I’m guilty, you caught me – I have an undying love for the honeybee. My name is Anita and I’m a honeybee fanatic and beekeeper living outside of Boston, MA. I share my passion for bees by blogging about honeybees and beekeeping. I want everyone else to see how amazing the honeybee is too!
Did you know that honeybees pollinate 1/3 of the foods we eat? Almost all fruits and berries as well as many vegetables, nuts, herbs and spices are all dependent on the honeybee. Did you know that almost every substance the honeybee produces from the honey, to the pollen, to the propolis, to the sting, has amazing health benefits that we are just finding out about? Not only does raw honey taste amazing, it helps with sore throats and coughs, relieves seasonal allergies, and heals burns and wounds with its antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory properties.
Hello world, it’s me.
There’s a saying in the beekeeping world – “If you ask 10 beekeepers a question, you will get 10 different answers.” Every beekeeper has their own way of doing things and every beehive has its own personality. My hives are on the roof of my house in a suburban neighborhood. This blog chronicles my experiences as a backyard beekeeper in Massachusetts and also includes honey recipes, instructional posts for beekeepers, facts about honeybees and honey, gardening for honeybees, product reviews, reporting of local beekeeping events and more. By writing this blog I hope to educate bee lovers, beekeepers and others with an interest in beekeeping about the importance of backyard beekeeping and help foster a deep love and understanding for the precious little miracle called the honeybee.
I started my first colony of honeybees after taking a 9 week beekeeping course at Essex County Beekeepers Association. Now I help teach that very same course! I am currently on the Board of Directors for the Essex County Beekeepers Association and Massachusetts Beekeepers Association, a member of Worcester County Beekeepers, Eastern Apicultural Society and American Apitherapy Association. There are so many aspects of beekeeping that I am learning new things everyday. I try to share as much as I can with you here in posts and pictures. If you enjoy my blog please share it with your friends by clicking the share button on any post or page. You should also subscribe to this blog right now to get the latest beekeeping news, tips, honey recipes, beekeeping events and updates via our free email newsletter.
I love hearing from readers so be sure to leave a comment and let me know what you think. If you have any questions you can reach me by emailing Anita at beverlybees@gmail.com.
Honeybees are amazing creatures and essential to our environment. These tiny little beings are vital for the local food supply and the pollination of the surrounding plants, wetlands, backyard and community gardens in the area. They also produce beautiful beeswax which can be used for many wonderful things including candles, lip balms, and soaps. Not to mention all that sweet, delicious, yummy honey! I used to think I was the beekeeper but so far the bees are doing a pretty good job of keeping me.
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March 7, 2012 at 1:07 pm
Hi Anita — You’re website is fantastic! I’m in bee school w/ Brian and he mentioned your site to me. Believe it or not, our kids are classmates at school (my daughter is in ECE-4). I just wanted to say hi and tell you how great your website is; it’s been officially bookmarked! I just ordered my bees on Monday and I’m vey excited to get started! Looking forward to meeting you in the future and good luck with your bees. – Cristina
March 7, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Hi Cristina,
Thanks! I’m so glad you enjoy the website. I’m sure you will love beekeeping. Be careful – it is very addicting. We are adding at least 3 more hives this year and more if we can find the space. If you need any help, don’t hesitate to ask, since we are right around the corner.
Cheers,
Anita
June 20, 2012 at 1:19 pm
I have suggestions on names for the new hives. In my garden right now the bees are all over the Borage and the Milkweed. Both would be good hive names, don’t you think. I will see you at Mass Bee Field Day!
June 21, 2012 at 9:13 am
Thanks for the suggestions Mary Lou! Those are great names. Both are wonderful plants and excellent for both bees and butterflies. See you on Saturday.
February 23, 2013 at 4:06 pm
Hi Anita, great site and info, Thankyou. Question on the candy board, why the outside hole ? Would that induce robbing, and the bees of that hive seem like they eat it thru the hardware mesh. I am new to beekeeping and am interested in trying this out. Thanks again, Ken
February 23, 2013 at 9:38 pm
Welcome Ken! The candy board is only for feeding during the winter time, when robbing is not really a problem. You remove it in the spring, at which time if you need to feed you can then feed syrup. The opening in the front provides the bees with ventilation and another exit. By the end of winter the cluster will probably be using the top entrance to come and go instead of the bottom, so a top entrance here is important. The mesh is actually large enough that the bees can get through it. In the winter they may not be able to break cluster to get to food that is out of reach, and sometimes they starve this way. Since the candy board is on top of the top bars and has openings via the mesh, the bees can get to it without much effort when they need it. I hope that answers your questions and congratulations on your new beekeeping adventure!