Barn Fire and What Comes Next

On March 31st, 2026, while I was at work in Orlando, an internet-based smoke alarm alerted me to a fire in our barn shed. Thanks to quick action from family and friends who called the fire department immediately, the situation didn’t escalate further. But I won’t sugarcoat it—the barn is gone. Nearly everything in it is destroyed or damaged beyond use.

What We Lost

The fire consumed or severely damaged:

First Queen Grafting Day of the 2026 Season!

What a way to start the weekend! Today marks the first queen grafting day here at Chuck’s Honeybees in Old Ortega, Jacksonville. After building and sharing the cell starter setup yesterday on YouTube, I’m diving right into selecting the best larvae from my strongest hives.