Belleview Valley Apiary

07/13/2025

07/12/2025

Got mites? Let’s fix that.
Varroa mites are a serious threat to honeybee colonies, especially heading into winter. Beekeepers who tackle high mite loads now often avoid heartbreaking losses later.
Many successful beekeepers consider August as the true start of the beekeeping year. Why? Because the bees raised in September and October are the ones that carry your hive through the cold months ahead. We must address mite populations in August to get that healthy brood in the fall.

So—how are your bees doing right now?
Are mites lurking in your brood cells? Have you the knowledge and skill necessary to check mite levels in your colony and address high mite loads if necessary?

I’m offering hands-on mentoring sessions focused on varroa management and winter prep. These in-hive trainings are held at my apiary at Arcadia Academy in Southeast Missouri. Each session is four hours long, with at least half the time spent fully suited up, working side-by-side with live colonies. Students learn how to evaluate the health of colonies, determine the mite load within and what actions are appropriate with over-wintering success being our focus.

• Only three students per session
• Cost-sharing makes it affordable
• Perfect for new beekeepers (1–2 years in)

If you’re ready to level up your skills with a certified master beekeeper, shoot me a message at [email protected]. I’ll send you details about Belleview Valley Apiary’s mentoring program—and why Arcadia Academy is a top-notch setting to sharpen your beekeeping edge.
Follow Belleview Valley Apiary right here on Facebook for tips, updates, and a peek into life at the hives.
Know a new beekeeper who could use a boost? Tag them below and let’s build a healthier hive community together.

Bee good,

Gregg Hitchings
Belleview Valley Apiary
[email protected]
Helping Beekeepers Keep Bees

06/30/2025

Is Beekeeping Right for You?
Arcadia Academy
211 S College St, Arcadia, MO 63621
July 8, 2025-4-8pm

Thinking about diving into beekeeping next year—but not sure if it’s the right fit? It’s not too early to be doing research. Before you suit up and order bees, join us for a no-nonsense look at what this buzzing hobby really involves.
Our upcoming workshop covers the real story behind beekeeping—why some “Newbees” thrive but the majority don’t make it past year two. We’ll explore:
✨ What it takes to succeed
✨ What beginners often get wrong
✨ What beekeeping can give back—to you and your family
This isn’t a “how-to” course. It’s the big-picture view you need before jumping in.
👉 Learn more or sign up at arcadiaacademy.com/upcoming
Brought to you by Belleview Valley Apiary & The Arcadia Academy
Want info on our mentoring services? Reach out: [email protected]
Beekeeping Right for You Beekeeping
Follow us for more insights, events, and mentoring tips.

06/25/2025

Our mentoring services have begun at the Arcadia Academy. It's well known within the beekeeping community that more than half of those starting the hobby fail within the first two years. BVA provides mentoring services intended to get the hobbyist off to the best start possible through hands-on mentoring in a specially designed and managed apiary. It's possible to try beekeeping with us, learning the ins and outs of a fascinating hobby before deciding whether beekeeping is right for you. For information concerning the mentoring services we offer contact us at [email protected].

04/14/2025

Honey bees will be back at the Arcadia Academy for the first time in two years. I’m really excited about this. Four stands have just been placed at the Academy which will accommodate a dozen colonies to be used for mentoring new and prospective beekeepers. For me, beekeeping has been a lifelong and beneficial pursuit. It was easy, in the beginning as I had a terrific mentor in Walter Coxey who I helped in his apiary near Belleview for two summers as a teen. I did a lot of reading about bee biology and beekeeping for “book knowledge” but Mr. Coxey helped me understand and develop the skills necessary for successful colony manipulation. Mentoring can make all the difference.

If you google “Why do beekeepers quit?” you’ll find several sources indicating as many at 80% of people who take the plunge into beekeeping, after quite an investment in time and money, will lose their bees and enthusiasm within two years. Yes, beekeeping is a bit more challenging than it was when I started six decades ago. However, through the years we’ve met those challenges and today it is possible to keep honey bees healthy and thriving. Mentoring can make all the difference.

Most who think about becoming a beekeeper have the idea they must buy bees and equipment before they can start finding out if they would enjoy working with bees. Belleview Valley Apiary is supplying the bees to be placed at the Arcadia Academy as a very appropriate option for potential beekeepers to explore. Our goal is to reach people interested in beekeeping who are wondering if this craft is right for them prior to making the investment. We will be providing opportunities which can help them decide.

Please share this with anyone you know who may be interested and ask them to follow Belleview Valley Apiary to learn more.

Gregg Hitchings

PS. The Arcadia Academy still has amazing cinnamon rolls!