December Beekeeping Chores
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Homemade bee-themed ornaments are a fun family project. (Photo by Charlotte Ekker Wiggins)
December Beekeeping Chores
Usually by this time of the year my bees are clustered in their hives and I’m tucked in my home staying warm against cold, soon to be wintery days. This year, it’s hard to believe it’s December when daytime temperatures are in the 70s and bees are checking out what plants I’m still getting into the ground.
With these warmer temperatures, bees are working quickly through their food stores so this is a good time to monitor their honey stores. If they are running low, time to make sugar cakes to add to the top of the hive.
If you haven’t already, store frames with wax in totes with ParaMoth crystals to protect the wax frames against wax moths.
If you need to order bees, start canvasing your area for beekeepers who may have nucs for sale next spring. Best to buy your bees locally if you can.
Remember you can also store empty hive bodies outside to cut down on storage area.
If you have kids, have fun making cookies and tree ornaments with bees on them.
And if you were lucky enough to get some honey this year, make sure to enjoy it over the holidays, it’s a delicious perk of keeping bees.
Happy holidays!
