Stormy Acres Bee Farm

10/15/2026

When sugar syrup spills in your truck bed. Ooops! I think the girls are really hungry….

09/23/2026

It’s raining today…so what to do? How about rendering wax from when you harvested honey? This was the first render for the dirty cappings….and now ready for the next render and finer filtering.

Anyone want clean wax for candles or balms? What about making soaps?

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09/22/2026

The autumn equinox marks a seasonal shift that triggers biological changes in honeybees as they transition from summer production to winter survival.

Shorter daylight hours and cooling temperatures signal the queen bee to slow down and eventually reduce egg production. The colony shifts from producing short-lived summer worker bees (which live a few weeks) to robust "winter bees" that can live for several months to sustain the hive until spring. Male drones are forced out of the hive or left to starve by worker bees because they do not contribute to winter work and would waste precious food stores. Bees cap honey and stockpile pollen inside the hive to create their exclusive winter food supply, requiring 60 to 90 pounds of honey reserves to survive the cold months.

While the equinox sets the seasonal clock, actual daily behavior depends on temperature. Bees continue to forage when weather stays above 50°F (10°C), but cluster together inside the hive when it drops lower. Worker bees use plant resins called propolis to seal cracks and block drafts in the hive. And a highly technical term…bees become extremely moody and pissy! Because nectar sources dwindle rapidly after late summer and early fall, colonies become more protective of their remaining food stores and can show higher aggression/defensiveness during inspections or against robbing bees.

And as always…these bees needed to be disease and pest free…

09/15/2026

09/11/2026

Never forget….honoring all of those who lost their lives.

25 years since the 9/11 attacks. Telling the bees" is an old folklore tradition where a beekeeper quietly approaches the hives to share news of a major family event or death, usually by knocking gently and speaking in a low murmur so the bees do not leave or die. If you were to walk out to the hives to tell the bees about the tragic events of September 11, 2001, and it’s aftermath in Afghanistan and Iraq, you would approach the colony with a heavy heart, tap twice on the landing board, and speak softly of a sorrow that shook the entire human world. You would tell them that thousands of innocent lives were taken in a single morning when hijacked planes struck the Twin Towers in New York, the Pentagon, and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. You would explain how the sky lost its peace that day, how tall towers fell to dust, and how a great wave of mourning passed through millions of homes. You would whisper that even through years of sorrow, fear, and rebuilding, people tried to hold fast to one another, choosing to remember the fallen and protect the fragile bonds of community, just as the bees protect their own.

9/11 remains the deadliest terrorist attack in modern history. In total, 2,977 people were directly killed—2,606 in the World Trade Center, 246 across four hijacked planes, and 125 at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. Tens of thousands more were injured in the aftermath or suffer from long-term illnesses caused by the debris.

The attacks were the catalyst for protracted wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Over 7,000 US military personnel were killed, and another 53,560 were wounded across both missions.

Let those number sink in…. Take a moment to do something special or a good deed to someone you don’t know.

Remembering the power and repercussions of 9/11.

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09/04/2026

Hives for Heroes is a national nonprofit that pairs veterans and first responders with experienced beekeepers

09/04/2026

A few weeks ago, WJLA news, here in DC, came to my bee farm in MD to discuss bees and “Hives for Heroes.” The visit was broadcasted this morning. Even wore my Hives For Heroes jacket/veil to show off the great organization. Thanks for visit John Rogers and enjoy your honey.

Hives for Heroes serves as a national nonprofit dedicated to the twin goals of honey bee conservation and providing a supportive transition for military veterans and first responders. Founded in 2018 by a Marine Corps veteran. And why wouldn’t I support another Marine! The organization has grown from a single Houston hive into a nationwide network active in all 50 states, where it leverages beekeeping as a therapeutic, purpose-driven activity.

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Hives for Heroes is a national nonprofit that pairs veterans and first responders with experienced beekeepers

08/26/2026

Wow - Dolly will be certainly missed…one and only. She will be missed. Tell the bees!

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08/15/2026

National Honey Bee Day 2026 is being celebrated today, Saturday, August 15, 2026. Also widely known as World Honey Bee Day, this annual event takes place across the US on the third Saturday of August to honor honey bees, recognize the dedication of local beekeepers, and raise public awareness about the vital role pollinators play in our global food security and ecosystems.

Key Facts About Honey Bees & Agriculture: Honey bees are responsible for pollinating roughly one-third of the food we eat, supporting a huge amount of global agricultural biodiversity.

A single honey bee worker typically lives for only about six weeks during the peak gathering season, and it takes the effort of thousands of bees to create just one jar of honey.

Buy from a beekeeper you know! Buy raw, locally grown honey!

Create native, bee-friendly gardens with diverse nectar-bearing flowers like lavender, borage, or marjoram to offer protective habitats.

Minimize or eliminate the use of pesticides and neonicotinoids in your yard to help shield foraging bees from toxic exposure.

Check out informational resources through conservation groups like the Pollinator Partnership or look for regional events happening at local farmers' markets and community centers.

Buy local honey! Support your local beekeepers!

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08/09/2026

Okay - nothing about bees, but a little bit of science…

“Polar bears have black skin, but an optical illusion makes their transparent fur look white.”