Exploring Backyard Beekeeping in Utah

In nature, bees seeking a new home often find refuge in tree hollows. However, in some Cache Valley backyards, they are just as happy to occupy a white 12x8 inch hive box. This is how Richard began his beekeeping journey with a single box containing a queen and worker bees. The bees quickly constructed a wax wall, an impressive feat of engineering with hexagonal cells that maximize storage while minimizing wax use. While some bees foraged in nearby alfalfa fields, others returned laden with nectar, indicating a thriving hive. Five years later, Richard manages six hives and harvests gallons of honey.