Blog
Practical beekeeping posts from an Idaho apiary. Hive design, overwintering, mite control, and the plants our bees depend on.
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Why I Switched From Langstroth to Layens and Lazutin Hives
After years of stacked Langstroth boxes in Idaho's cold climate, I moved to horizontal Layens and Lazutin hives. Here's what changed — honey yields, overwintering, back health, and...
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Idaho Winter Prep: Wool, Tilt, and Honey Stores
How I prepare my Idaho beehives for winter — two deeps and a medium of honey, sheep's wool insulation in a quilting box, a forward tilt for moisture drainage, and why October...
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My Varroa Treatment Rotation: Apilife Var, Apiguard, and Oxalic Acid
Why I rotate thymol-based Apilife Var and Apiguard with Oxalic acid in my Idaho apiary — when to apply each, how to avoid resistance, and why treatment-free rarely works in...
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Your Climate Isn't Their Climate (and Why It Matters)
Most popular beekeeping content comes from the Southeast and Gulf Coast. Jeff Horchoff, Ian Steppler, and others are excellent — but Idaho and Pacific Northwest beekeeping is...
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The Mustard Project: Planting for Pollinator Forage
A small experiment in sowing mustard as a cover crop and pollinator plant on Idaho farmland. What bloomed, what bees did with it, and what I learned about using mustard for...