Critter Bear Bee Farm

03/09/2026

It’s been a long and cold winter, but signs of spring are here! 😃 Even in early March, trees are starting to bloom and produce pollen - a crucial protein source for bees! The most likely source here is from silver maple trees with red maple and dogwood just around the corner. Protein allows for brood production (raising baby bees). Bring on spring!

02/01/2026

Finally got an above 0 and sunny day to check hives and clear snow off entrances! You can see a small amount of scattered dead bees in the snow on the ground in front of each hive. This is a positive and reassuring sign that the bees are alive and performing natural removal of any bees that die during the winter (often times from old age). It’s amazing how resilient honey bees are in the extreme cold temperatures winter can bring.

06/08/2025

Honey harvest in the making! When you see a frame that looks like this - the honey is ready!
The nectar that bees collect has up to a 70% moisture content. The bees will work diligently to “dry” the nectar until it reaches around a 17-18% moisture content which helps prevent fermenting. This is one of the reasons honey doesn’t go bad! When ready, the bees place a thin wax capping over the honey to keep it protected from air and moisture. We harvest when the frame is fully capped!

05/06/2025

Spring is here! It’s officially busy season for beekeepers. Flowers are blooming, nectar is flowing, bees are booming. We are excited to produce honey for our wonderful customers for another year!

02/27/2025

Sick season is upon us 🤧
Honey is fully stocked at Inspired Mindz. Great for coughs, warm teas, or mixing up a batch of elderberry syrup. Stay healthy out there!

11/23/2024

We are fully stocked at Inspired Mindz! We have jars with dippers that are perfect for gifting this holiday season! Think stockings, teachers, bosses, and tea lovers! Stop out for some great deals Black Friday weekend!

Local honey from Critter Bear Bee Farm is a holiday must have!

10/08/2024

08/11/2024

We’ve spent all weekend harvesting honey! Well over 200 yummy, sticky frames hit our extractor which you can see in action on the video. 2024 has treated us well! Soon fall flowers will be blooming and we will get one last harvest in before preparing for winter 🍯

05/04/2024

Tis the season for swarms! My “quick” visit to the bee yard today resulted in three separate swarms. Spring is the busiest time for beekeepers because it requires constant space management to try to prevent this and sometimes the bees don’t cooperate despite my best effort!

Swarms are a natural part of the honeybees reproductive cycle. When a hive starts to become overcrowded, the bees will produce a new queen while the old queen and a large portion of the worker bees will leave to go establish a new colony. The swarm will stop to allow the queen to rest while en route to their new location. During these stops, the bees will cluster together to protect her. They are usually docile during this time. I appreciate them deciding to rest on a low lying branch! It makes it easier for me relocate them into one of my hive boxes.

04/25/2024

I had the honor today of being a guest speaker for the Wood County Hospital volunteer appreciation luncheon. I gave an educational talk about beekeeping and supplied each attendee with a 9 oz jar of honey. We had just over 100 in attendance!

Happy volunteer week for all of those who selflessly volunteer to the organizations that make this world a better place!

04/20/2024

Honey is fully restocked at Belleville Brother's Meats! Grab a package or two of the best meat in town while you are there!