Beekeeper: Louise Yates

Kronau, Saskatchewan – Canada

How long have you been a beekeeper?

I got my first hives in the summer of 2016. I knew I loved bees (and their honey) right away and built my micro honey house the following summer. I am in Canada and my honey house if federally licensed and inspected to meet national food safety laws.

Why did you become a beekeeper?

I am fascinated by nature in general. I live on an acreage and have lots of space to experiment. The more I do with plants and insects, the more I want to do.

What is your favorite thing about beekeeping?

Experiencing bees in the hive. Time stops when I’m working them. I’m thrilled when I create a new queen and hive. I also love comb honey, so it’s great to have a high-quality source.

What are the floral sources for your bees?

I do three distinct season pulls:

• Spring prairie orchard – haskap, chokecherries, raspberries, strawberries, sour cherries, apples, crab apples, pears, currants, saskatoon berries, and caragana.
• Summer crops – canola, borage, alfalfa, sainfoin, vegetables, herbs and perennials.
• Autumn – wildflowers, sunflowers, zinnias, borage, and sainfoin.

For those who love bees, I take a lot of photos of my bees making our honey and post them on here our website.

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