Free shipping on orders $50+
Education
Hive management, seasonal timing, pests, equipment and California regulations — written for first- and second-year beekeepers.
58 articles · page 5 of 5
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Beekeeping First Winter Survival: A Month-by-Month Protocol for Beginners
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Winter kills 40.2% of U.S. colonies every year. This August-through-February protocol gives first-year beekeepers the exact timeline for varroa treatment, store assessment, moisture control, and hands-off monitoring to bring a colony through its first winter alive.
13 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Native Bees vs. Honeybees: Urban Habitat & Conservation Strategy
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Honeybees dominate public attention, but the 4,000 native bee species doing most of the pollination work are in crisis. One hive consumes pollen that could feed 100,000 solitary bees. This guide covers the competition problem, 5 steps to restore urban native bee habitat, and what NorCal Nectar is doing to protect both managed and wild pollinators.
12 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Varroa Mite Treatment Timing: When to Treat, How to Monitor & What's Changing in 2026
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Colony losses hit 55.6% in 2024-2025, and mistimed varroa treatments are a leading driver. This seasonal guide covers monitoring methods, treatment windows, the amitraz resistance crisis, and new tools like RNAi and disease-resistant bee stocks that are reshaping mite management in 2026.
14 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Native Bees vs Honeybees: Species Guide & Solitary Bee Housing
Beekeeping & Sustainability
The U.S. is home to 4,000+ native bee species that pollinate 2-3x more efficiently than honeybees, yet 34.7% face extinction risk. This species guide covers identification, California's unmatched diversity, a step-by-step solitary bee house build, and 7 ways to support native bees in your garden.
22 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
How to Start Beekeeping: The Complete Beginner's Guide to Your First Hive
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Colony losses hit a record 55.6% in 2024-2025, making new beekeepers more important than ever. This step-by-step guide covers everything from equipment and hive selection to seasonal management and first-year mistakes, so you can start your first hive with confidence.
24 min read
Beekeeping
Urban Beekeeping for Beginners: Apartment & Balcony Hives
Beekeeping
City dwellers are turning balconies and rooftops into thriving apiaries. This beginner's guide covers hive selection, local regulations, neighbor relations, and month-by-month management for your first year of urban beekeeping.
17 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Why Bees Are Vital for Agriculture: Pollination Economics, Crop Dependence, and What's at Stake
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Bees do far more than make honey. They underpin roughly one-third of global food production through pollination, supporting everything from almonds and blueberries to cherries and cucumbers. This guide breaks down the economics, the crop-level data, and what four generations of beekeeping have taught us about protecting pollinators.
13 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
How Do Beekeepers Harvest Honey? A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Responsible Extraction
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Honey harvest is the most rewarding day in a beekeeper's year -- and the most consequential. How you take honey determines whether your colony thrives or starves. This behind-the-scenes guide walks through the entire process our family uses, from checking moisture content to bottling raw honey without heat.
14 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
What Makes Beekeeping Sustainable? Practices That Protect Bees and Ecosystems
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Sustainable beekeeping prioritizes colony health over maximum honey yields. This guide covers chemical-free management, genetic diversity, habitat preservation, and how to identify responsibly sourced honey from beekeepers who put bees first.
14 min read
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Family Beekeeping Traditions: What 4 Generations of California Beekeepers Have Taught Us
Beekeeping & Sustainability
Since 1892, our family has harvested raw honey in Northern California. Discover how generational beekeeping knowledge, sustainable practices, and Mendocino County terroir shape every jar.
12 min read
What raw honey actually is, how to tell it apart from filtered supermarket honey, and how Northern California wildflower honey tastes through the season.
Serving sizes, pack maths, age safety, and how honey sticks work for tea, lunchboxes, events and businesses.
Cooking, baking, drinks and infusions that use raw honey as an ingredient rather than a garnish.
Be the first to know about new drops, recipes, and hive updates.
