Author Archives: Nathan

26 hives are in the Rausch family jurisdiction on September 1st, 2018.  92.8% survival since last spring (26 of 28)   19 Langstroth hives 7 Warre hives Queen age distribution: 2018 – 18 queens (14 certain age, 4 likely age) … Continue reading →

May 1st, 2018 snapshot 10 hives have made it into spring this year.  50.0% survival since last fall. 6 Langstroth hives (4 queens from 2017; 1 queen from 2016; 1 queen unknown-from July 2016 swarm) 3 Warre hives (2 queens … Continue reading →

September 1st, 2017 Status update 20 hives under the Rausch family jurisdiction (7 Warre, 12 Langstroth, 1 Top Bar) Survival rates: 95% (20 of 21) overall summer survival 100% (7 of 7) summer survival of overwintered colonies 90% (9 of … Continue reading →

7 hives have made it into spring this year.  36.8% survival since last fall. 4 Langstroth hives (3 queens from 2016; 1 queen unknown-from August cutout) 2 Warre hives (1 queen from 2015; 1 queen from 2016) 1 Top bar … Continue reading →

Professional beekeepers average 55 years old.  (goods and services supply is dropping) Rising interest in backyard beekeeping. (demand for bees and knowledge is increasing) Expanding demand for quality, local honey, propolis, and wax. (bottomless demand for products) Nature’s capacity to … Continue reading →

September 1st, 2016 status update: 19 hives under the Rausch family jurisdiction (10 Warre, 8 Langstroth, 1 Top Bar) Survival rates: 95% (19 of 20) overall summer survival 100% (6 of 6) summer survival of overwintered colonies 87% (7 of 8) … Continue reading →

Thanks go to Jordan Hundelt, Sara Wolfe, Stephanie Wilkins, and Allie Pilot for making this documentary film about honey bees (featuring me)! My answers to their interview question: What are the individual jobs within the hive, and how do they … Continue reading →

As of March 1st, 2016: 6 hives are under the Rausch family jurisdiction. (22% survival) All 6 are Warre hives 4 were swarms from 2015 1 was a swarm from 2014 1 was from a cutout from mid-September 2015 21 hives have died … Continue reading →

September 1st, 2015 status update 26 hives under the Rausch family jurisdiction (19 Warre, 5 Langstroth, 1 Top Bar, 1 Bee Gum Log) Survival rates: 90% (9 of 10) summer survival of overwintered colonies 90% (18 of 20) summer survival … Continue reading →

As of March 31st, 2015: 11 hives are under the Rausch family jurisdiction.  (65% survival) (4 Langstroth, 6 Warre, 1 Bee gum log) 6 hives have died since Fall (4 Langstroth hives died in late winter; 1 cut-out hive died in early winter … Continue reading →