Banta Community Hall

09/11/2026

09/06/2026

Hives For Heroes members let us know if you are attending we would love to meet up before, after or during!

08/24/2026

For those asking how they can help from afar, there’s a way to do that too. 🐝

Hardwood Honey has set up a page to help with recovery and rebuilding after the flood. If you’d like to stand behind Ross and his family during the road ahead, you can find it here:

https://www.hardwoodhoney.com/community/give/bee-yard-flooded

08/20/2026

🐝 August Hives For Heroes Banta Community Hall Meetup: We’re banding together.

Indiana, this month we’re showing up for one of our own.

Fellow Indy beekeeper Ross Harding of Hardwood Honeyhas lost dozens of hives due to flooding and could use some extra hands with cleanup, moving equipment, cleaning frames and recovering any bees we’re able to safely box up.

📍 Sunday at 10:30 AM
Near 78th & Keystone in Indianapolis
White house with bees spray painted on it. You can’t miss it.

Come dressed in appropriate work clothes and bring:
• Protective bee gear
• Work gloves
• A mask if you’re sensitive to strong smells
• Push brooms
• Power washer, if available

Already covered:
✓ Generator
✓ Pallets

Mostly, we need hands. 🙌🏼 With a half dozen or so people, we should be able to get a lot accomplished in just a couple of hours.

This is what community looks like. When someone gets hit hard, we show up. 🐝

And while we’re checking in, how is everyone holding up in your neck of the woods? How are you and your bees doing? Does anyone else need a hand with anything?

Let’s take care of each other, Indiana

08/15/2026

Sometimes the bees say it better than we ever could. 🐝❤️

On World Honey Bee Day, a little heart-shaped reminder of just how much these tiny creatures have given us.

At Hives for Heroes, honey bees are more than what we keep. They’re the common ground that brings Veterans, First Responders, and Mentors together.

Around the hive, connections are made. Knowledge is shared. Confidence grows. Community is built.

And somewhere along the way, the bees have a way of reminding us what really matters.

Connection. Purpose. People.

Today we celebrate the honey bees at the heart of it all. ❤️🐝

Happy World Honey Bee Day.

People first. Bees always.

07/28/2026

We were a little worried that a few of the hives at Banta Hall may have been exposed to pesticides, but our latest inspection put those fears to rest. Everything is looking good on the home front. 🐝

A huge thank you again to Bearsville Bees-Parkersburg for donating this beautiful hive. We’re grateful for your support and the opportunities it creates.

If you know a Veteran or First Responder who might enjoy beekeeping, send them our way. And if that’s you, let’s connect. We’d love to get you into the bees.

07/04/2026

Which frame you choose matters.

During our field trip to The Bee Barn, Jim Orem and Jason Morgan with the Southeastern Indiana Beekeepers Association shared why selecting the right frame is one of the most important parts of getting an accurate mite count.

Look for a brood frame with open larvae and nurse bees, avoid honey frames, and always take a moment to make sure the queen isn’t on the frame before collecting your sample. Small details like these can make a big difference in understanding the health of your colony.

They also shared an important perspective on finding the queen. For beekeepers managing dozens or even hundreds of colonies, seeing fresh eggs or young larvae may be enough to confirm she’s doing her job. But if you only have one or two hives, taking the time to find your queen can provide valuable peace of mind. Losing a queen when you don’t have additional colonies to provide brood, resources, or a replacement can have a significant impact, making early detection especially important.

A huge thank you to Jim, Jason, and the Southeastern Indiana Beekeepers Association for sharing their knowledge and opening the apiary to our Hives for Heroes community.

If you missed this field trip, don’t worry! We’ll be sharing more clips and lessons from our day at The Bee Barn.

You’re also invited to join them on July 18 as they demonstrate how and why they combine colonies for fall and winter. Whether you’re new to beekeeping or have years of experience, all are welcome.

Details are in the comments! 🐝

06/25/2026

Highlights from our June field trip to The Bee Barn! 🐝

A huge thank you to Jim Orem and Southeastern Indiana Beekeepers Association (SIBA) for their incredible hospitality and for hosting such a wonderful day of learning and fellowship.

There is something special about gathering around open hives, asking questions, sharing knowledge, and learning from one another.

If you couldn’t make the trip, don’t worry! We’ll be sharing a few instructional videos from the day on Mite Washing so you can learn alongside us.

And of course… there was pie. Because somehow beekeeping events are always better when pie is involved. 🥧🍯

People first. Bees always. ❤️🐝