140-First

By hosting an AI and robotics-powered BeeHome™, 140 First Street is helping to boost surrounding biodiversity, supporting local plants that, in turn, sequester carbon and create habitats for native fauna. This page explains more about our bees and their impact.

3/25/26: Beekeeping Signs of Spring

In the Northeast, the first signs of spring for beekeepers come with the first warm days above 50°F, when bees emerge for cleansing flights after winter. Swelling maple buds, followed by willow and early flowers like crocus, mark the start of forage availability. Colonies begin to slowly expand brood, but food stores can still be tight—making early spring a critical time to check hive health and provide support if needed. If your hive seems quiet in winter, it means your bees are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do—working together to stay warm, protect their queen, and prepare for a strong spring comeback.

2/11/26: Are My Bees Hibernating?

If you’ve been checking on your hive this winter and wondering whether your bees are “asleep,” you’re not alone. It’s a common misconception, but honey bees do not hibernate and are actually working very hard during the colder months. As temperatures dropped, your bees formed a tight winter cluster around their queen that acts like a living furnace. By vibrating their flight muscles, worker bees generate heat and keep the center of the hive warm, often around 90°F, even when it’s freezing outside. To fuel this effort, bees rely on the honey and nectar stores they collected earlier in the year. As days lengthen and temperatures rise in the Spring, the hive changes. The bees will break their winter cluster and ramp up their activity. The queens begin laying eggs that will become the next generation of workers. After months of confinement, bees will take their first “cleansing flights,” leaving the hive to defecate and reset their systems. You’ll also see bees begin to forage for early pollen and nectar, which are critical for feeding new larvae. This early food source jump-starts rapid population growth and prepares the colony for the busy spring season ahead. If your hive seems quiet in winter, it means your bees are doing exactly what they’re supposed to do—working together to stay warm, protect their queen, and prepare for a strong spring comeback.

11/7/25: Winter is Coming

Your BeeHome™ is equipped with several features designed to support your colonies through the Boston winter. Over the next few months, we’ll be performing non-invasive infrared (IR) scans—like the one shown above—to monitor hive health without disturbing the bees’ clusters. If honey stores run low during the colder months, we can remotely provide supplemental feeding to ensure the colonies remain strong. In addition, the BeeHome™ offers superior insulation compared to traditional wooden hives, helping your bees conserve energy for warmth and allowing them to begin foraging earlier as temperatures rise in the spring.

11/4/25: Readying the Hives for Colder Temps

As we approach cooler winter temperatures, our Boston beekeeping team checked on the hives and adjusted insulation to ensure a warm environment. Over the next few months, you can expect to see little activity from your hive. Your bees will be forming their "winter cluster" to stay warm by generating heat through vibrating their wing muscles. They don't hibernate but instead stay inside, living off the honey they stored during warmer months.