Author: Sarah Whitmore
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Pollination Contracts 101: How Beekeepers Get Paid to Pollinate
Pollination services can generate significant income for small apiaries — here’s how contracts work, what to charge, and what growers actually expect from you.
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How to Store Honey So It Lasts (Even Decades)
The right containers, temperature, and location for long-term honey storage — plus why water content is the single most important variable.
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Chalkbrood in Your Hive: What It Is and How I Handle It
Chalkbrood is a fungal disease that mummifies bee larvae — learn to identify it, understand why it happens, and fix the underlying conditions.
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Requeening a Colony: When, Why, and How I Do It
When to replace your queen, how to introduce a new queen without rejection, and the signs that tell you your colony needs fresh genetics.
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Buying Your First Bees: Packages, Nucs, or Swarms Explained
A clear comparison of packages, nucleus colonies, and swarms to help new beekeepers choose the best method for acquiring their first bees.
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Beekeeping as a Side Business: Taxes, LLCs, and Bookkeeping Basics
Turning your apiary into a legitimate business means understanding self-employment taxes, deductible expenses, and whether an LLC makes sense for your situation.
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Filtering and Bottling Honey Without Ruining It
How to filter, settle, and bottle your honey properly — preserving flavor and appearance without introducing heat damage or air bubbles.
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Nosema in Bees: Symptoms, Testing, and Realistic Treatment Options
Nosema is a gut pathogen that causes poor spring buildup and dysentery — here is how to test for it and what management options actually exist.
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Doing a Hive Split: A Step-by-Step Guide for New Beekeepers
A beginner-friendly walkthrough of how to split a strong beehive, including when to split, what equipment you need, and how to raise a new queen.
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Choosing the Right Spot for Your Hive: Sun, Wind, Water, and Neighbors
How to pick the ideal location for your beehive — covering sun orientation, wind protection, water access, flight paths, and neighbor relations.