Beekeeping Blog
Discover expert beekeeping insights, comprehensive guides, and inspiring stories from our community of passionate hobby and commercial beekeepers. Learn proven techniques for hive management, honey production, bee health monitoring, and sustainable apiary practices to help your colonies thrive.
How Much Does a 16 oz Jar of Honey Cost?
A 16 oz jar of honey can cost anywhere from a few dollars at the grocery store to $18-25 for a rare varietal — here's why the price swings so wildly and what you're actually paying for with local raw honey.
Fall & Winter Beekeeping: Getting Your Hives Through the Cold
Your bees don't die in January — they die in September and October, when you make the decisions winter later reveals. Here's an honest, region-aware guide to prepping hives for fall and getting them through the cold.
Summer Beekeeping Guide: Managing Your Hives in June, July & August
Summer is when beekeeping gets real. Swarms, supering, the dreaded dearth, robbing, mites, and heat all collide. Here is how to keep your colonies strong and productive through June, July, and August.
How Much Honey Does One Hive Produce — and What's It Worth?
A single established hive can produce anywhere from a few jars to over a hundred pounds in a banner year. Here is what actually drives the number, what to expect your first year, and how to figure out what your honey is worth.
Do You Need a License to Keep Bees? A State-by-State Registration Guide
Most states do not require a license to keep bees - but many require you to register your hives. Here is how to tell the difference between a license, registration, and a local ordinance, and how to find the rules where you live.
Spring 2026 Bee Health Update: Amitraz Resistance, Lab Closures, and a Glimmer of Hope from SoCal
Record colony losses, amitraz resistance spreading fast, and the USDA threatening to close its flagship bee lab. But a scrappy population of hybrid bees in Southern California might be showing us the way forward.
Should I Start Beekeeping? An Honest Look Before You Buy Your First Hive
Thinking about getting into beekeeping? Before you drop hundreds on equipment, here's what nobody tells you about the real costs, time, and commitment involved.
Your Spring Beekeeping Checklist: What to Do When the Bees Start Flying
Spring is the most critical time of the beekeeping year. Here's a practical, week-by-week checklist to make sure your colonies come through strong.
Why Bees Matter More Than You Think: The Science Behind the Buzz
The pollination crisis is real, measurable, and accelerating. Here's what the research actually says - and why it should worry you.
Varroa Mites: What Actually Works and What's a Waste of Time
After losing two hives to varroa my second year, I got serious about mite management. Here's what the evidence says works, what doesn't, and why monitoring is the single most important thing you can do as a beekeeper.
Urban Beekeeping: Yes, You Can Keep Bees in Your Backyard
I keep three hives on a tiny lot in Philadelphia. It's completely doable, your neighbors will probably love it, and your bees might actually do better than their country cousins. Here's how to make it work.
The Real Economics of Backyard Honey: Can Your Bees Pay for Themselves?
Everybody asks if you can make money keeping bees. The honest answer is complicated. Here's a full breakdown of what backyard beekeeping actually costs, what you can realistically earn, and why the math might not matter as much as you think.
Free Beekeeping Tools
Put what you read into practice with our free calculators — or find local raw honey near you.
Beekeeping Cost Calculator
Estimate startup costs, yearly expenses, and honey revenue for your hives.
Sugar Syrup Calculator
Get exact 1:1 and 2:1 sugar and water measurements for feeding your bees.
Honey Pricing Calculator
Find out how much to charge for your honey by state, jar size, and channel.
Honey Yield Calculator
Estimate how much honey you'll harvest by state, hive stage, and colony count.
Beekeeping Software
Track hives, log inspections, and monitor colony health with our free app.
Track your hives with QueenGuard Journal
Log inspections, monitor colony health, and get smart reminders — free, no credit card. Built for backyard and sideline beekeepers.