The bees don’t rush. So why should we?
In beekeeping — like in life — it’s not about how much time you spend. It’s about when you show up.
One of my mentors in beekeeping works his bees like a Zen master — slow, steady, and fully present. No need to rush. He watches. He listens. He takes time to enjoy the bees and let them teach him. That’s the kind of beekeeper I try to be.
This week’s video is a short meditation on timing — that subtle rhythm you start to feel after enough seasons with bees. It’s drawn from two chapters in The Little Yellow Book of Bees: one about seasonal awareness, the other about something I call your “Queen Thumb.”
🧘 What Does Timing Really Mean?
- Checking a hive before it swarms — not after.
- Feeding before the dearth, not in the panic of it.
- Requeening before you're in crisis
- .Watching hives work instead of tearing open every box.
Timing is intuition built on attention. It’s pattern recognition. It’s the opposite of rushing.
So this season, channel your inner Zen master. Breathe. Watch. Notice.
And act when the bees tell you it’s time.
Patience isn’t passive. It’s powerful.
And in the bee yard, it’s usually the difference between a good season and a frustrating one.