Hobby Beekeeping
Detalls del Canal
Hobby Beekeeping
Turning a 50 acre cash crop farm back to a wildflower bee sanctuary and business. Join me as I explain each week what we are doing and why we are bee "helpers" and not bee keepers. The name change on February 25, 2024, is reflected in the science that for me makes most sense. The goal is to listen t...
Episodis Recents
238 episodis
Late Fall Hive Updates
With just two hives failing so far, it's not enough to run the data. But some failed splits may help us better understand what may have happened to t...
Why I'm Excited to have Finally Lost some Hives
It's sad on one side, but exciting on the other to have finally lost some hives. The lost hive data when compared to those that survived may help us...
Some Thoughts on the Year and Next Steps
As the bees wind down, so do I. Here are some updates as we move into late fall.
The Fraud of Nature Based and Treatment Free Beekeeping
What a week. My eyes were opened wide as I learned of this fraud. Not surprisingly, I was a part of it. Here's the story.
This Scientist explains why Treatment Free is the Only Way
In this rare interview on my podcast, I bring on Dr. Gary Brook whose article I recently discussed on the ability to have bees treatment-free. It's a...
Science Says Stop Treating for Mites
The evidence is pretty clear now that beekeepers need not treat for mites. In this podcast, I discuss the recently published article that says using...
Stupid Beekeeping Researcher Tricks
While the USDA wants us to believe mites and viruses killed our bees this year, it's not true. Listen while I explain some common researcher tricks a...
From the Nova Scotia Bee House
I record this podcast from the Bee House and discuss the benefits of this approach plus hive updates.
AI Does Help Orientation Flights and the good of Honey Bound Hives
A bit of this and that, plus special thanks for sending me your comments.
Nature Based Beekeeping and Dog Days of August
In this podcast, I discuss a presentation made by Dr. Thomas Seeley 11 months ago, and how it is an important and valuable training tool for hobby bee...
Bad Air Swarms and Hive Updates
The bad air has made the bees jumpy and swarms continue to keep moving in.
Why we Want Relaxed Bees
Eliminating the stress bees face is very beneficial to their health, ability to produce large amounts of honey, and overall survival. Here are some t...
Servant Beekeeping Exposed
I finally figured it out, hence this bonus podcast. If you are one of the few, here's the link to more information on the class. Remember the discou...
What do I do with the Warre Swarm Hive?
Two months ago, a swarm moved into a Warre hive. It is exploding with bees. What should I do this late in the season? Here's the link to the class...
Hot Days and The Bees are Reducing their Entrance
We have reduced entrances on all of our hives. It's one of those rules that has helped them survive. But now at night, we see them reducing their en...
Collecting Honey and Dealing with the Heat
As I look for a bit of honey, several new findings emerge. Bees move honey around the hive so the queen can lay eggs and a steady flow of nectar desp...
Hives Exploding
With all these hives and bees, I'm not sure what to do next. Here's a farm update and some ideas on the summer splits.
Summer Walk-Away Splits
Looking at how to select the hives to split again and why it's a good idea.
Nova Scotia Bee House has Bees
Transferring a nuc into a standard hive within the beehouse was an enjoyable experience—updates on this new project and a beekeeping myth that is hurt...
Time to Leave them Alone
We take the month of June and refrain from touching our hives. It's tough, as we want to go in and look at things. Here's why we leave them alone wi...
Swarms Move In
We have three different swarms that have chosen to live with us on the farm so far this year. Here are some hive updates and some thoughts about IPM.
Good and Bad Splits Plus a new Live Question and Answer Tonight
Some of my 2 frame splits worked, many did not. What happened, what I did wrong, plus a new question and answer live session tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eas...
Mice Hive Inspection and Farm Update
What happened when I checked out the mouse hive and an update on the progress of our other hives.
The No Look Walk Away Split
Here's a strategy I use and discovered by accident, that is ideal if you only have a few hives and want a split strategy that only takes a minute or t...
6 Steps to Avoid Dumb Stupid Beekeeping
It took 150 years for health care professionals to wash their hands between patients. How long will we delay using proven practices to save our bees?
Is This a Sign of a Strong Hive?
This morning, the temperature hit -5 C, with a wind chill of -10 C. Yesterday, some bees were flying at 7-9 C. What could this mean?
Help them Live or Let Them Die?
Under the Darwinian black box selection technique I'm supposed to let them die. But this isn't an easy thing to do. I talk through my thinking on th...
Drone Watch
It's important to watch the hive entrance at this time of year to signal if the hive may be ready for splitting. Here are some of my plans, plus the p...
These Two Strategies Could Really Help Your Bees
Although the research proves that these strategies could help not sure why we don't do them.
The Final Strategy If I were Starting Today
Possibly the most futuristic, but helpful this strategy would be a no brainer for me to initiate if I were starting with bees today.
This Natural Pest Could Kill Varroa-Special Podcast
It was talked about some time ago, but should we not consider it today? The other important point is to ask the right questions when investigating th...
Splitting and Reduced Hive Entrances
Here are two more hobby beekeeping strategies I would use if I started today. Splitting twice a year I think is the most important.
93 % Survival So Far and Here's What I think is Happening
With the bees flying at 12 C, it was a good time to assess who had made it. We are at 14 out of 15 hives making it through the winter so far, and her...
Picking that First Hive and the Goal of Sustainability
I discuss the importance of knowing the type of hive you are getting to start your beekeeping career and some beginning steps for setting your goal of...
Why Hobby Beekeeping?
It was time for a name change to bring us all together to share regardless of how we keep bees. Here's the short explanation of why the name change.
With 80% to 100% of Bees Dead What can we Do?
Commercial beekeepers report this number of losses as they attempt to pollinate almonds in California. What is happening with those of us keeping bees...
Bees are Dying and Two Strategies for Beginning Beekeepers
Reports have circulated that 80% to 95% of bees have died. What could be causing this? What are the first two strategies for beginning beekeepers?
Top 10 Beginner Beekeeper Tips
If I were starting today, here are the 10 things I would do to help my bees survive. I made all these mistakes, hoping you can avoid those as you get...