HomesteadHensandHoney

Continuing my book review of 'The Lives of Bees' by Thomas Seeley! Today, we tackle chapters 5 and 6, which take a detailed look at the nest site preferences of honey bees, as well as their unique annual cycle, and how both these things affect their survival. Early in the episode, I mention a website where you can find medications for all your avian friends. Click here to check that out. As always...

Welcome to episode 22! Today, I'm talking about what's going on in my hive, what you can expect during a state apiary inspection, why I chose to make nucleus colonies over splits, and how knowing about bee math can help you when rearing queens (or letting your colony raise their own). For photos, sources, and all links, please see my website . For the Ohio Apiary Inspection program, please click h...

Hello hello! I'm back to reviewing the book 'The Lives of Bees' by Thomas Seeley, and cover chapters 3 and 4 this episode. Seeley takes a look at the history of the honey bee and humanity's relationship to it, and then gives us a detailed run down of how beekeeping changed over time to what we see today. Everything discussed in this week's episode can be found on my website , complete with photos!...

Hello hello! This week, I am taking a break from the book reviews to just chat about things that have been happening here on the homestead, and other points of interest. Then I discuss how to set up a 'chicken hospital' for when you need to help an ailing hen.  Please check out my website for links and photos, as well as a rundown of everything covered in this episode.  Click for PolliNation's Pod...

Hello hello! This week, I talk a little about the Asian Giant Hornet and why we don't need to panic, and then start a detailed review of 'The Lives of Bees' by Thomas Seeley. I cover chapters 1-2, and there's a lot of info to share! This will be part of a series where I cover 2 chapters each episode.  You can find links and photos related to today's episode over on my website .  Stay safe out ther...

Hey folks! This week, I'm giving you all the news about my hives, including a colony loss and a package install. Then I go into a detailed review of the fictional book 'The Bees' by Laline Paul, which I highly recommend.  As always, you can find a run down of everything discussed in this episode, along with links and photos, over on my website .  Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay self-isolating! U...

Hey folks! This week I share an update on how my bees are getting along, and then review the book 'Top-Bar Beekeeping' by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell. You can find a run down of everything discussed (complete with photos and video) over on my website .  Thank you for tuning in, and stay safe!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey folks! Hoping you are all safe and healthy, and muddling through this scary time as best you can. We're on a shelter in place order like many others and are adjusting to the new routine. This week, I share a a big update on how my 3 hives are doing as we move into Spring; talk about the TriCounty Beekeepers Association Spring Workshop; discuss why creating nucleus colonies could be a huge bene...

Hi folks! I hope you're all staying safe during this COVID-19 madness.  This week is my final episode on my 3 part series about edible gardens. I talk about sunflowers and their benefits as a pollinator plant; the 3 Sisters method; and how pasture plants can benefit our livestock, local ecosystems, and pollinators (including our beloved honey bee!). I also briefly discuss why you might be getting...

Hello my lovelies! This is part 2 of my 3 part series on edible gardens. This episode, I talk about even more herbs, lettuce/salad greens, leafy greens, and parsnips (which are apparently quite the stubborn root vegetable).   Please see my website for a run down of everything I discussed this week, as well as sources, websites/accounts mentioned, and various other points of interest. Cheers!  Host...

Hello hello! Thanks so much for tuning in. This week, I'm talking about edible gardens, and things that I'd like to grow! This is part 1 of a 3 part series so stay tuned!   As always, check out my website for source materials, topics covered, and website links. Also, pretty pictures!   Thanks for listening!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi folks! This week I'm talking about preparing for Spring and my second year of beekeeping.  Find sources referenced and various links over on my website .  Cheers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hey folks! I had some volume issues with the first 20 minutes of this episode so I apologize if it's rather quiet. Apparently, I also couldn't pronounce 'coturnix' consistently, either! I blame the cold. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it! For the first episode of 2020, I am talking about quail and why they might be a good addition to your homestead. Please see my website for a list of sourc...

Hey folks! This week, I give you the usual updates on the homestead, and then talk about different races of honey bee (such as the Italian, Caucasian, Cordovan, etc).  Please check out my blog for a list of sources, and links to articles for further reading.    Happy holidays!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 9! A post-holiday, relaxed fit episode where I discuss three topics that caught my interest recently. Please see  my website  for links to articles and source material for this episode.   Thanks for listening!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, I'm talking about what goals I had set for 2019! I go through what didn't get accomplished, what did, and what I learned from it all.  Please check out my website for links to items discussed in the episode, along with accompanying photos.   Thanks for listening!  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome! This week, I talk about what honey is, how it's made, and how it is extracted.  For references and article links, please see my  my website! .  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hi folks! This week, I talk about the happenings going on at my homestead. It's a sad one as I discuss the process of having a hen euthanized, and the issue of pets vs livestock. There's also a brief discussion of depression and seasonal affective disorder (and I drop the F-bomb at least once, sorry!). I also discuss my last hive inspection and how the colonies are shaping up before winter. As alw...

This week, I share what I learned about preparing honey bees to survive the winter. It can feel a little daunting but hopefully this helps clarify what we need to be doing at this time of year. As always, please see my website for a complete list of references used for this episode. Happy listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, it is all things varroa! What is this nasty mite? Where did it come from? What is it doing to our honey bees? I'll give you a history of transmission, some basic mite biology, and ways to test for and treat this troublesome parasite. For a list of sources/citations, please visit  my website! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to episode 3! This week, I give an update on things at the homestead, and then discuss how I came to make a hashtag for beedrama to chronicle my drama with the hives. The key lesson here is: bees don't read the textbook! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's episode is all about bees! I discuss the meandering path I took to find my way to this exciting hobby, and then go over some beekeeping basics. If you've ever found yourself wondering about the marvelous insect that produces honey, give it a listen! Corresponding blog post can be found  here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Beekeeping and homesteading podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.