Mission Statement: Desert Hives is committed to honey bee health. This is done through mentorship, education, mite testing, hive reports, and advocacy. Honey bee health and the health of their environment is the priority of Desert Hives.
About
Amy Owen of Desert Hives is a NM Certified Beekeeper, has served on the board of the New Mexico Beekeepers Association, has led the local ABQ Beeks group, maintains the hives for the state certified beekeeping program, and is a regular speaker at ABQ Beeks meetings and other events.
Amy has a master’s degree in social work and has been able to use her skill sets in new and unique ways to educate others about bees and beekeeping.
Blog
European Foulbrood and the Shook Swarm Method
In the Spring of 2019 I started noticing a poor brood pattern in three of the four hives at an apiary used for students of the New Mexico Beekeepers Association. Upon closer inspection, I saw uncapped brood that was sunken, twisted on its side, discolored (yellow and dark brown), and showing its tracheal outline. Some …
Continue reading “European Foulbrood and the Shook Swarm Method”
Hello everyone!
Thanks for visiting Desert Hives! Please stay tuned for some adventurous blog posts, updates, stories, and ideas.
Contact
To learn about the services Desert Hives has to offer click on ‘Services’ above. To schedule, please click ‘schedule time with me’. Call (505) 750-1897 or email amy@deserthives.com to discuss details about educational services.
Services
Hive Consultations
Beekeepers of every skill level can benefit from having someone else look at their hives. We often overlook things, or simply do not know what we can be doing to improve the health of our colonies. Nothing can replace having on-site consultation.
Hive consultation costs $60 per hour.
Mite Testing
Mites are one of the leading causes of poor honey bee health. Mites carry diseases such as deformed wing virus, and quickly weaken a colony by consuming the fat bodies of honey bees. Every colony of honey bees will have some amount of varroa mites, and ensuring that your hives’s mite levels are below threshold is vital.
Sugar roll method: $30
Alcohol wash: $45
(all testing supplies included)
Hive Sitting
If you are going to be away from your hives for an extended period of time, consider having Desert Hives perform a thorough hive inspection while you are away. You will be provided with detailed hive reports.
Each hive check, recommendations, and detailed report delivered to your inbox:
$40 per hive
$30 each for 5-10 hives
$20 each for 10+ hives
Education
One of my favorite things to do is talk about bees. I have spoken at events such as the New Mexico Organic Farming Conference, a Bee’s Box Wines product promotion, local bee group meetings, and my son’s preschool. It does not matter how big or small the venue. I love to talk bees and can bring live bees (pending insurance) if the season and day are conducive to bee travel. Please contact me to discuss your educational needs.
Talks and educational activities: $0 (for non-profits) to $150