Don’t Hibernate Yet: Why You Should Start Planning For Spring Beekeeping Now

Published on October 27, 2020

It sure seems like the cold weather settled in fast. We’ve already seen snow near Beepods HQ! Winter is just about here and while you’re getting ready to hunker down now is the perfect time to start prepping for spring. If you’re a newBEE to beekeeping, winter is the best time to study up on everything bee-related. You’ll emerge in the spring ready to order your hive and your bees. If you’re a seasoned beekeeper, there is still plenty of bee knowledge to brush up on and share with the beekeeping community around you. There may no be a lot happening inside the hive but there is plenty to do outside the hive to get you prepared for spring’s return.

Brush Up on Education

As the snow begins to fly, grab a warm mug of tea with honey, and hit the books. Winter is a great time to catch up on everything happening in the bee world, discover new tips and tricks, and sharpen your beekeeping knowledge. A great tool for beekeepers of all levels is Beepods Lab. It’s super easy to log into Beepods Lab and learn something new in a few minutes. For a small cost each month, you’ll have access to hours of beekeeping videos to watch whenever you want. Plus you’ll gain access to exclusive beekeeping groups on Facebook. Ask questions and trade ideas with other beekeepers in your area! The more you learn about bees and beekeeping the better chances your bees have of surviving and thriving all year round.

This is also a great time to brush up on your reading. Sit next to a toasty fire and immerse yourself in a bee book. You can also check out scientific journals and bee-related articles. Don’t be afraid to flex your own writing skills as well. Engage and share your expertise on our social media channels or contact us at info@beepods.com for any burning questions. Another idea is to start and keep a beekeeping journal. This is a great way to keep track of your colony from year to year, think of it as a personal guide book. Winter doesn’t have to be all about education, you can get your hands dirty, too.

For The Bee Yard

Just because you can’t work in your yard as often as you’d like in the winter doesn’t mean you can’t plan out what you would like to do with it in the spring! Winter feels long, but you would be surprised how fast spring can sneak up on you. Don’t get caught unprepared. Some beekeepers suggest that winter is the best time to repair broken bars or any outside damage to the hive. You can scrape off old comb with your hive tool so it’s ready to go once the snow melts.

If you think your yard is lacking in forage sources, now is a good time to plan out where you may want to plant wildflowers, herbs, or a vegetable garden. These are excellent sources of forage for your bees, and the best part is, they won’t take up a lot of room in your yard! Build your own raised flower beds or planters for your herb or vegetable gardens. Don’t forget to do a little research on the best forage sources before you plant. You learn a lot more by completing the Beepods Sustainable Gardening 101 Course on Beepods Lab! Trust us, your bees will thank you!

Get Craftin’

Now that you’ve completed winterizing your hive, and you’ve collected honey, beeswax, and propolis, it’s time to start crafting! With the holidays coming up what better way to celebrate than with honey treats and beeswax products everyone will love? If you’re looking for something that contains great honey recipes and DIY instructions then check out the Beepods Recipe eBook: Recipes and Remedies Collection: Using Honey and Other Bee Products to Sweeten Your Life. It has everything from desserts to remedies to candles to balms! Plus, the book is the perfect gift for any bee lover. Don’t forget to scroll through our blog, too. It is full of different honey uses and beeswax ideas.

New to crafting with bee products?

We can help! Check out our Salve-Making Ingredients Kit!

Star Crafting Today

For the Colony

While we hope this doesn’t happen, sometimes, no matter how prepared we are, we lose the colony. It may be due to lack of resources or Varroa mites, regardless deadouts can occur. What do you do if your colony dies? If you want to continue keeping bees, then it’s time to order new ones. Since it’s a pandemic year, keep in mind there’s a lot of unpredictability, especially when it comes to shipping. We’ve already seen delayed shipments through the post office, so if you need to order anything essential for your beekeeping—tools, products, and even bees—consider ordering them earlier than usual this year so you’re prepared.

Final Thoughts

Just because your bees aren’t as busy as they usually are doesn’t mean you should sit by and be idle too. Winter is a great time to get prepared so you can have a productive spring and summer. If you are considering becoming a beekeeper, now is a great time to learn as much as you can about bees and beekeeping before you commit. When you’re ready to take the leap, Beepods has everything you need to help you become the best beekeeper you can be. If you’re already a beekeeper, we have valuable resources you can use. Always remember to keep beekeeping for the bees no matter what time of year it is.