Installing Your New Bees by Prime Bees – College Station Bee & Honey Farm

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beekeeping, honey bees, installing bees, new bee hive, nucleus hives, package bees

We’ve got short instructions on installing your Package Bees or Nucleus Colony below – feel free to reach out with questions or clarification!

Package bees are just boxes specially built to carry bees securely and safely. They are sold according to the weight of the bees with maybe 4000 to 5000 per pound. They mostly have the queen bee not unless the buyer has instructed otherwise. They are relatively cheaper compared to nucleus colony.

To install the package bees, you will need to remove the center frames of the colony you’re moving the bees into. Remove the cage containing the queen bee first, then place the container on its side over the place you have removed the frames. Put the queen’s cage on top of a frame and gently turn the package inside out to assist the bees to fall into the hive.  Prepare two frames where you shall place the queen cage and use pressure to hold it in place if you have existing comb – otherwise you can tie the cage with string or tape to secure her – you don’t want her to fall to the bottom of the hive. Once all the bees are out of the package, you can remove the package and set it in front of the hive (or on top).

Read the fully article here:  Installing Your New Bees — Prime Bees – College Station Bee & Honey Farm

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Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs by Sweet ‘n Savory Therapy

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barbecue, dinner recipe, honey, honey recipe, recipe, ribs

The meat was practically falling off the bone, it was so tender ! You take a bite and you can taste a sweet and spicy flavor but you’ll get some smokiness at the end of the bite. A great recipe when you’re hankering some ribs but don’t feel like cooking outdoors.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds bone-in country-style pork ribs
• 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
• ½ cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons stone-ground mustard
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce (we used reduced-sodium soy sauce)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon liquid smoke (we used hickory smoke)
• 1 teaspoons ground black pepper (we used freshly ground black pepper)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ¾ teaspoon ground red pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions

1. Take a 6-quart slow cooker out and spray the inside of it with cooking spray. Place the ribs down on the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Take a medium-sized mixing bowl out and add to it the remaining ingredients (tomato paste – minced garlic), stirring to combine. Pour the tomato mixture over the ribs, turning the ribs so they get thoroughly coated in the mixture.
3. Place a layer of paper towels over the slow cooker, putting the lid on afterwards. Cook on LOW for 5 to 5 ½ hours or until the meat’s tender. Serve the ribs with the sauce and enjoy !

Read full recipe here: Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs — Sweet ‘n Savory Therapy

Chalkbrood: A common spring disease by The Daily Guide to Beekeeping

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chalkbrood, disease management, diseases, honey bee diseases

Many diseases and pathogens infect honey bee colonies, but chalkbrood is likely the most common among beekeepers. Ascosphaera apis causes chalkbrood, which is a fungal brood disease. Beekeepers commonly detect chalkbrood in the spring because chalkbrood is considered a stress-related disease. However, chalkbrood is observed throughout the year. Many times, chalkbrood becomes established in colonies because of many interacting factors, such as environmental stressors, genetic makeup of colonies and beekeeping practices. Chalkbrood contaminates larvae when nurse bees admix chalkbrood spores with brood food. The fungal spores out-compete larvae for food and eventually, turn larvae into “chalk-like” mummies. Beekeepers can observe chalkbrood in many colors, ranging from white to grey to black. As larvae turn black, the chalkbrood begins producing fruiting bodies, which are highly infectious. Beekeepers can find these mummies at the entrance or bottom boards, especially if chalkbrood is widespread. At this point these mummies can spread spores to other colonies in the area. Chalkbrood often infects 3-4 day larvae, and can be found as uncapped or capped larvae. If the colony shakes a frame with capped chalkbrood, the frame will rattle when shaken.  

Read the fully article here: Chalkbrood: A common spring disease — The Daily Guide to Beekeeping

Roasted Butternut Squash and Honey Soup by A Food and Lifestyle Blog

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butternut squash, honey, recipe, soup recipe

It’s DEFINITELY soup season. We were in Paris over the weekend and I had some French onion soup while we were there and wanted to make some soup for lunches this week when we got back. I was going to stick to my usual tomato and basil as it’s my favourite, but thought I should spread my wings a little! Plus, Tesco’s didn’t have any fresh basil when I went so I improvised!

I thought I would go for butternut squash as there’s something about the vibrancy that brings warmth to the dish before you’ve even eaten it. I always make soup on the hob so I thought I would roast the veg for this one then add the stock and blitz it up after. Anyone can make soup and it’s a great way to get your daily veg intake without even realising!

Prep time – 15 minutes.

Cooking time – 1 hour 15 minutes.

Ingredients:

• 1 large butternut squash – remove seeds and skin, cut into large chunks.
• 2 large carrots diced.
• 1 sweet potato diced.
• 2 large brown onions sliced.
• 4 garlic cloves left whole.
• Handful of fresh sage leaves.
• 1 tsp turmeric.
• 1 tbsp curry powder.
• 2 tbsp honey.
• 1 tsp ground ginger.
• 1 tsp ground cumin.
• 1 tsp cumin seeds.
• Salt and pepper.
• 2 bay leaves.
• A few thyme sprigs – just remove before blitzing.
• 1 ltr vegetable stock.
• 100ml single cream.

Read full recipe here: Roasted butternut squash and honey soup. — A food and lifestyle blog.