Beekeeping at FiveApple

Thinking aloud on the factors in my beekeeping practice that may have contributed to a successful 13th year of fully chemical-free beekeeping. But first, some of the bad beekeeping I've done lately...ha! :-) THANK YOU Patrons for your continued support. You make these podcasts possible...AND commercial free for everyone! Leigh   --   Please become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the fol...

Wanted to get this out there tonight but will have to compile the links I mention tomorrow! By then, this free link should have the info mentioned in the episode:   https://www.patreon.com/posts/93855226   This podcast continues to be listener-powered and free of adverts and sponsorship messages. Thanks to the Patrons!!    :-) Leigh   --   Please become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join t...

Greetings from a new homeplace! Bee yard goings on as Autumn rolls into a colder season. It is such a delight to be back with you. Leigh   This podcast continues to be listener-powered and free of adverts and sponsorship messages. Thanks to the Patrons!!    --   Please become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible! In addition to huge gratitude, you get...

Reviewing the content of a club talk I gave last month "Specialty Splits: Or, Why would you Ever just do a Walkaway?"   This podcast continues to be listener-powered so remains free of adverts and sponsorship messages. Thank you Patrons!!    --   Please become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible! In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podc...

108: Bee Radio Reader: Bait Hives Reading the older article Bait Hives for Honey Bees by Dr. Tom Seeley et al. Read the article here.  Other links to bait hive info:  https://www.beeculture.com/get-bait-hives-ready/ https://www.bee-craft.com/beecraft-extra/articles/how-to-use-a-bait-hive https://www.honeybeesuite.com/tag/swarm-traps/ Enjoy! And happy swarm catching!  Note: The splits book will be...

Ep 107: Coming out of Winter and HELLO AGAIN!  (Recorded mid-March 2023) It's so exciting to see the new beekeeping season on the horizon....even if I had horrid overall winter survival due to things I failed do last season. I'll talk about late winter colony issues and care, how NOT to have a winter like I had, how to get the most out of bee mentors and your bee guild, and other random bee chat t...

  Our local black jar honey contest has awarded the winners! Sadly, I'm not among them...but some great folks are. A foray into Fall weirdness at the home apiary with some robbing and (whut?!) bees building outside a tree. And a teaser about the potentially amazing product-to-come, Optera. Hope you enjoy! Leigh   --   Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join the folks who make t...

Hello wonderful Patrons and all listeners! FINALLY a new episode - catching up a bit on the farm bees, pre-winter prep progress and random bits. THANK YOU ALL for your support and patience with me. Leigh   ps. I mentioned a couple of videos I've enjoyed lately. Bee videos are my favorite way to make kitchen clean up more enjoyable! :-) I was letting bee videos play in the background and ended up l...

Bee Radio Reader: Combining Hives Early for Fall (103) Reading from "Practical Mergers: Do It Soon" by Zachary Lamas, August 2020, by permission of Bee Culture Magazine.  -- Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible! In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Access to Patreon blog posts includin...

Episode 102: Summertime and the living is....hot. Tips on cooling off hives in summer; REVIEW of test-frame technique to detect queenlessness vs other reasons. WINNER of the Bee Culture magazine sub from episode 100!!! Thank you all so much for listening! I invite everyone to join on Patreon below for more content --or if you just want to support the show. If that's not your thing -- please consid...

In this episode: LOVING the runaway (or flyback) split after all! / comparisons of other types of splits / tips for newspaper combines / tips for fixing a laying worker colony.  I go on and on since I have lots of built up stuff to tell you! Please forgive me on that (and ignore the JET going overhead during the middle ). So glad to be back in the bees and back chatting with you! Leigh     -- Plea...

Episode 100! Double Screen Board Love   Links mentioned in the episode: This is the link (free and open to everyone) if you are interested in the book and Bee Culture subscription mentioned in celebration of this 100th episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-100-love-65588303   Bob Binnie on splitting with a double screen board. Please note he is using queen cells so the compartment without...

Thinking about Splits (99) - Hi Patrons! Hit me up with your questions about splits in the comments of the show post at Patreon and I'd be happy to try to help ! https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple     -- Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible! In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Access to...

Hi everyone! This is a compilation episode of previous patreon-only episodes 66 and 85-- both on the Nucleus Split method which I use a lot. It's simple, pretty safe* even if the weather is still cool. Also gives a brood break to the great majority of the bees which helps lessen mite reproduction.   (*as long as you make sure the queen retirement nuc has plenty of bees to cover the frames on cold...

Bonus episode (97) for Patrons: Thoughts on the Interview A rambling recount of tidbits I took away from the Ang Roell interview and the study results and how it will affect splits in my own beekeeping....but also drawing your attention to bits of info that were small in mention but HUGE in importance. Hope you enjoy. THANK YOU PATRONS!! Leigh   Please check out the PDF " Walk Away Split Recipe &...

Ang Roell Interview Part 2 (96) In this portion with dig deeper into the factors affecting queen quality in the study as well as wander on some enjoyable tangents! Please check out the PDF " Walk Away Split Recipe & Fact Sheet" available free at www.theykeepbees.com for context. Hope you enjoy! Leigh   -- Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts p...

I've been watching the research, results and resources emerging from the work of Ang Roell, Sam Comfort and team for a few years now! Their latest data and resources have gone above and beyond! AND have directly application to backyard beekeepers who want to raise their own queens and get a QUALITY result.  To get the free resources mentioned in the episode go here and look for the downloads towar...

Welcome to Bee Season 2022! (episode 94) Despite the cold and snow...the bee season is starting up in those hives! Listen in for goings on here at the farm (love that sandwich box trick), propolis curtains (!), some tips on what to watch out for AND prepare for next. The annual "Don't Give Up" talk...and a challenge to choose the next new skill to up your beekeeping game in 2022!   -- Please becom...

Check your hives for winter weight! Then....please enjoy this reflection on Irish beekeeper Tim Rowe's 2016 book "The Rose Hive Method." Patrons, I'll be passing the book along to one of you! See the post and let me know why you are interested in reading! (details in the episode). Post is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/59993768 -- Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join th...

  Nucs over double-screen boards, more winter patty love, boxes with wood shavings vs foam board top insulation....the winter testing ground here we come. An extra for patrons--Links to equipment and videos mentioned in this episode:  https://www.patreon.com/posts/58906090   Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible! In addition to huge gr...

Listened to an episode of Honey Bee Obscura (their episode 41) on fall feeding and wanted to share observations it brought to mind and other ideas about feeding options with you all. It's that time of year!   This episode of BFAF released on 06 OCT to Patrons and to the public on 10 OCT. Patrons, remember you have your own audio RSS feed for all the podcasts, plus your early releases and bonus epi...

Doing the first look-back of the 2021 season at the things that have gone well so far!   Thank you Patrons and Listeners! I appreciate each and every one of you. kind regards, Leigh   (recorded 21SEP21 - released to Patrons on 26SEP21)   -- Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible! In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • BONUS podcast o...

Thank you Bee Culture magazine and Ross Conrad for this article. Also included in the episode, chat about goings on here at the farm.    Get your Bee Culture subscription and have access to years of archives in addition to the magazine! https://www.beeculture.com/magazine/   Recorded on 17AUG21 kind regards to each of you and THANK YOU PATRONS for making this podcast possible!   -- Please become a...

Bee Radio Reader: Winter Bees! (88) Thank you to Meghan Milbrath and American Bee Journal for this article from January 2020: https://americanbeejournal.com/the-greatest-generation-winter-bees/ Subscribe to American Bee Journal here: https://www.dadant.com/catalog/books-subscriptions/american-bee-journal kind regards to each of you and THANK YOU PATRONS for making this podcast possible!   -- Pleas...

Bears and Bees don't mix... (87) Let me tell you a tale of woe (that could have been SO much worse) but hopefully you will learn from my mistakes!  Thank you to each and every Patron and Listener!! kind regards, Leigh -- Please become a "Friend of the Podcast" on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible! In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • BONUS podcast or early access episo...