 10 a.m., we’ll be giving a presentation on beginning beekeeping at the Edgerton Public Library. This free and public talk will go over some of the basics folks should know before taking the plunge and starting a backyard apiary. We’ll cover the bee life cycles, seasonal activities, equipment, how to get … More Upcoming Bee Presentation: Beginning Beekeeping, Sep. 7, 10:00 a.m., Edgerton Library

We’re Expanding our Bee Research. Join us!

July 1, 2019

The Low Technology Institute is expanding its focus on honeybee research. In the next months, you’ll see blog posts describing the on-going and upcoming projects we are carrying out. Subscribe to our blog below to make sure you never miss a post. Varroa-Mite Tolerant Bee Breeding We’re selectively breeding isolated bee colonies in order to … More We’re Expanding our Bee Research. Join us!

Bee Informed Partnership Releases Study Results

June 20, 2019

Every year I get an email from the Bee Informed Partnership. They’re asking for beekeepers to fill out a 20- to 30-minute survey on our practices and results in our bee yards. As far as I know, this is the most comprehensive and popular survey of beekeeping in the US, netting an estimated 11 percent … More Bee Informed Partnership Releases Study Results

The Honey Thief — Recent Work with Stutz Photography on Display at Yahara Bay Distillery

June 19, 2019

I recently received a call from Patrick Stutz of Stutz Photography, asking if I would help him with an upcoming show. Yahara Bay Distillery in Madison is putting on a Preserve Festival to celebrate food and its preservation. You can see an article covering the festival from the Wisconsin State Journal and find more details … More The Honey Thief — Recent Work with Stutz Photography on Display at Yahara Bay Distillery

Come Learn to Split Beehives This Weekend: 3 p.m. Saturday

May 9, 2019

I’ve been splitting hives since I started keeping bees 4 years ago and I’m still on my original line of bees (meaning I bought one nuc four years ago and am still going). This Saturday afternoon at 3:00 P.M. I’m going to start splitting my hives. The weather is cool, but I don’t want to … More Come Learn to Split Beehives This Weekend: 3 p.m. Saturday

Bee Report — Early Spring is Here

April 9, 2019

In the last report, we found that the institute bees survived the “polar vortex” -30°F (plus windchill) temperatures but the research hives, which were split heavily and smaller in size, did not. It is now reaching flying temperatures most days (>50°F) and the bees in all four institute hives have been out. Institute Hives … More Bee Report — Early Spring is Here

Bee Report — Midwinter Check

February 13, 2019

After the polar vortex visited us with -30°F temperatures, we warmed up to the mid 40ºFs, and I took the opportunity to check on our bees. At this time of year, the bees are not hibernating, as many people think. They form a cluster around the center of the hive and shiver themselves together to … More Bee Report — Midwinter Check

Bee Report — Tucking the Bees in for Winter

October 11, 2018

The bees are preparing for winter. Last week I went into the hives to consolidate winter stores and check on the health of the colonies. We have four hives on the institute property and four hives around the village as part of our mite-tolerant breeding program. The four hives on the institute property were split … More Bee Report — Tucking the Bees in for Winter

Bee Report — Study Hive Splits and Bee Vacuum

August 16, 2018

Things are going well for the bees. The institute currently has four hives as part of its mite-tolerant breeding program. To increase the number of hives going into the winter, about a month ago, I split our two original hives into four: I pulled the queen, two frames of brood, and two frames of honey, … More Bee Report — Study Hive Splits and Bee Vacuum

Bee Report — “Cutout” becomes a “Trapout” in Brodhead

August 2, 2018

A healthy bee colony will outgrow its hive most years. When this happens, a swarm is sent out, dividing the colony into two or more: the original queen leaves with half the hive and those left behind raise new queens from left-over eggs. The swarm parks itself in a convenient location as a large mass … More Bee Report — “Cutout” becomes a “Trapout” in Brodhead

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Tag: Bees