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!

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.

Forto's Fort
11/13/2025

Forto's Fort

The lights are incredible!
11/12/2025

The lights are incredible!

Our ribbon from the Alaska State Fair for our pollen
10/09/2025

Our ribbon from the Alaska State Fair for our pollen

My snack box arrived from Korea! We are going to try a couple of things a day. Up first are sugar snap treats. Do not ta...
09/24/2025

My snack box arrived from Korea!

We are going to try a couple of things a day. Up first are sugar snap treats. Do not taste like the old school cereal.

Chocolate chip cookies. Not sweet at all. Not bad. With

07/31/2025

Maple is part of the team at MSU’s Pollinator Performance Center doing critical pollinator research and education. A retired police K-9, she uses her super sense of smell to detect bacteria in bee colonies to help prevent disease from spreading.

Currently, beekeepers must manually inspect colonies for disease, but dogs like Maple can identify disease much faster, which could make a big impact on the industry.

This project is one of many occurring at the Pollinator Performance Center. Operating since 2021, the center allows MSU to be at the forefront of honeybee and other pollinator research.

Not the best photo but a new attempt at pizza 🍕 Inspired by Ciabatta PizzaParmesan, basil, oregano, onion powder, fenne...
07/19/2025

Not the best photo but a new attempt at pizza 🍕

Inspired by

Ciabatta Pizza

Parmesan, basil, oregano, onion powder, fennel seeds, sesame seeds and garlic in a bowl

Cut bread in half, coat with marinara, add mozzarella, cheddar, provolone then sprinkle over the basil mixture

Arrange pepperoni and pepperoni cups, drizzle with olive oil.

Bake for 15 minutes at 425

Sprinkle more fennel and sesame seeds and drizzle with olive oil

Slice and serve!

Address

9475 N Sue Drive
Willow, AK
99688

Telephone

+19078411686

Website

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