Flow Hive Winter Prep: How to Winterize a Flow Hive in a Cold Climate
How to winterize a Flow Hive in a cold climate: what Flow officially recommends for the Flow super, how to store Flow frames, and Red River Valley dates for each step.
Tag Beekeeping equipment
Read MoreFlow Hive Winter Prep: How to Winterize a Flow Hive in a Cold Climate
Best Beehive for Cold Climates: Polystyrene vs Wood, by the Evidence
Sellers rate polystyrene and other foam hives at about five times the insulation of a pine box. Here is what USDA and other studies measured, and how the insulated hives sold in the US compare.
8 Frame vs 10 Frame Hive: Weights, Winter Survival and What Fits
An 8-frame hive is 2.5 in narrower and 11 to 17 lb lighter per full deep. Real weights, which parts fit both widths, and how each width winters up north.
Recycling Old Beekeeping Equipment: Reuse or Retire
Most old beekeeping equipment can be cleaned, repaired, donated, or upcycled rather than thrown out — except comb or gear from a colony that died of an unknown or disease-related cause, which needs far more careful handling.
Hive Anti-Theft Devices: GPS Trackers and Alarms Compared
Hidden GPS trackers, motion-activated alarms, and RFID tags are how beekeepers are actually fighting a real rise in hive theft. Here's how the real products compare.
Plus-Size and Tall Beekeeping Suits: A Real Sizing Guide
Where to actually find beekeeping suits sized for plus-size and tall beekeepers, with real height-based size charts compared across three suppliers.
The Cheapest Realistic Way to Start Beekeeping
A genuinely realistic bare-minimum first-year beekeeping budget runs about $350–$450 if you build your own hive, buy used protective gear, and start with a caught swarm instead of purchased bees…
Flow Hive vs. Traditional Hive: The Real 2026 Cost Comparison
A complete Flow Hive costs $669 to $1,059 out of the box, while a single traditional Langstroth hive body starts around $163 — a gap that looks enormous until you…
Best Gifts for Beekeepers: Ideas by Recipient and Budget
A gift guide for beekeepers sorted by recipient and budget, with prices checked at US suppliers in October 2026 and the fit checks to make before buying hive parts.
Beekeeping With Limited Mobility: Adaptive Equipment and Techniques
Limited mobility, arthritis, or a wheelchair don’t have to rule out beekeeping — they change how you approach it. A genuinely active adaptive-beekeeping community has developed practical solutions for nearly…
The History of the Bee Veil: From Wrapped Cloth to the Modern Fencing Veil
Long before purpose-built bee suits and the standardized, carefully engineered veils sold today, beekeepers protected their faces from stings using essentially whatever practical materials happened to be on hand —…
The History of the Honey Extractor: The Invention That Let Beekeepers Stop Destroying Comb
Alongside the Langstroth hive and wax foundation, the centrifugal honey extractor completes the trio of 19th-century inventions that transformed beekeeping from a destructive, comb-sacrificing practice into the reusable, sustainable system…
The History of the Queen Excluder: Invention and Ongoing Controversy
Few pieces of beekeeping equipment have earned a nickname quite as pointed as the queen excluder’s informal alternate name among some beekeepers: the “honey excluder,” a jab reflecting a genuine,…
The History of the Smoker: From Ancient Bee Hunters to Modern Bellows
Long before anyone built a dedicated mechanical device for it, beekeepers already understood that smoke calms bees, a fact depicted in Egyptian tomb art thousands of years before the modern…
Best Bee Smokers: Complete Buying Guide
A poorly chosen bee smoker doesn’t just make hive inspections more annoying; a thin-walled, undersized, or badly designed one can burn out mid-inspection, scorch a beekeeper’s hands through an inadequate…
Poly Nuc Boxes: The Complete Buying Guide to Polystyrene
Poly nuc boxes made from expanded polystyrene insulate roughly five times better than wooden equivalents (R6 vs. R1.2), weigh noticeably less, and can last 30-40 years — but they dent…
Bee Buddy Hive Lifter: Complete Guide
The Bee Buddy is a real, patented Australian device — but it is not a lever-operated machine that lifts a whole loaded super off the ground. It’s a wheeled inspection-and-extraction…
Queen Catcher vs Queen Clip: A Comparison
Looking for the best beekeeping tools? Read our queen catcher vs queen clip comparison to learn which device is safer and more efficient for your apiary needs.
Brood Break Queen Cage: Understanding Its Purpose and Use
Learn what is a brood break queen cage and how to use it effectively in your apiary. This guide covers everything you need for successful mite management.
Push-in Cage vs Standard Queen Cage: Key Differences
Discover the pros and cons of push-in cage vs standard queen introduction cage methods. Learn which technique ensures better acceptance for your honey bee colony.
Top Feeders for New Bee Package Installations
Learn how to choose the best feeder for newly installed packages with our expert guide. Ensure your honey bees thrive during their critical first few weeks.
How Long to Keep a Package Queen Caged
Wondering how long to keep a package queen caged? Follow our expert guide to ensure a smooth transition and successful colony establishment this season.
Beekeepers’ Guide to Frame Spacing Tools
Discover the best frame spacing tools for beekeepers to ensure precise spacing and improve hive management. Shop now for quality tools.
Grooved Top Bar vs Wedged Top Bar Frames: Which is Better?
Discover the differences between grooved top bar vs wedged top bar frames. Our comparison guide helps you choose the best option for your specific requirements.
Deep vs Medium Frames for Brood: Which Should You Use?
Discover the best choice between deep frames vs medium frames for brood nests in beekeeping. Learn the advantages and disadvantages of each.