· By Angela Seto
Why do you move all the bees?
A frame of worker bees taking care of their bee brood (under the brown wax hexagons) from spring 2025.
What's new on the farm:
We are in between bee seasons. Farming hasn't started up yet but there is a lot of anticipation and preparation.
Since it has been quiet here, today I am going to answer some questions that we've received from you, our readers.
Karen M.: Why do you move all the bees, and when do you move them back??? Do all businesses that have beehives move their bees or ????
This is a common question we get when people find out we move our hives.
For our American customers, Saskatchewan is in the middle of the Canadian prairies. We get cold, dry, windy winters. The average temperatures are -10°C to -40°C (14°F to -40°F). It's pretty cold!
We move our bees to Vancouver Island, which is on the West Coast. The winter is wet but mild. The average temperatures range from 0°C to 12°C (32°F–54°F).
Most Canadian beekeepers don't move their bees. It's a huge effort, logistically and financially.
We chose to move our bees to Vancouver Island for two main reasons.
First, they can endure a milder winter. This is less stressful for them and increases survival.
Second, they get an earlier spring. In Saskatchewan, the first major blooms happen in mid-May. Flowers are blooming on Vancouver Island right now.
Having this natural food source is a signal for the bees to start growing in population.
By May, the hives are large enough to be divided into new hives, which helps increase our numbers.
Or we can leave them to keep growing so their populations are very strong by the honey flow.
For comparison, the hives that winter in Saskatchewan are still in their small, post-winter population by this time.
Then we bring all the hives back to Saskatchewan in late May when the flowers start blooming here.
That gives them time to get established and keep growing in time for the honey flow in July and August.
Gloria P.: Are the hives uncovered in spring on the island and if so, will some bees get left behind when it is time to bring them back to Saskatchewan?
We put a tarp and an insulating blanket on top of the hives, but the entrances are still open. The bees are free to come and go as they please.
Bees are like humans in that they like to go home at night. And they like to stay inside when it's chilly, or rainy.
When we move bees, we move them when it's dark or cold, or both. We know that the bees aren't out flying around during this time. That way we make sure not to leave anyone behind.
We've moved a lot of bees at odd times, like 10 pm or 4 am!
MaryPat A.: Also have a question...does your honey keep as well as other [honey]? Like...almost forever?
Yes! Our honey lasts for a very long time, but we do put a 5-year best-before date for regulatory reasons. If you store it properly, it will keep indefinitely.
The best way to store honey is in a cool, dark area with low humidity.
The only thing that spoils honey is moisture. When there is too much moisture in the honey, it can start to ferment.
Most high-quality honey is harvested at a moisture percentage that is low enough that you don't need to worry about it. But try not to get extra liquid into your jar at home!
If you're buying multiple jars and want to keep the extras in near-perfect condition, you could even keep them in the fridge or freezer while not in use.
But you can leave the open jar in the pantry and it'll be just fine!
Unlike wine, however, honey doesn't improve with age. So go ahead and enjoy it!
Got a question you'd like us to answer? Feel free to reply! We'll always reply to your messages, and we might feature your question in a future newsletter!
Honey Tips
There are so many benefits to eating honey, one of my favorite ones to share is that it has the potential to improve the quality of your sleep.
Preliminary findings show that eating 1.5 tbsp of honey before bed is as effective as taking melatonin.
They think it's helpful because honey contains an ideal ratio of glucose to fructose.
The theory is that the glucose is converted to liver glycogen for storage. The liver slowly releases this glycogen through the night.
The brain consumes 10g of glucose per hour while you sleep, so this slow release of fuel by the liver helps keep levels stable.
This prevents the brain from waking you up to search for more fuel.
Second, honey causes a small insulin rise. This lets tryptophan reach your brain, where it turns into melatonin, the sleepy hormone.
The current trials aren't complete, so it will be interesting to know what they end up with. However, if you are having trouble staying asleep at night, it might be worth experimenting on yourself!
What are other ways that you're using honey in your daily routines?