It isn’t often that beekeepers (like me) get to sit in a movie theater and see our world become an important part of the story. Bees usually appear briefly on screen, a few hives beside a farmhouse, someone wearing a suspiciously clean bee suit, a highly trained deadly assassin that keeps bees or a jar of honey sitting on a kitchen table. The Rivals of Amziah King takes a very different approach. Beekeeping, honey production and the community surrounding them are woven into t

Three Delicious Ways to Use Jalapeño Honey Mustard with Eggs Eggs and mustard have always been a natural pairing. Deviled eggs, egg salad, breakfast sandwiches, mustard brings the acidity and sharpness that keeps rich eggs from feeling too heavy. Our Wisconsin Bee Company Jalapeño Honey Mustard takes that familiar combination in a slightly different direction. The honey adds a touch of sweetness, while the jalapeño brings just enough heat to make things interesting without ov

Bratwurst, sauerkraut, pretzels and mustard, Oktoberfest season was practically made for Wisconsin. This year, we’re adding a Wisconsin Bee Company twist with a simple brat recipe built around our Jalapeño Honey Mustard. The combination of sweet honey, tangy mustard and a little jalapeño heat makes an excellent glaze for grilled bratwurst. Paired with caramelized onions, warm sauerkraut and a toasted pretzel roll, it becomes an easy Oktoberfest meal that feels festive without

For many beekeepers, honey harvest is one of the most rewarding times of the year. Frames are heavy, supers are coming off the hives and months of work by both the beekeeper and the bees are finally paying off. But while you're thinking about honey, there is something else you should be thinking about: Varroa mites. Late summer is one of the most important times to monitor Varroa destructor, especially for beekeepers in Wisconsin and other northern states. Colonies are beginn

It might still be summer, but one cool Wisconsin night was all it took to get us baking. Summer isn’t over yet. The days are still warm, the garden is still producing, and the bees are still busy working the late-summer flowers. But every once in a while, Wisconsin gives us that first cool evening that feels just a little bit like fall. You know the one. The windows are open, the temperature drops, and suddenly turning on the oven sounds like a pretty good idea. That was all

When Lightning Bugs Light Up the Night, It's a Sign of a Healthy Ecosystem Few sights capture the feeling of summer quite like watching lightning bugs drift through the evening air. As the sun sets and the sky begins to darken, tiny flashes of greenish-yellow light begin to appear across fields, gardens, and wooded edges. For many of us, these glowing insects are tied to childhood memories, running barefoot through the grass, catching fireflies in a jar, and watching them bli

Why Clover Is One of the Most Important Plants for Honey Bees Take a walk through a Wisconsin neighborhood in late spring or early summer and you'll likely see clover growing throughout lawns, roadsides, parks, and pastures. While many homeowners view clover as a weed, beekeepers often see it differently. Clover is one of the most valuable forage plants available to honey bees and many other pollinators. Despite its common appearance, it plays an important role in supporting

Does Roundup Harm Bees? What Beekeepers and Scientists Are Learning As beekeepers, we spend a lot of time thinking about the health of our bees. We watch the weather, monitor food stores, plant pollinator-friendly habitat, and pay close attention to changes in the landscape around our apiaries. One question we hear often is: Does Roundup® harm honey bees? The answer is more complicated than a simple yes or no. While Roundup's active ingredient, glyphosate, was designed to kil

What Happens Inside the Hive After Dark It’s one of those questions that sounds simple at first: Do bees actually sleep? Considering how active honey bees are during the spring and summer months, it can seem like the answer would be no. A healthy hive is constantly moving. Bees are cleaning, feeding larvae, building comb, guarding entrances, processing nectar, and flying from flower to flower. From sunrise to sunset, the colony feels almost nonstop. But the answer is yes, bee

There was a time when you didn’t have to think much about pollinators. The bees would fly, the flowers would bloom, and the seasons simply worked the way they were supposed to. It felt steady and reliable, like something you could count on without giving it much thought. As beekeepers, we still see the beauty of Earths natural systems every day, but we also see where it’s beginning to strain. There are stretches now where the bees go out and return with less. There are moment

A step-by-step look inside the hive from flower to jar If you’ve ever held a jar of honey, it’s easy to forget just how much work went into it. That golden sweetness didn’t just appear, it’s the result of thousands of bees, millions of flowers, and a process that is equal parts biology, chemistry, and teamwork. So how do bees make honey? The answer is one of the most fascinating processes in nature. From collecting nectar in the field to transforming it into a shelf-stable fo

A simple guide to the science, the theory, and why people still turn to raw honey. Every spring across Wisconsin and the Midwest, the same pattern returns. Snow melts, trees begin to bud, and the air fills with pollen. Along with the beauty of the season comes something far less welcome, seasonal allergies. It’s around this time that many people start searching for natural remedies. One of the most common questions is: Does local honey help with seasonal allergies? You’ve pro

A sweet and savory grilled salmon recipe made with real honey Few recipes capture the flavors of summer grilling quite like honey maple glazed grilled salmon. The combination of real honey, pure maple syrup, and fresh salmon creates a balance of sweetness, richness, and light smokiness that feels both comforting and elevated. When salmon cooks over the grill, the natural sugars in the glaze caramelize and form a glossy coating that enhances the fish’s natural flavor. The resu

The Truth About Honey Shelf LiFE. Most foods in our kitchens come with expiration dates. Milk lasts a week or two. Bread begins to stale after a few days. Even pantry staples like flour eventually lose their freshness. Honey, however, plays by different rules. In fact, honey is one of the only natural foods known to last indefinitely under the right conditions. One of the most famous examples comes from archaeology. When researchers opened ancient Egyptian tombs, they discove

CRYSTALLIZED HONEY IS TOTALLY NORMAL... RIGHT? If you’ve ever opened a jar of honey and noticed that it has turned thick, cloudy, or even solid, you’re not alone. One of the most common questions beekeepers hear is, “Why did my honey crystallize?” Many people worry that something has gone wrong or that the honey has spoiled. In reality, crystallization is one of the most natural and fascinating qualities of real honey. Honey is made primarily of two natural sugars: glucose an

Sometimes new products don’t start in a boardroom. They start on a cold walk. It was one of those sharp Wisconsin winter mornings, the kind where the air stings your face and the snow squeaks under your boots. The bees were clustered tight in their hives, conserving heat, doing what bees have done for millions of years to survive the cold. And our dog? He was lifting his paws every few steps. Salted sidewalks. Packed snow. Frozen ground. Even on the clearest winter days, the

A sweet & savory classic from Wisconsin Bee Company When winter lingers and you're craving a hearty, wholesome meal, there’s nothing better than a golden roast chicken glazed with real Wisconsin honey. This dish combines simple, nourishing ingredients into something that feels both rustic and gourmet. The natural sugars in honey caramelize beautifully in the oven, creating crispy, flavorful skin and juicy, tender meat. Why Use Honey in Roast Chicken? Honey does more than swee

What to Do in January and February to Keep Hives Healthy As much of Wisconsin and the Midwest shiver through snow, ice, and sub-zero temperatures, our honey bee colonies are hunkered down, clustering for warmth and surviving on their carefully stored honey. While winter may feel like a time of waiting, there are several important steps you can take right now to support your bees and prepare for spring. 1. Keep Watch — Without Opening the Hive In deep winter, opening a hive ca

A Spring Gift to Pollinators Winter is the perfect time to dream, plan, and prepare, especially if you’re thinking about growing a pollinator-friendly wildflower garden. Even when the landscape is frozen and still, gardeners and nature lovers can take steps to make a big difference come spring. At Wisconsin Bee Company, we believe in cultivating beauty that gives back to honey bees, native pollinators, and the ecosystems that depend on them. Planning your wildflower garden pa

Build a Bluebird Nest Box: A Perfect Winter Project for Backyard Conservation Have you noticed the days are getting longer across Wisconsin and the Midwest? We might bee a bit optimistic about the recent spring like weather but it got us thinking about a easy winter diy project. January is the perfect time to prepare to welcome native songbirds back to your yard, especially the Eastern Bluebird . These brilliant blue beauties are not only a joy to watch, but they also help c