Country Fields Beekeeping Supplies

09/24/2025

The Honey Bee's Super-Powered Eyes: A Look into a Different World 🐝
Ever wondered how a tiny honey bee navigates the world with such precision? A big part of the answer lies in its incredible, complex eyes!

Five Eyes are Better Than Two?

Honey bees don't just have two eyes like us—they have five! On the sides of their head are two large, compound eyes. These are made up of thousands of tiny, individual lenses called ommatidia. Each ommatidium points in a slightly different direction, creating a massive, mosaic-like image of the world. This gives the bee an incredibly wide field of vision, helping it to detect movement and predators from all angles.

But that's not all! On top of the bee's head, between the two large eyes, are three simple eyes called ocelli. These aren't for seeing detailed images, but rather for detecting light intensity. The ocelli act like a light meter, helping the bee orient itself with the sun and navigate even on cloudy days.

Seeing the Unseen

Perhaps the most fascinating thing about a honey bee's vision is what it can see that we can't: ultraviolet (UV) light. While our world is limited to the colors of the rainbow, bees see a world of vibrant UV patterns on flowers. Many flowers have special "nectar guides"—patterns that are only visible in UV light—that act like a landing strip, guiding the bee to the pollen and nectar.

So, the next time you see a honey bee buzzing around your garden, remember that it's not just seeing a beautiful flower—it's seeing a detailed, glowing map that we can't even imagine! It's a fantastic reminder of the hidden wonders of the natural world.

09/15/2025

Hello all you beekeepers and bee lovers! How was your summer? How did your bees make out? Got any interesting stories for us? And where are you located? Please share, we'd love to hear about it! 🙂🐝🙂🐝

09/09/2025

Autumn Foraging: What Honeybees Are Doing When There Are No Flowers.

As summer fades, the familiar buzz of honeybees quiets down as most flowers disappear. So, what are they doing? Autumn is a critical time for honeybees, and they adapt their foraging strategies to prepare for winter.

Finding the Last Food Sources
Honeybees are incredibly resourceful, seeking out the final drops of nectar and pollen. Goldenrod and asters are late-season heroes, providing a crucial food source for bees to build up their winter honey stores. For a beekeeper, a strong flow from these plants can be the difference between a hive having enough to survive or needing supplemental feeding.

Beyond Nectar: Alternative Strategies
When flowers are truly gone, bees turn to other sources:
Honeydew: Bees can collect this sugary excretion from aphids, using it as a carbohydrate source when nectar is unavailable.

Propolis: To seal their hives for winter, bees gather this sticky, resinous substance from tree buds. This "bee glue" creates a draft-free home and acts as a barrier against disease.

Water: Bees continue to collect water to dilute honey for consumption and regulate the hive's temperature.

The Drive to Survive
Every foraging trip in autumn is about one thing: winter survival. The collected nectar becomes the honey that sustains them, and pollen helps raise the final generation of "winter bees", a special group of longer-lived bees that will carry the colony through to spring.

So, when you see fewer flowers, remember the honeybees aren't on vacation. They are diligently working, adapting, and using every last resource to ensure their colony survives the winter and thrives again in the spring. Their autumn work is a testament to their resilience and their incredible drive to survive.

09/02/2025

This is pretty interesting. Definitely worth a look.

A new study led by the University of Oxford could provide a cost-effective and sustainable solution to help tackle the devastating decline in honeybees. An engineered food supplement, designed to provide essential compounds found in plant pollen, was found to significantly enhance colony reproductio...

08/27/2025

Ok, beekeepers... let's help out our newbie brethren. What's a great piece of advice you could give to someone thinking about getting into beekeeping? I'll start:
Try to tap into the experience of others. Join a beekeeping group near you, or online.

Ok, beekeepers... what do you have? 🐝🙂🐝🙂

08/18/2025

Have you been beekeeping for a while? Or maybe you're sorta new to it? I'm sure you have a funny or interesting story to tell... please share it with us! 🐝😀🐝😀

08/16/2025

Happy World Honeybee Day, everyone! Let's show our little buddies some extra love today! 🐝🥰🐝🥰

08/12/2025

The Rewarding Challenges of Beekeeping
Beekeeping is often romanticized, but beyond the golden honey lies a world of engaging challenges that beekeepers navigate with skill and dedication. These challenges are not setbacks; they are opportunities to learn and grow.

Stewards of the Hive
One of the most rewarding challenges is maintaining the health of the bees. Beekeepers are diligent stewards, constantly monitoring colonies for vitality and addressing threats like the varroa mite. Successfully managing pests is a testament to their expertise. Beekeepers are also at the forefront of conservation, mitigating the effects of pesticide exposure and habitat loss to protect our planet's most important pollinators.

Adapting to Nature
Beekeepers thrive on adapting to the ever-changing environment. With climate change bringing new weather patterns, they must be resourceful and responsive. A late frost or a prolonged drought can be an opportunity to provide supplemental feeding, ensuring the colony's survival. This constant need for adaptability makes beekeeping a dynamic and stimulating practice.

An Entrepreneurial Spirit
The economic aspects of beekeeping are a source of pride and ingenuity. Beekeepers skillfully manage equipment costs and navigate the market for their products. For commercial beekeepers, orchestrating the complex logistics of moving thousands of hives for pollination services showcases a high level of organization and strategic thinking.

Passionate Educators
Beekeepers are also passionate educators. They engage with communities, dispelling misconceptions about bees and highlighting their critical role in our ecosystem. This public outreach builds stronger, more knowledgeable communities and shares the wonder of the honeybee with others.
Beekeeping is a fulfilling endeavor that combines scientific knowledge, manual skill, business savvy, and a deep sense of environmental stewardship. The next time you enjoy a spoonful of honey, remember the dedicated beekeeper who, with passion and perseverance, brought that sweetness to your table.

Can you share some of the challenges you've had in beekeeping? What keeps you at it? 🐝🥰🐝🥰

08/07/2025

Country Fields Retail Store will be closed Saturday August 9th -

08/05/2025

This is pretty cool... definitely worth a look. 🙂🍹🐝🍹

BrightInspiredAnimalsVIDEO: Woman Notices Bee Tangled in a Spider Web and Brings It to the Closest Hive—What Happens Next Goes ViralFacebookXTruthGettrLinkedInTelegramEmailAdd to My ListSaveCourtesy of Farrah KingBy Deborah George8/6/2024Updated: 8/6/2024Print0:00On a Saturday afternoon in June, a...

08/04/2025

Buzzing into Beekeeping: Your Essential Tool Kit (and a Few Nice-to-Haves!)

So, the gentle hum of a beehive has caught your attention? You're dreaming of golden honey and helping our precious pollinators? That's wonderful! Beekeeping is a rewarding hobby, but before you dive in, it’s good to understand the gear that makes the job safe, efficient, and enjoyable for both you and your bees.

Think of your beekeeping tools like a chef's knives or a gardener's spade... each has a purpose that makes the craft easier. Let's break down what you'll need, from the absolute must-haves to some handy additions.

The Beekeeping Essentials: Don't Start Without These!
These are the core pieces of equipment you'll use every time you open a hive. Investing in good quality here will save you headaches (and stings!) down the road.

Protective Suit/Jacket & Veil: This is your first line of defense! A full suit with a built-in veil offers the most protection, but a jacket with an attached veil is also popular. The key is to protect your face, neck, and arms from stings. Choose a light color, as bees tend to react more aggressively to dark colors.

Why it's essential: Safety first! Bees can be unpredictable, and a good suit minimizes the risk of stings, allowing you to work calmly.

Gloves: Long, gauntlet-style gloves are crucial for protecting your hands and wrists. Leather or heavy-duty synthetic materials are common.

Why it's essential: Protects against stings and sticky propolis.

Hive Tool: This is the multi-purpose workhorse of your beekeeping arsenal. It’s a metal pry bar used for everything from separating hive bodies and frames that are glued together with propolis, to scraping off excess wax.

Why it's essential: Without it, opening a hive is nearly impossible! Propolis is incredibly strong.

Smoker: A beekeeper’s best friend! You light a material (like wood pellets or pine needles) inside the smoker, and the cool smoke calms the bees, making them less defensive during inspections.

Why it's essential: Smoke masks the bees' alarm pheromones, making inspections safer and less stressful for the bees.

Bee Brush: A soft-bristled brush used to gently remove bees from frames without harming them, especially when inspecting for eggs or larvae, or during honey extraction.

Why it's essential: Essential for careful manipulation of frames and avoiding crushing bees.

Good to Haves: Tools That Make Life Easier (Eventually!)
Once you've got the basics down and your colony is thriving, these tools can significantly improve your beekeeping experience.

Frame Grip: This handy tong-like tool allows you to easily lift and hold frames from the hive, preventing them from slipping and making inspections much more comfortable.

Why it's good to have: Reduces strain, prevents accidental frame drops, and keeps your gloves cleaner.

Uncapping Fork/Knife: When it's time to harvest honey, you'll need a tool to remove the thin layer of wax (capping) that bees put over their filled honey cells before extraction. A fork works well for small operations, while a heated knife speeds things up.

Why it's good to have: Essential for honey harvesting once your colony is producing surplus honey.

Queen Catcher/Clip: A small, mesh cage or clip used to safely isolate the queen for a short period during inspections, making it easier to find her, or to prevent her from being accidentally harmed.

Why it's good to have: Especially helpful for beginners who are still learning to spot the queen quickly.

Feeders: Various types of feeders (internal or external) are used to provide sugar syrup to bees, especially during times of nectar dearth, when establishing a new colony, or for winter preparations.

Why it's good to have: Supports hive health and growth, particularly for new colonies or during tough seasons.

Ready to Get Started?
Before you even order your first bees, make sure you have your essential protective gear, a hive tool, and a smoker. These tools, along with good mentorship from an experienced local beekeeper and a solid understanding of bee behavior, will set you up for success.

Beekeeping is a continuous learning journey, and your tool kit will evolve as you gain experience. Happy buzzing!

08/02/2025

Happy long weekend folks! We will be closed on Monday, August 4th. Back open Tuesday regular hours 🐝