Community Steward
Useful writing on growing food, preserving it, sharing it, and keeping more life local.
9/19/2026
The fall work that decides whether a bee colony makes it to spring: mite control done at the right time, enough stored honey, heavy syrup feeding, moisture and ventilation, windbreaks, mouse guards, and when to combine a weak hive rather than lose it.
9/15/2026
Most winter beehive losses come from a few preventable problems: not enough stored honey, a heavy load of varroa mites, a weak colony, or moisture building up inside the box. This plain fall checklist walks through checking stores, feeding heavy syrup, sampling and treating mites, giving the hive strength to cluster, and guarding the entrance so the bees go into winter dry and ready.
9/11/2026
A plain, honest guide to a first year with bees: start with two hives, get a nuc, keep your visits regular, watch the varroa count, and leave the honey alone until the second year so the colony makes it through its first winter.
9/7/2026
Early fall is when a hive's winter survival is decided. This plain checklist covers the chores that give a colony its best honest chance: pulling the honey supers, leaving enough stores, treating for mites, sizing up the queen, feeding if short, and getting the hive itself ready for cold weather.
9/3/2026
Getting serious about keeping bees starts before you own any. Fall is the quiet time to take a beginner class, line up a mentor, order equipment, and place your order for healthy local bees so that first spring feels calm instead of rushed. This guide covers what beekeeping actually takes, where to put the hive, the equipment you need, and the honest choice between a nuc and a package.
8/24/2026
An honest first-year guide to backyard beekeeping: what one hive really costs, the three weekly habits that carry the season, winter feeding, and the varroa mite plan beginners should set up from day one.
8/20/2026
Varroa mites are the main reason backyard hives die. Here is the one skill that keeps you ahead of them: a five minute alcohol wash, the thresholds that trigger treatment, and a simple yearly plan that tells you whether your treatment actually worked.
8/15/2026
A practical guide to starting your first beehive. What you need, what you will face, and what success really looks like in your first year.
8/15/2026
A practical guide to starting your first beehive. What you need, what you will face, and what success really looks like in your first year.
8/11/2026
A practical, no-hype guide to setting up your first beehive, choosing equipment, and starting your first colony with confidence.
8/6/2026
A practical guide to identifying the most common hive problems, Varroa mites, Nosema, chalkbrood, wax moths, and a failing queen before they become colony-killers.
8/4/2026
A practical guide to starting your first beehive in Zone 7a. Covers costs, setup, colony management, mite control, harvesting, and common challenges for new beekeepers.
6/9/2026
Beekeeping is one of the most rewarding self-reliance skills you can learn. Here is what to buy, how to set up, what to look for during inspections, and the reality of your first year.
6/5/2026
Start a colony of honey bees with confidence. This guide covers hive setup, essential equipment, seasonal management, and what to expect in your first year in Zone 7a.
6/3/2026
You do not need a big yard to support pollinators. You need the right plants planted in the right sequence. This guide covers which native plants work in Zone 7a, how to arrange them for continuous bloom, and how to set up even a small space as a feeding ground for wild bees, butterflies, and other pollinators.
6/3/2026
Beekeeping is one of the most hands-on ways to connect with your land. This guide walks through what you need, what to expect, and how to manage a colony through its first year.
5/26/2026
Backyard beekeeping is one of the most rewarding steps a gardener can take. This guide walks you through choosing equipment, setting up your first hive, buying your bees, and what to expect in your first year.
5/19/2026
Your bees have built comb and filled supers. Now it is time to learn how to harvest honey from your first hive: knowing when the honey is ready, choosing an extraction method, and the step-by-step process from uncapping to jar.
5/18/2026
Beekeeping is one of the most practical skills on a small homestead. This guide walks through everything a beginner needs to know: legal requirements in Tennessee, equipment and costs, sourcing your bees, setting up the hive, and what to expect month by month.
5/15/2026
A practical, no-fluff guide to starting beekeeping with a single hive. What you need to buy, what you can skip, and what to expect in your first year.
5/3/2026
Beekeeping is one of the most rewarding ways to connect with your land and contribute to your local ecosystem. Learn what equipment you actually need, how to get your first colony, and what a realistic first year looks like.
4/29/2026
Beekeeping is one of the most rewarding things a home gardener can take on. Here is the practical, low-cost way to set up your first hive, what Tennessee requires, and what to expect in your first season.
4/28/2026
See what's available on the [community table board](/board) — someone nearby might have flower seeds, bee hive splits, or native plants to help you build your pollinator garden....
4/19/2026
Your first honey harvest is within reach. A practical, step-by-step guide to extracting honey from frames, filtering, and bottling - from crush and strain to extractors.
4/15/2026
Starting a beehive is one of the most rewarding ways to connect with nature. This guide covers what you need to know before you order bees, how to set up your hives, what to expect month by month, and how to avoid the most common beginner mistakes.
4/11/2026
A practical beginner's guide to starting with bees, including basic gear, hive placement, realistic first-year expectations, and the habits that matter most.