Summer events, 2-year Substackiversary, and Happy Solstice
Here's a look at what's coming up in the next season as I close out spring and celebrate 2 years on Substack.
Happy Solstice Eve! I’m keeping my solstice tradition with taking a week off from the blog. I’ll be back posting regularly on July 3. I’m somewhat breaking another solstice tradition this year. Generally, I stay home on the solstices, however, I’m a guest speaker at Triangle Tech Net in Cary, NC first thing tomorrow morning. I’m presenting resume design evolution and how on-page and back-end formats impact visibility. If you’re in the area and looking for a job, this is an active, free networking group. I presented on AI in hiring in April. Not only am I back again tomorrow, I’m also presenting July 18 and August 15. I know that my resume writing is unrelated to beekeeping and garden life, but wanted to share the event given how many folks are struggling with job searches right now.
Honey pick-ups start this weekend
Thanks to continued demand, I sold out of my largest Pittsboro harvest ever in 12 hours. Everyone with a confirmed order will start picking up or receive tracking numbers for their shipments this weekend.
Tuesday, 6/24: Multi-tasking Plants for Pollinators | Hive Tracks Webinar
To close out Pollinator Month, I’m joining the HiveTracks webinar and presenting ways to use dual- and multi-purpose plants in your pollinator habitats to help grow more abundance without expanding garden spaces. This also kicks off the HiveTracks’ Summer Biodiversity Challenge. Free webinar. Register for the webinar
(Reminder that paid subscribers of TLT get 40% off HiveTracks Pro membership.)
Saturday, July 12: What Natural Beekeeping Means to You | NCSBA
Join me at the North Carolina State Beekeepers Association Summer Conference.
During this session I talk about:
Regulatory issues with “natural” labeling and marketing practices
Chemical-free varroa management efforts ranging from brood breaks to high-tech hives with lasers
The V Word (not varroa…vaccinations)
Strategic forage additions to support hive health
Biodynamic beekeeping
The summer conference will take place at Blue Ridge Community College in Flat Rock, North Carolina from July 10 to 12. My presentation is scheduled for the afternoon on Saturday, July 12. Register for the conference
August 7 to 10: Honey at 29th Annual Miatas at the Gap
My hope is to have mountain honey bottled and available for sale at my husband’s booth. He designs and creates custom Miata parts and, when possible, I have a little corner of the booth with my honey, paintings of Western North Carolina, and “home goods.” Miatas at the Gap takes place at Fontana Village Resort.
After looking ahead, let’s take a look back over the past year. Here are some of my favorite posts:
How breathing hive air supports health
Several months ago, the algorithms surfaced a documentary about beekeepers in Slovenia. One of the women profiled in the short film operates a beehive therapy house. Guests have an opportunity to sit in a shed lined with hives and inhale the hive air while the bees only have access to the outside. These bee therapy huts are more common outside of the Un…
3 pollen myths
As I navigate a new ocean all about pollen—it’s benefits and how to harvest it—I’ve learned a few statements, or community beliefs, that actually aren’t true. Help spread the word and educate others about these misconceptions.
Single-ingredient face mask: Honey
Winter isn’t over yet, but the coldest times are on their way out. While I prefer to wait until the spring equinox to officially say the colonies made it through winter, I’m in a state of suspended anxiety knowing probably all 10 of my colonies will need to be split in the coming weeks. Plus, my swarm traps go up next week. As the sole beekeeper of a ho…