Galveston County Beekeeper's Committee

08/03/2026

Last week we wrapped up our Galveston County Beekeeping 101 course with our Field Day, and what a great way to finish!

There’s no better way to learn beekeeping than by getting into the hive. Participants had the opportunity to suit up, inspect colonies, identify brood, honey, pollen, and queens, and put everything they learned in the classroom into practice.

A huge thank you to Sean Schimelpfening of Wild Honey at Coplin Bee Farms for leading the hands-on instruction and field day, and to Donna, Sven, Doc, Carlos, and all of our Beekeeping Committee volunteers for making the day a success. We couldn’t do it without your time, knowledge, and willingness to help new beekeepers.

Thank you to everyone who joined us throughout the course. We hope this is just the beginning of your beekeeping journey, and we look forward to seeing you around the bee yard!

07/07/2026

DIY Bee Water Fountain!

One of our local beekeepers, Doc Copley, shared this simple, reliable bee water fountain design, and I thought it was too good not to pass along!

During the hot summer months, honey bees need a dependable source of water to help cool the hive, dilute stored honey, and feed developing brood. Providing a consistent water source can also help keep your bees from visiting your neighbor’s swimming pool, birdbath, or pet’s water bowl.

What makes Doc’s design unique is its simplicity:
✅ No electrical or mechanical components inside the water bucket
✅ Uses a small aquarium air pump to circulate water
✅ Low maintenance and has operated for years
✅ Continues working even after periods without refilling
✅ Performs well in both hot and freezing weather
✅ Refills easily without disturbing foraging bees

The fountain works by using an aquarium air pump to inject air into a larger discharge tube. As the air rises, it lifts water to the surface where it gently sprays from a small nozzle before draining back into the bucket to be recirculated. The result is a continuous source of fresh, moving water that bees can easily access.

Some design features include:
🐝 ¼-inch aquarium air line
🐝 ⅜-inch discharge hose
🐝 Remote placement of the air pump for electrical safety
🐝 Refill tube that allows water to be siphoned in without pouring directly on bees
🐝 Large drainage holes in the lid to recycle the water back into the bucket

A huge thank you to Doc Copley for sharing his years of experience and allowing us to pass this idea along to other beekeepers. It’s always great to see practical, field-tested ideas that help make beekeeping a little easier.

I’ve attached the video, instructions, and construction drawing for anyone interested in building one of their own.

Happy Beekeeping! 🐝🍯

07/01/2026

🐝 What an incredible start to Galveston County Beekeeping 101! 🐝

We had a fantastic first night of class, and it was great to see so many eager beekeepers ready to learn and grow their knowledge of honey bees.

A huge thank you goes to Sean Schimelpfening, co-owner of Coplin Bee Farms and a member of the Galveston County Beekeepers Committee, for doing an outstanding job teaching our first class. Sean’s knowledge, passion, and willingness to share his experience and expertise made for an excellent evening.

I’d also like to give a special thank you to Donna, Sven, Doc, and Carlos for volunteering their time to help make the class a success. It takes a great team to put on a program like this, and we truly appreciate everything you do for our local beekeeping community.

Thank you to everyone who joined us—we can’t wait to see you all next week! 🐝🍯

04/26/2026