02/17/2026
Going into the 2025 beekeeping season I knew the year was going not going to be one of experimentation and growth in the way that they previous 3 years had. My role in life (my season as my mentee would say) was to support my wife while she pursues her dreams of being a nurse via an accelerated BSN program! Support meant most of the household chores, childcare, and dinners were my priority and one that I’d say I even enjoyed! It was also a year where I’ve ran my best half marathon and 5k times as well as my first ultra marathon.
I say all this as a lesson. There are only so many things that can take priority in life and if you try to fill too many cups, something gets neglected. In 2025 I failed to invest the time in the bees for their health, in a bout of laziness I leaned into the “let them bee, they know how to survive in the wild” well since mites were introduced in the early 2000s that hasn’t been the case and I knew better. These bees died not due to the cold but due to low winter populations likely cause by varroa mites.
What’s new in 2026?
Well my wife is now a Nurse! That season is over and we’re entering a new one as a family! I will continue to run races throughout the year that demand my time. On the bee side I am down to a single hive surviving the winter. From here I plan to build back up to 6 hives. I will invest in mite control methods that are both safe and easy to use. I will preprint my whole year of labels before the season starts and focus on finding others ways to be efficient with bees!
More to come and more frequently this year!
