Country Fields Beekeeping Supplies

02/25/2026

The Hive’s "Dance Floor": Science from the University of Manitoba 🐝💃
Ever wondered how a honey bee tells her sisters exactly where the best clover patch is? It turns out, they don't just dance anywhere—they have a dedicated "dance floor" right inside the hive!

New research from the University of Manitoba, led by Byron N. Van Nest (published just this month, February 2026!), has given us a high-tech look at this fascinating "stage."

What makes the "Dance Floor" special?
The VIP Lounge: Located strategically near the hive entrance, this area is the communication hub where returning foragers perform their famous "waggle dances."

Precision Geometry: The Manitoba team used advanced mathematical mapping to show that this isn't just a random spot. It’s a precisely defined zone that shifts its shape, size, and "heart" (centroid) based on the time of day and the intensity of the nectar flow.

A "Springy" Stage: The wax in this area is built to be stiffer and more resonant, helping the bees "feel" the vibrations of the dance in the dark.

Electric Vibes: The UM research suggests the dance floor might even be a highly charged electromagnetic zone, where bees use tiny electric fields to find the dancer in the crowd.

It’s incredible to think that while we’re busy with our own work, there’s a complex, high-energy "data centre" operating right at the front door of every healthy hive. 🇨🇦🍯

Hmmm... do they also have a little disco ball inside?

02/24/2026

We will be delayed opening today due to conditions. This post will be updated if/when we open. Sorry for any inconvenience 🐝

02/18/2026

Whether you’re drizzling it over your morning oats or stirred into a warm cup of tea, honey is more than just a natural sweetener—it’s a powerhouse in a jar. 🍯✨

Here’s why you should keep this liquid gold in your pantry:

Antioxidant Boost: Packed with phenols and flavonoids that help protect your cells. 🛡️

Natural Energy: A perfect, unprocessed fuel source for a quick pre-workout lift. ⚡

Soothe & Heal: Famous for calming scratchy throats and acting as a natural antibacterial for minor scrapes. 🤒

Better for Blood Sugar: While still a sugar, it has a lower GI value than refined white sugar, meaning a slower "crash." 📉

Important Safety Note: Raw honey can contain bacteria spores that can cause infant botulism, a serious illness. For this reason, honey should never be given to infants under one year of age.

Support your local beekeepers and choose raw, unpasteurized honey to get the full spectrum of these benefits for adults and older children! 🐝💛

02/11/2026

Most of us have been enduring a pretty tough winter, and our bees struggle even more than we do. So, here are a few reminders about how we can help them out:

Clear the Entrances: After a heavy snowfall, ensure the bottom entrance and any upper ventilation holes are clear. Bees need oxygen, and they also need a clear path for "cleansing flights" on those rare sunny, mild days.

Check the Weight: Without opening the hive, give it a gentle "heave test" from the back. If it feels light, your colony might be running low on winter stores.

Emergency Feeding: If they’re light, provide dry sugar or fondant above the cluster. Avoid liquid syrup in freezing weather, as it adds moisture and can chill the bees.

Keep Your Distance: Resist the urge to crack the lid! Breaking the propolis seal in freezing temperatures lets all that hard-earned heat escape. Trust the bees—they’ve been doing this for millions of years.

Stay warm out there, and happy beekeeping!

02/03/2026

From the delicate sweetness of spring blossoms to the robust, earthy tones of late-summer wildflowers, the flavour of honey is a direct map of where a bee has been. Because honey bees exhibit floral fidelity—meaning they stick to one type of flower until the nectar is gone—they create distinct, single-origin honey profiles.

Here is a quick guide to how different flowers shape your favourite jar:

🍯 The Honey Flavour Map
Clover: The classic "gold standard." It’s mild, sweet, and has a delicate floral finish that’s perfect for tea.

Buckwheat: Dark, rich, and pungent. It tastes like molasses or malty chocolate and is packed with antioxidants.

Lavender: Incredibly aromatic with a light, herbal citrus twist. It’s the ultimate choice for drizzling over goat cheese.

Wildflower: A "polyfloral" blend. Since it comes from whatever is blooming nearby, the flavour is a unique, local snapshot of the season.

Manuka: Earthy and slightly bitter with a medicinal kick, world-renowned for its unique antibacterial properties.

Whether you like it light and sunny or dark and bold, there is a whole world of nectar out there to explore!

Do you have a favourite? Let us know! 🐝😋🐝😋

01/28/2026

Mexico is home to a fascinating, ancient lineage of pollinators known as the Meliponini, or stingless honeybees. Long before the Spanish arrival and the introduction of the European honeybee (Apis mellifera), these native bees were the heart of Mesoamerican honey production.

Ancient Roots and Sacred Traditions
For the Maya civilization, the Melipona beecheii (known as Xunaan-Kab) was more than just an insect—it was a sacred gift from the god Ah Muzen Cab. Unlike their European cousins, these bees do not have functional stingers. Instead, they defend their colonies by biting or simply retreating into their unique, tube-like hive entrances.

Why They Matter Today
While European honeybees dominate the modern commercial industry, stingless bees are the "O.G." pollinators of the Mexican jungle. Their honey is prized for its medicinal properties, often used in traditional remedies for eye conditions and respiratory issues.

Supporting Meliponiculture today isn't just about preserving a species; it’s about protecting a cultural legacy that has survived for millennia. By choosing local Melipona products, you’re supporting a practice that has been in equilibrium with the Mexican landscape since long before the first European sails appeared on the horizon.

01/20/2026

Hey there, honeybee lovers. Are there some of you out there who are interested in bees, but have yet to take the plunge in terms of setting up your own hive? Let us know what has stopped you so far... maybe we can help, or you can get some advice and guidance from our beekeeper followers?

Let us know! 🐝🥰🐝🐝

01/19/2026

We will be closed today, January 19th as the shop does not have power. Apologies for any inconvenience.

01/13/2026

It's cold out there. Sometimes our little bee friends need some help.
Maybe you could check the pantry? 🍯❄️

While it looks quiet from the outside, January is actually one of the busiest months inside the hive. The Queen has likely started laying her first few eggs of the year, and the colony has to work overtime to keep those "winter babies" at a steady 35°C (95°F).

Keeping that heat up takes a massive amount of energy, and this is the time of year when their winter honey stores can start to run dangerously low.

Today I’m doing a quick "heave test"—just a gentle lift of the back of the hive to check the weight. It felt a little light, so I’m moving in with an emergency snack: The Sugar Brick. 🍭

Unlike liquid syrup (which adds too much moisture in winter), this solid fondant gives them the boost they need to survive until the first spring blooms appear. It’s the ultimate "safety net" for the girls!

Beekeepers: Have you checked your hive weights lately? Let’s get them through to spring! 🐝👇

01/09/2026

Stingless bees gain legal protection in Peru. What do you think?

It’s about damn time.

01/09/2026

Happy Friday! We will be closed Saturday, January 10th. Back open Monday, January 12th at 9:30am. Apologies for any inconvenience 🐝

01/06/2026

Looking out at your snow covered maple trees? Thinking about tapping them this year? 🌳 Here is your "Bare Bones" starter list to get from tree to table:

- Taps (Spiles): To get the sap flowing.

- Buckets or Food-Grade Jugs: To catch the goods.

- A Drill: With a bit that matches your spile size (usually 5/16" or 7/16").

- Cheesecloth: For filtering out "nature" (bark and bits).

- A Large Pot & Heat Source: An outdoor propane burner is a lifesaver!

- Finishing Thermometer: Because precision is key at the finish line.

It’s simpler than it looks and so worth the effort. Who’s joining me this season? 🍯