Mulberry Lane Farm’s newest residents, the honeybees.

Jonathan Lever came to Mulberry Lane as a volunteer in early 2022. A special education teacher and beekeeper, he offered to create and maintain a small apiary right on the farm. We hope to increase fruit and vegetable yields and maybe enjoy some delicious honey and other products from the bee hives.

Right away he jumped right in and through some luck and perseverance, we established 7 colonies in just a few weeks. Thanks to donations from the famous Apricot Lane Farms and The Valley Hive we have been able to grow this small venture into a healthy and sustainable habitat for our new pollinator friends.

A swarm of honeybees landed on the farm in March of 2022. I guess we have a good spot if the bees are moving in on their own. We collected this calm bunch of bees and gave them a nice home in the apiary.

A swarm of honeybees landed on the farm in March of 2022. I guess we have a good spot if the bees are moving in on their own. We collected this calm bunch of bees and gave them a nice home in the apiary.

This colony of honeybees made a home in a building at Apricot Lane Farms and was relocated to Mulberry Lane Farm in March of 2022. Apricot Lane holds a special place in our heart and has been a major supporter of the apiary as well as Upside of Downs

This colony of honeybees made a home in a building at Apricot Lane Farms and was relocated to Mulberry Lane Farm in March of 2022. Apricot Lane holds a special place in our heart and has been a major supporter of the apiary as well as Upside of Downs.

At the entrance to this hive you can see bees trying to enter through what is called a "robber screen". This device prevents bees from other colonies from entering and robbing honey from them. Don't worry, the bees that belong there know how to find

At the entrance to this hive you can see bees trying to enter through what is called a "robber screen". This device prevents bees from other colonies from entering and robbing honey from them. Don't worry, the bees that belong there know how to find the secret entrance! Look closely and you can see their "pollen pants" carrying yellow and purple pollen.

Beekeeper Jon uses his homemade bee vacuum to safely and carefully collect the 10,000 or so bees which made up this swarm. They were found resting in a birch tree about 9 feet high in a Camarillo neighborhood.

Beekeeper Jon uses his homemade bee vacuum to safely and carefully collect the 10,000 or so bees which made up this swarm. They were found resting in a birch tree about 9 feet high in a Camarillo neighborhood.