Bee-ginings
Bee‑ginnings: The Start of Our Hogs Hollow Hives
Every homestead has a moment when a new adventure takes root, and for us at Hog’s Hollow, that moment buzzed to life with the arrival of our very first bees. What started as a simple dream of harvesting our own honey quickly became a lesson in patience, curiosity, and the wild little personalities of the creatures we welcomed in. These are our Bee‑ginnings—the story of how two hives turned into a family project, a learning curve, and a whole lot of unexpected sweetness.
Our First Year With Bees at Hog’s Hollow Homestead
In April 2024, we brought home two brand‑new bee hives, full of excitement and visions of golden jars lined up on the pantry shelves. We imagined honey flowing by summer, maybe even enough to share with friends and neighbors. But as we quickly learned, bees don’t follow human timelines. They have their own plans, their own pace, and their own priorities.
The Bees Settle In (Slowly… and with Opinions)
Instead of rushing to fill frames with honey, our bees spent their early weeks exploring every corner of the property—including the pool. They scouted, they wandered, they tested boundaries, and they made themselves at home in their own time.
They also had to defend their new territory. Hive beetles showed up like uninvited guests, and our bees spent plenty of energy chasing them off and keeping their colony safe. Watching them work was a reminder that even tiny creatures have big battles to fight.
Preparing for Winter
As the year rolled on, we realized that our dream of early honey harvests would have to wait. The bees needed every drop they produced to survive the winter. So we stepped back, let them keep their stores, and focused on giving them the best chance to make it through the cold months.
Meanwhile, we were the ones doing the harvesting—of equipment.
Bee suits, smokers, honey supers, extractors, tools, gadgets…
If it belonged in a beekeeping catalog, chances are we bought it. Starting a hobby is one thing; starting a homestead project is another. We were all in.
Bees in the House (Yes… in the House)
One of the more surprising parts of our first year was how often a stray bee would wander inside. Instead of panicking, we learned a trick: a little dab of honey on a fingertip. The moment they smelled it, they’d climb right on, settle down, and sip away. That gave us just enough time to walk them outside and send them back to their hive. It became a strange little ritual—part rescue mission, part bonding moment.
A New Helper Joins the Crew
This year, we added something extra special to our beekeeping gear:
a tiny bee suit for our 4‑year‑old grandson.
He’s ready to help with honey extraction, and seeing his excitement reminds us why we started this adventure in the first place. Beekeeping isn’t just about honey. It’s about learning, teaching, and building memories that stick—just like honey on warm toast.
Looking Ahead
Our first year with bees didn’t go the way we expected, but it went exactly the way it needed to. The hives are strong, the bees are thriving, and we’re heading into the new season with more knowledge, more patience, and a lot more appreciation for these tiny, determined creatures.
Here’s to another year of buzzing, learning, and sweet surprises at Hog’s Hollow Homestead.
Bee-keeping fits in with our motto of : “Where exploring meets education”