It's the time of the year to thoroughly inspect your beehives. Now that the weather is warming up, and your honeybees are flying you need to make certain they have your support. It's important to check for pests and mites that can hinder or destroy a hive very quickly. Monitoring and keeping the pests under control allows the honeybees to focus on what they do best, make honey!
In this image we have the making of a new queen cell. Honeybees can determine when they need to replace an old queen or the queen has left the hive and they need a new one. All hail the queen! Without the queen no baby bees in the near future and the hive will fail. Honeybees are an intricate insect community, nature is amazing!!  Honey is a valuable commodity. Consider learning about becoming a beekeeper, find a club & learn as much as you can before you get your first hive. There are many support groups out there ready to assist. The rewards are delicious!!
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It's fun and easy to create your own insect habitat. The design options are as creative as your imagination. Size, style, form - are all open to interpretation. The components are readily available, use natural, organic material. Utilize what would be placed in the organic recycle bin, or used for firewood. Bamboo tubes, straw, leaf litter, twigs are all options. Be certain to have the habitat protected from the environment: rain, wind and predators. Cover the entrance access to the nesting sites with hardware cloth to discourage the cocoon insects from being destroyed. Adding to the habitat for insects allows for propagation for more insects next year as well as adding to the number of pollinators. These are also resources for migrating and local birds in the spring that are necessary when feeding their young is essential for the continuation of the food web.

The fall harvest colors are more than just bright, they are an indicator of vitamins, minerals and beta carotene in the produce to name a few of the benefits available. Take advantage of the recent harvests coming in and what is presently available at your local farmers markets. Try branching out and growing some of your own root crops and cool weather vegetables like cabbage, swiss chard and greens. Many herbs are cool weather friendly as well. There is nothing as flavorful or as wholesome as homemade!

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) were installed about a year ago. They are a perfect addition to the farm. Bringing in the pollinators made a big improvement in our production. The honey product sealed the deal. A lot of learning has gone into making them successful. Well worth the effort.

Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon), a delightful plant with many uses. Used in cooking and herbal teas this plant has medicinal uses from soothing an upset stomach to soothing achy joints and providing a energy boost to your day. Lemon Grass is a tropical plant, so care is required to keep it during frosts. Easy to grow and prolific it is a good addition to any medicinal garden. Cut the large fronds, spread out to dry and use as needed. 

​A cure for what ails you is coming into season. Lemons and oranges are ripening when other fruits have come and gone. Use them to keep healthy and when a cold sets in. Vitamin C of the best kind, fresh!

These winter berries provide essential foraging for wildlife. They are also a welcome sight for people looking to brighten their day with some needed vibrant color. When thinking about your environment, consider not only food crops, but visuals as well. Some are for the pollinators, birds and beneficial insects, but for the soul as well. Giving sustenance to wildlife and receiving in return.

Frost on the pumpkins doesn't happen often in SC. This recent, extreme ice and snow in the coastal region has presented new challenges. Watch out for pipes, pets and sensitive trees.
As always, Mother Nature will have her way. It is our opportunity to adjust and accommodate her moods. That is when creativity comes into play. Use this as an opportunity to review your resources and skill set for self reliance.