HoneybeeLives - Beekeeping Classes - Apiary Services

12/19/2024

This is a notice to inform you that the HoneybeeLives LLC partnership between Chris Harp and Grai St. Clair Rice is being dissolved. Each partner can be reached at their respective new endeavors.

Chris Harp provides apiary services and Bee Doctor visits. Chris can be reached at Harp Apiculture: 845-255-6113.

Grai St. Clair Rice teaches small beekeeping classes and engages diverse audiences through visual presentations. Grai can be reached at: BeeJoy.org.

The HoneybeeLives email will no longer be answered.

It has been a privilege to work with many of you as students and/or clients to nurture the wellbeing of honeybees and the environment.

December 2024

03/19/2022

Robbing at this time of year is extremely dangerous for weak hives.

During cold weather I forgot to close up a couple of dead hives. When I arrived this week on a warm day, other bees were working hard to take advantage of this oversight, creating a frenzy in the yard. The next day in the rain we sealed them with screen. I wish I had sealed them with reflectix of something that did not allow the smell of honey to wafted out as easily.

Yesterday, bees spent all day franticly trying to get in, but the focus did not let up all day.

Robbing is dangerous also because if you don't know why your bees died then you don't know if the hive could be spreading American Foulbrood spores.

03/19/2022

03/12/2022

Late winter bounty. Such a joy to see. Where did you girls get that?!

You can see that spot on their thoraxes that their legs can't reach. Chris said they were having a difficult time flying in.

02/24/2022

Honeybees were all over the Hellebore (also called Lenten Rose) collecting pollen in Washington Square on this warm day. Since I'm a beekeeper I adore watching bees forage, however it's a wonderful and life-affirming activity for everyone else too.

02/17/2022

HoneybeeLives is holding two in-person winter weekend beekeeping classes in New Paltz, Feb 26 & 27 or March 5 & 6. $225 per person for the full weekend.

We just had some openings in these small classes, so I thought should put the word out.

Check our website: www.HoneybeeLives.org for details.
Pre-registration is required.

02/11/2022

It has been one frigid winter in the Hudson Valley! Today and tomorrow are excellent opportunities to check in on your hives and provide winter candy, if they are running low on food. The colony usually begin rearing spring brood starting now and needs to raise the temperature in the hive.

We use an insulated sleeve around our hives, and a screened shim instead of an inner cover, to allow the radiant heat from the lid to help overwintering. Food is slipped under the shim for the bees to access.

Here the bees have eaten the food previously offered, so good that we went in to check. With this insulation system, moisture remains on the edges, and can actually be helpful for bees in winter as long as it isn't dripping on them.

11/28/2021

It is starting to look and feel like winter in New York State, after a beautiful warm autumn. The girls are tucked in and hunkered down.

11/17/2021

Watching honey bees almost always provides fascination and joy for beekeepers. The foraging season in NY is now at a close, yet I can still enjoy watching my bees as they drink from the cut glass dishes filled with rocks that I keep on the table where I can enjoy a few rays of sun.

10/16/2021

Foragers are looking everywhere. Goldenrods and asters are mostly done blooming in our area. Since the protein in pollen is extremely important to bees that will over-winter, we gave the foragers a 5-gallon bucket with some powdered pollen to collect.

Everybody is happy. The sound and sight is pure joy.

10/01/2021

I have been noticing in one yard that there is a large amount of propolis in every hive. I've been cleaning it up, within reason, and collecting it for next year's stain, or this winter's immune tincture.

08/17/2021

HoneybeeLives final Fall/Winter Prep class in the apiary is taking place Sunday, August 22 from 1pm - 6pm. Pre-registration via email. $80 per person. Email: [email protected]

This is the best time to assess the strength of your colonies and prepare them for the long, lean months ahead, and learn about a great way to winterize them.

None of us want to think about winter, however now is the time to tend your hives.