Sharing Purdue Mite-biting Behavior Genetics July 29 2015

On June 27, 2015 beekeepers from Pennsylvania and Ohio met at Slippery Rock to exchange queens, as part of the USDA SARE outreach. Instead of exchanging fully mated queens, we exchanged queen cells that are only 48 hours old.  The beekeepers then go back to their bee yards and finish raising the queen, and then she open mates with locally adapted drone stock.  This is a quick and inexpensive way...

We won the AWARD! February 24 2015

We have been awarded a USDA SARE grant for 2015 for breeding honeybees.  Pennsylvania has teamed with the Heartland Honey Bee Breeders Coop for breeding bees that bite the legs off of the varroa mite parasite that has been plaguing them.  These bees are referred to as the Purdue "Leg-Chewers" developed by Dr. Hunt.  We have these for sale in limited supply.

Awarded Grant from Partnership for Sustainable Pollinators and Bees PFSPB.org July 30 2014

The Partnership for Sustainable Pollinators and Bees has awarded Always Summer Herb, LLC money to plant additional "bee friendly" plants in 2014.  We currently have pollinator plantings and manage fallow meadows/wetlands for our honey bees and native pollinators and butterflies, the grant has increased the size and diversity of these plantings.  We have added: Phacelia, Lavender, Butterfly Bush, Thyme, Oregano, Savory, Mints, and Artemesia to our pastures next to our...

Latest in Honey Bees June 30 2014

We just got back from Purdue University with some special Honeybee Queens!  These are a new type of bee that defends itself from the parasitic Varroa mite, they bite the legs off of them! That way the parasites cannot stick onto the fuzzy bees and harm them any more.  Nature adapts to her environment,  Dr. Hunt calls them "Indiana Leg Chewers".  We are cross breeding these with our Pennsylvania survivor...

The 2014 Season Starts March 06 2014

Our season is starting now at the Pittsburgh Home Show March 7th though the 16th. We will be in booth 2914 with local honey and herb teas. Hope to see you there!