Beekeeping at Five Apple

Making a Nuc to sell, Problems with Packages & More (019)

Managing Mites Part II (018)

Show notes to come.

Managing mites Part 1 (016-17)

———————————————————————————————————— Links mentioned in Episode 16: Mites. If you want live bees, you will need a plan to deal with mites. It does not have to be chemical if you are willing to develop other skills (and actually use them). But being aware and knowledgeable about the organic treatments may be what you need to know one day to save your hive (so that you can requeen with more disease resistant stock). Say hello at the Facebook page — Five Apple Farm https://www.facebook.com/5...

Bonus: Reading from “Requeening” by Larry Connor (015)

This is a ‘radio reader’ episode of an online article “Requeening” by master beekeeper, queen breeder and author Larry Connor. More articles and his (excellent) books available at www.wicwas.com Link to this article: https://www.beeculture.com/requeening/ Clarification from last week (Thanks Chris!) This is the Bush bees I was referring to...link below. Tons of good info on his website and even though I’d read a lot of it there over the years, when I received his book “The Practical Beekeepe...

My hive is queenless, what now? (014)

Dealing with a hive that appears queenless / Figuring out if it is really queenless / Bush’s Panacea Cure / Queen cells from micro-breeders becoming more available. ( Mostly beginner but with intermediate bits too) About the podcast: Leigh started with bees in 2010 and keeps around a dozen hives at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, fully chemical free and without buying replacement bees since starting. When I mention Michael Bush in this and other episodes, this is the web...

Listener Questions, Bee Ramblings (013)

Preventing swarming after splits. Listener question: What advice would you now give your first year beekeeper self.

Queen Rearing Using a Cloake Board (Sue Cobey’s article) (012)

Today I read selections of Sue Cobey’s classic article on Cloake board queen rearing. Skilled intermediate and up. Full article here (with illustration): https://www.delta-business.com/CalgaryBeekeepers/Bee-Club-Library/Queens%20and%20Nucs/Cloake%20Board%20Method%20of%20Queen%20Rearing%20and%20Banking%20Sue%20Cobey.pdf

Simple ‘Frame-Based’ Queen Rearing, Part 2 (011)

Without moving anything smaller than a frame (no grafting, that is) you can make a few to several good queens off your favorite hive. References mentioned (some in reference to next episode): http://www.bushfarms.com/beessplits.htm#cutdown Generates a calendar for your queens (use with splits by using your split date as the graft date) https://thebeeyard.org/queen-rearing-calendar/ http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/queenraise.html http://www.dave-cushman.net/bee/benhardenmethod.html ...

Queen Rearing Basics Part 1 (010)

Aspects to getting quality queens from your own yard. Part one of several. Intermediate level. Bryan Fisher’s YouTube on Summer Splits: https://youtu.be/qkVGLJWaO80 Michael Bush slides on basic queen rearing: http://www.bushfarms.com/QueenRearing.ppt  

Inspection Tips, Part II (009)

Continuing with inspection tips and ideas for newer beekeepers. And encouragement, as always, as you start the steep learning curve of beekeeping. Steady on!

Inspections — First, Think about the Whole (008)

Some things to think about and understand about hives before you even open the lid —that will help you understand what you will see inside. Thank you all for every single Share and Review! Ask your questions for future podcasts on Facebook at Five Apple Farm: Bees Honey & More. [Why do I sound so stuffy? Mic must have been in a weird spot...sorry!]

Listener Mail / Random Q & A / Apiary Update 4/1/19 (007)

Random bee chat — Some feedback from you and questions I attempt to answer: flow hive, building equipment, split remorse, trickle feeding question and more.

Few things I wish I'd known years ago (006)

B/I Many beekeepers are starting out or starting over with Nucs or Packages about now. Exciting time! Here are a few tips and tricks I’ve learned over the years that may be helpful— trickle feeding, getting comb drawn, preserving comb, sizing the space, getting comfortable, encouragement to practice, read, watch, ponder, rinse and repeat. Beginner/Intermediate.

Split tricks (Intermediate) Doolittle Box & Cut Down (005)

Wading into a handy technique to get a box of young bees off a big hive and then getting into the amazing Cut Down split, with variations (This episode likely best for those with a few years experience).

Understanding Split Dynamics (004)

B/I —Making splits and requeening are some of the beekeepers most valuable skills. Understanding the moving parts AND the dynamics that are driving the moving parts Will enable you to make smarter splits for whatever reason you are splitting. Beginner, intermediate and up.

Equipment Tips for Newer Beekeepers (003)

So many equipment choices! Many things are just personal preference but I’ll give beginners some tips to start. And some encouragement as always. [B] = for newer beekeepers / beginners

Welcome new beekeepers / Intro ( 1 )

New beekeepers are attending bee schools this month and starting on their path of beekeeping. Welcome! Here are a few tips, a few challenges and some encouragement for you.  //  Email me at blueridge714 at gmail dot com - what would like to hear more about?  Leigh Knott started with bees in 2010 and keeps around a dozen hives at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, fully chemical free and without buying replacement bees since starting.

Welcome! First Podcast Episode /February 2019 ( 1 )

New beekeepers are attending bee schools this month and starting on their path of beekeeping. Welcome to this brand new podcast! Here are a few tips, a few challenges and some encouragement for you.  Originally recorded in Feb 2019 with new short intro added Jan 2020. //  Show notes for all newer episodes live at: patreon.com/fiveapple The updated "Bee-School Radio" episodes created for absolute beginners as well as beginner years 0-4 start in January 2020.   Leigh Knott started with bees ...