Fairlane Farms

09/07/2026

Hive inspection today! Most of the colonies are doing well. Something is still producing nectar because I had to shake some out so the queen had room to lay eggs. No feeding needed today. Brood is starting to pick up again as the long hot summer winds down (hopefully).

The swarm I pulled out of a colleagues compost bin is thriving! Pretty new comb built out in frames and if you look at the last picture eggs in the comb (tiny white specs)!!

Unfortunately one of my other hives is having a bad hive beetle problem, so I pulled out almost an entire box of honey stores before the entire hive got slimed. I’ll uncap the frames, let the bees rob them, and see if I can freeze and save the comb. 😕

Looking forward to some cooler weather - bee suit in 95+ days with high humidity and no wind is rough.

09/06/2026

Chick pen in the chicken run got an upgrade with the pullet and “teenage” chickens moving into their new home to acclimate to the flock.

This batch of chicks has been rough - Josh wanted some easter eggers and found some at a feedstore in Houston. Brought home the pullet along with 5 chicks and a fowl pox outbreak. 😕😳 We were fortunate that we had them isolated in the brooder box on the patio. We lost 3 of the chicks. Later on Josh brought home 5 more chicks (and the baby goat). We lost 3 of those chicks most likely to the heat (not fowl pox). A few weeks later everything seems stable, so the remaining chicken and chicks get to join the coop and run!

Goes to show that quarantining animals before they join the main flock/herd is a must!

09/06/2026

Route 33 homestead farm stand is open!

Good morning & happy Sunday!

The shop is open 🥐🍂🍯

09/06/2026

Our goats are the biggest wasters of hay! Yes, I do need to make some modifications to the feeder to waste less. But at least I can reuse the wasted hay as filler for my garden beds. Got it in before today’s rain. Should be raining the next several days and will rain down the hay to make room for the dirt. Getting ready for fall gardening!

09/05/2026

It’s National Hummingbird day. The humming birds are migrating so they are back at our flowers and feeders! I’ve been trying to get good pics of the hummingbirds, but they are really fast! I even got my SLR out… so far this is the best I’ve gotten of the hummingbirds.

So some pics from around the minifarm! Butterflies, bumblebee butts, and pollen pants!

09/05/2026

Very excited for the opportunity to speak with the community about local honey at Jimbo’s Nursery on Sept 19! Join us to learn about the uniqueness of local honey and how it benefits both the bees and humans!

09/03/2026

I get asked a lot by people, what can I do to help bees! First answer is usually to plant pollinators attracting plants! This helps both the honey bees and native bees! The other thing anyone can do is to put up a “bee house.” This is my prototype of a bee house for native bees. As they are solitary bees, they lay eggs in the little channels and seal them up until the bees hatch. What I liked about this design is you can take it apart in the summer, clean out the channels and it’s ready to go for the bees again!

Still needs some cleanup, but I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Now to make more!!

08/31/2026

The Honey 101 class by Texas A&M Extension Apiculture Program was amazing! The science nerd and lab rat in me loved the laboratory analysis and am really looking forward to the grand opening and open house of the diagnostic laboratory!

But sensory evaluation??? I had no idea that world existed! It was fascinating. I’m hoping that Agrilife will put on a workshop soon!

08/29/2026

Set up at the Saloon Door West in Pearland for the The Local Collective MKT Summer Sendoff Market!

We have local honey and fresh eggs! Come out and see us!

08/29/2026

Route 33 homestead Farm stand is open!

12713 33rd St
Santa Fe, TX