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Welcome to
THE BUZZ
What's the Buzz?
The Buzz is a beekeeping blog by Master Beekeeper, Christine McDonald.
Through these articles, I share my experiences and advice in a way that is concise and easy to understand. If you would like me to speak at an upcoming club meeting or event, you can learn more about my speaking engagements here. And if you've found this valuable and would like to buy me a cup of tea, you can do so here.
Bee well!
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Queen Cells in my Nuc!
Getting a nuc is exciting, whether you're a brand new beekeeper just starting out or a veteran expanding your apiary or replacing winter...
rushingriverapiaries
May 21, 20233 min read
Making Splits Q&A
Ahh, spring is in the air, the bees are flying, and holy &$^#@ is that a swarm cell already!? Making splits can help you grow your...
rushingriverapiaries
May 5, 20231 min read
Your Bee Equipment Order List
It's that time of year! Time to start preparing for the bee season ahead. Bees don't tend to wait around for their keepers to catch up,...
rushingriverapiaries
Jan 4, 20233 min read
Culling Without Killing
When we reach mid-summer, if we have hives that are not starting to produce honey for any reason, we take them out of production. We...
rushingriverapiaries
Jul 22, 20222 min read
Come Graft Queens With Me!
This is not exactly a how-to video, but more of a ride-along as I graft a round of queens. Watch as I work through my starter to...
rushingriverapiaries
Jul 16, 20221 min read
My Bees Won't Draw Comb
There are three things required to make fresh wax: young bees, lots of nectar, and heat. If any one of these is missing, your bees won't...
rushingriverapiaries
Jun 25, 20223 min read
The Basics of Making A Split
Making splits can be a strategy to grow your apiary, a way to earn back a bit of the small fortune you've spent on bees (if you sell the...
rushingriverapiaries
May 31, 20223 min read
When to Split a Hive
Timing is everything, especially when it comes to bees. This article will help you decide when is the best time to split your hive, or...
rushingriverapiaries
Apr 22, 20222 min read
Building an Electric Fence
Buckle up because this is a big one. But so is building a fence so let's do this, shall we? What you Need It really works best to draw...
rushingriverapiaries
Apr 21, 20222 min read
Boosting a Weak Nuc Above a Strong Hive
Coming out of winter, we had a handful of nucs that were not building up like they should be. They were queenright, but just had too...
rushingriverapiaries
Mar 28, 20222 min read
Assembling a Bee Box
Bee boxes are most commonly sold pre-cut but unassembled. Putting them together is a fairly simple task, but you do want to make sure...
rushingriverapiaries
Jan 18, 20222 min read
Making Splits for Growth
Unless you are planning something exponential, there's no need to buy more bees as you grow your apiary. Splitting the colonies you have...
rushingriverapiaries
Jan 4, 20221 min read
Gear for Growth
How much gear do you need to grow your apiary? Would you be disappointed if I told you "it depends"? Because it really does, of course. ...
rushingriverapiaries
Dec 28, 20213 min read
Nuc Box Reviews
Now that I have convinced you that you need a nuc box (or 10), here are some tried and true reviews to help you decide which nuc box(es)...
rushingriverapiaries
Dec 20, 20212 min read
Why You Need a Nuc Box (or 10)
Yes you. You with dreams of doubling your hive numbers. You with dreams of raising your own queens. Yes, even you with one or two...
rushingriverapiaries
Dec 16, 20212 min read
Spring Feeding for Growth
If you've got ambitions to grow your apiary, a good feeding strategy will help you meet whatever goals you have set for building up your...
rushingriverapiaries
Dec 13, 20212 min read
Something from Nothing
Winter is a season for dreaming, and we like to dream big. As we spend the month talking about apiary expansion, this is our own growth...
rushingriverapiaries
Dec 8, 20212 min read
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