Rellik Hill Farm

08/26/2026

Send in your applications!

The Virginia Beehive Distribution Program is now open for applications! 🐝

This program provides free beehive assembly equipment to Virginia residents, to help expand the number of actively managed honey bee colonies throughout the Commonwealth.

If you're interested in beekeeping and want to support the health and diversity of the Commonwealth's pollinators and ecosystems, apply by Sept. 9. 🍯🌼

More information is available on the VDACS website: https://ow.ly/NqeM50ZFiWU

📝 Recipients are chosen at random from all eligible applications submitted during the application period.

08/14/2026

Looking forward to our first presentation for our club, Beekeepers of the Northern Shenandoah BONS next month! We’ll share a little of the history behind the hive design, how we manage our colonies, and what we’ve learned along the way. Club members, please mark your calendars for our next monthly meeting on September 10th!

07/27/2026

There’s an old beekeeping saying: “A swarm in July ain’t worth a fly.”

At Rellik Hill Farm, we see it a little differently.

Every swarm counts—if you can catch it. This one chose our tallest sunflower as a landing spot, and we were happy to welcome them into an empty nuc box.

Sometimes the best moments on the farm are the ones you never see coming. 🌻

07/23/2026

Our Spring Honey is back in stock at Amanda's Regal Canine!

More about our honey here:
https://amandas-regal-canine.square.site/product/raw-honey-1lb/35?cs=true&cst=custom

07/02/2026

The Honey Bee Health Coalition today released the ninth edition of its popular Tools for Varroa Management Guide. The guide provides information on the latest tools and options for beekeepers in the United States and Canada to keep bees healthy and manage varroa mites, which spread disease within an...

06/06/2026

🐝 Mite Check Reminder! 🐝

Checking your bees for Varroa mites at least four times a year is one of the best ways to stay ahead of problems before they affect colony health.

A mite check tells you whether treatment is needed. It’s also a good idea to check again after treating to see how well it worked.

While we’d all want zero mites, that’s not a realistic goal. Instead, it’s important to know your infestation percentage. To calculate your mite percentage, count the number of mites and divide by the number of bees sampled. For example, 9 mites in a 300-bee sample equals a 3% mite load.

Every treatment we put into a hive has an impact on the colony. Whether it’s disrupting normal bee behavior, limiting queen laying, or adding stress during the treatment period, treatments should be used when they’re needed—not just because we assume mites are present. Monitoring helps you make informed decisions and avoid unnecessary treatments that could harm your colony or help mites develop a resistance.

The Honey Bee Health Coalition’s Tools for Varroa Management Guide does a great job explaining treatment thresholds and comparing different treatment options. It’s a helpful resource when deciding what treatment, if any, is needed based on your mite count.

https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/HBHC-Guide_Varroa-Mgmt_8thEd-082422.pdf

06/01/2026

Mentorship makes all the difference for new beekeepers. We’re a husband-and-wife team in our fifth year of beekeeping, sharing virtual and hands-on support through our club, Beekeepers of the Northern Shenandoah BONS. We enjoy helping newer beekeepers build confidence in the hive after completing the BONS beginner beekeeping course, and we’re glad to have helped reset this hive, giving it a fresh start and a better chance at a successful first year.

05/20/2026

Happy World Bee Day 🐝

Did you know honeybees vote, dance directions, recognize faces, and build perfect hexagons?

We turned bee facts into a song and made this little video using mostly clips from around our farm. Our beekeeping journey started with Slovenian hives, which feels fitting since Slovenia helped create World Bee Day in honor of Anton Janša 🇸🇮 In Slovenia, beekeeping is deeply woven into the culture and passed down through generations.

All bees are incredible, and they need more native flowers and habitat wherever they can get it 🌻

Hope you enjoy the song and maybe learn a weird bee fact or two.

05/16/2026

And just like that, the second hatch has graduated to the outdoor duck trailer. They’re 6 days apart in age.

05/13/2026

They’re growing faster than we can keep up with!

Our first hatch of the year officially graduated from the indoor brooder to their outdoor duck trailer today. It has a divider system so we can safely raise two age groups at once before combining the flock. Watching these little ones hit each new stage never gets old.