Apiary
Frames in the yard
A look inside the hive on a Florida afternoon — comb, bees, and the slow work of keeping colonies.
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The Apiary
Life in the Bee Yard
Beekeeping is part of everyday life at Rustin Farms. We manage our colonies through Florida's changing seasons — inspecting the hives, watching the blooms, supporting strong colonies and learning something from the bees every time we open a box.
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Our bees
Healthy colonies come first. Throughout the year we inspect brood patterns, food stores and colony strength, manage pests when necessary, provide supplemental feed when conditions call for it and give the bees room to grow. Every colony has its own rhythm, and learning to read it is part of the craft.
Inside the hive
Opening a hive tells a story — brood patterns, fresh nectar, pollen stores, capped honey and the overall strength of the colony. Regular inspections help us understand what each hive needs and how the colony is responding to Florida's seasons and changing forage.
The Florida bloom
Florida gives honey bees an ever-changing landscape of nectar and pollen. Around Rustin Farms, the bees work the pollinator garden, flowering trees, wild plants and seasonal blooms throughout the surrounding area. What is blooming — and when — helps shape the rhythm of the bee yard throughout the year.
Pollinators at Rustin Farms
Our pollinator garden is planted with bees and other beneficial pollinators in mind, adding another source of seasonal forage right here on the farm. It continues to grow and change as we learn which plants thrive in our part of Florida — and which ones the pollinators can't seem to leave alone.
Latest Bee Yard Field Notes