Fortos Fort and Bee Farm

Fortos Fort and Bee Farm We are a small honey farm located in Willow, Alaska. Each year we care for our bees using the best p

Family owned bee yard with six hives that produces some of the best raw honey on the planet!

I don't know why I find this so cool but you can monitor your smoker while you are running errands
05/31/2026

I don't know why I find this so cool but you can monitor your smoker while you are running errands

This may be the coldest, wettest spring here in Willow since we started keeping bees over a decade ago.The trees are jus...
05/21/2026

This may be the coldest, wettest spring here in Willow since we started keeping bees over a decade ago.

The trees are just now sprouting out and there has been no pollen coming into the hive.

At best we are two or three weeks behind and with a season of only about 120 days that is a whole lot.

Spring has officially arrived at Forto’s Fort and Bee Farm. We just installed our bees and their new queen into the hive...
04/26/2026

Spring has officially arrived at Forto’s Fort and Bee Farm. We just installed our bees and their new queen into the hive to kick off another beekeeping season here in Alaska. With snow still on the ground and freezing nights ahead, every step matters this time of year.

In this video, we show how we prepare the hive with insulation, sugar water, pollen patties, and carefully place the queen to give the colony the strongest possible start.

If you’ve ever wondered what beekeeping looks like in a cold climate, this is a fun behind-the-scenes look at life on the farm. Watch now and follow along as we share the full season from hive setup to honey harvest.

Watch the video in the comments below ⬇️

🥃 Mezcal Old Fashioned2 oz 1 oz agave 2 dashes Flamed orange twistShaken
02/02/2026

🥃 Mezcal Old Fashioned

2 oz
1 oz agave
2 dashes
Flamed orange twist

Shaken

Nothing shows more Cost-Push-Inflation than the yearly rise in the cost of honeybees from our supplier.When we started a...
01/18/2026

Nothing shows more Cost-Push-Inflation than the yearly rise in the cost of honeybees from our supplier.

When we started about ten years ago at Fortos Fort and Bee Farm, a 4 Pound Package with a marked queen was $175 dollars.

This year it is $250.

At some point, the cost will outpace the return.

Keeping bees in Alaska is hard work.

Our season is really short, from the middle/end of April to the first week of August, when we harvest.

Sure, we could try to overwinter, but that is a gamble.

Why? Because you never know if they'll make it, and the conditions have to be just right.

Also, we have to order our bees for the April delivery in mid-Jnaurary so even if we did try and overwinter, there are still two or three months of winter to contend with.

At this time, we are only buying one package of bees and will focus on pollen (or the biggest demand from buyers) and a little honey.

Texas Chicken Wings Inspired by Chef Tom at These buttery wings with a bit of Texas-style spices and tossed in garlic b...
01/18/2026

Texas Chicken Wings

Inspired by Chef Tom at

These buttery wings with a bit of Texas-style spices and tossed in garlic butter and a squeeze of lemon are excellent on the at 450 for 30 minutes

🥃🦈 Shark Attack1.5 oz Splash of lime juice Shake with ice Splash of grenadine Lemon-lime sodaGarnish with a lime sliceS...
01/18/2026

🥃🦈 Shark Attack

1.5 oz
Splash of lime juice

Shake with ice

Splash of grenadine
Lemon-lime soda

Garnish with a lime slice

Serve in our awesome, hand-blown shark glass

We have burned over 100 pieces of wood today. That is four days of wood on a typical winter day here at the Fort.It has ...
01/05/2026

We have burned over 100 pieces of wood today.

That is four days of wood on a typical winter day here at the Fort.

It has been below zero degrees since about Thanksgiving and mostly in the -10s and -20s since about December 10th.

The forecast says over a foot of snow in the next couple of days. We need it.

Everything is much harder and way more expensive in a cold Alaskan winter. From keeping the sled dogs healthy, to keeping the cars and equipment running, to constantly battling frozen pipes and more.

Address

9475 N Sue Drive
Willow, AK
99688

Telephone

+19078411686

Website

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