Beekeeping at FiveApple

In this interview with queen breeder Cory Stevens we talk virgin queens, the challenges of raising queens as a business, and much more. Patrons, I hope you enjoy this early release which will go public on February 22nd. Content is most suited to intermediate beekeepers who are comfortable making splits and introducing mated queens to a split. Once that feels comfortable -- consider adding great genetics to your yard via virgin queens from breeders like Cory. While they are a bit more challenging to introduce....they are cheaper to try out (so get several!) and since they mate with you local drones you can combine the benefits of selected genetics with your local bees. Cory's on facebook as Stevens Bee Company and his website is: https://www.stevensbeeco.com/ This episode was released a week early over at Patreon -- Please become a "Friend of Five Apple" on Patreon today and join the folks who make the podcasts possible with a pledge of $4 or more. In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • Access to exclusive weekly blog posts including "Tip of the Week" • Special Q&A posts to ask questions about YOUR bees • BONUS podcast or early access episode every month! • Input on podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! Sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple Farm: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with around a dozen-plus stands. Hives are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year.

Reading of some sections of study material for the NC Journeyman level test. (Not a typical episode if you are a brand new listener! )

Bees are always working toward *something* and that something depends on where they are in the life cycle of the colony in relation to the cycle of the season. Understanding those layers will make beekeeping made a ton more sense! Also: Friends of Five Apple, check the Patreon page for new blog post on keeping apiary records and bonus podcast about the recent bee-shed drama and how the hives at Five Apple are doing this winter. -- If you are getting value from the podcast please become a "Friend of Five Apple" on Patreon today! You make the podcasts possible with a pledge of $4 or more. In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • Access to exclusive weekly blog posts including "Tip of the Week" • Special Q&A posts to ask questions about YOUR bees • BONUS podcast or early access episode every month! • Input on podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! Please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple Farm: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with around a dozen or so stands. Hives are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor and disease resistance. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year.

Going over listener questions and messages. The honey Winner! Plans for upcoming episodes. New beekeeper hazing...(just kidding). -- If you are getting value from the podcast please become a "Friend of Five Apple" on Patreon today! You make the podcasts possible with a pledge of $4 or more. In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • Access to exclusive weekly blog posts including "Tip of the Week" • Special Q&A posts to ask questions about YOUR bees • BONUS podcast or early access episode every month! • Input on podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! Please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple Farm: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with around a dozen or so stands. Hives are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor and disease resistance. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year.

You have probably met Tina Sebestyen in the pages of Bee Culture or American Bee Journal where she is a most excellent writer as well as an experienced beekeeper in the high desert region of Colorado. Show notes and link to her website are at https://www.patreon.com/posts/33439459 -- If you are getting value from the podcast please become a "Friend of Five Apple" on Patreon today! You make the podcasts possible with a pledge of $4 or more. In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • Access to exclusive weekly blog posts including "Tip of the Week" • Special Q&A posts to ask questions about YOUR bees • BONUS podcast or early access episode every month! • Input on podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! Please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple Farm: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with around a dozen or so stands. Hives are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor and disease resistance. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year.

Show notes appear shortly after the episode over at https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple where you can also become a supporter of the podcast should you feel inclined! All the best to all of you, Leigh

Talking about the whole hive as 'the animal.' https://www.patreon.com/posts/33062208 Bee-School Radio 2020 is collection of special episodes of the podcast dedicated to brand new beekeepers. About Beekeeping at Five Apple Farm: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with around a dozen or so stands. Hives are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor and disease resistance. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and a few nucs yearly. ------ If you are getting value from the podcast please become a "Friend of Five Apple" on Patreon today! Your $4 a month make more podcasts possible. In addition to huge gratitude, you get: • Access to exclusive blog posts including "Tip of the Week" • Exclusive Q&A post every week where you can ask me questions • BONUS podcast every month! • Occasional early access to regular episodes • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! Please sign up today here: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Show notes with all episode links will be posted at https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Part 1: Do you have what it takes to be a good beekeeper? This episode includes an easy test to give you the answer. Bee-School Radio 2020 is collection of special episodes of the podcast dedicated to brand new beekeepers. About Beekeeping at Five Apple Farm: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The apiary is managed for bee health with active selection for vigor and disease resistance since 2010. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting the show as a patron: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

The last episode of 2019! Some thanks, some encouragement. Show notes are posted here and include links to sources I mentioned as well as news about the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-48-out-32811980 I'll be doing a 'Bee-School Radio' series for beginner beekeepers starting in January on the podcast to supplement the information at your local bee schools. Please spread the word with your clubs and social media places.

Bryan Fisher is a fourth-generation beekeeper and North Carolina Master Beekeeper who runs well over a hundred hives in addition to his day job! He is also someone I greatly respect and admire. Show notes, including links to some of Bryan's presentations on YouTube can be found at https://www.patreon.com/posts/32518781 PS. I'll be doing a 'Bee School Radio' series for beginner beekeepers starting in January for podcast listeners. More on that soon.

Show notes are at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32328651 About the podcast: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The apiary is managed for bee health with active selection for vigor and disease resistance since 2010. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting the show as a patron: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Episode 45 show notes at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/32095933 --About the podcast: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The apiary is managed for bee health and vigor—free of chemical-treatments and without buying/catching replacement bees since 2010. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting the show as a patron: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

It’s a short and silly one but I’m thinking of you all as Thanksgiving approaches. Please visit the Five Apple Farm: Bees, Honey & More page on Facebook and tell me your gratitudes about being a beekeeper! I’ll share those next weekend.

The little nucs are cozy in the bee barn. Now we’ll see how it goes. Show notes with pics will appear in the next few days over at https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple/posts -- About the podcast: Leigh keeps bees at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The apiary is managed for bee health and vigor—free of chemical-treatments and without buying/catching replacement bees since 2010. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider supporting the show as a patron: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Show notes with links mentioned in episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31450833 -- About the podcast: Leigh Knott keeps around a dozen-ish hives at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The apiary is managed for bee health and vigor —free of chemical-treatments and without buying/catching replacement bees since 2010. If you enjoy the podcast I would welcome your support of the show at: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Show notes are at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31450407 -- About the podcast: Leigh Knott keeps around a dozen-ish hives at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The apiary is managed for bee health and vigor —free of chemical-treatments and without buying/catching replacement bees since 2010. If you enjoy the podcast I would welcome your support of the show at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Show notes, posts & links at https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple Free sugar block recipe mentioned is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/feeding-bees-in-31022420 Quilt gallery post mentioned (a weekly bonus-post for patrons of the show) is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/31101477 About the podcast: Leigh Knott keeps around a dozen-ish hives at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. The apiary is managed for bee health and vigor —free of chemical-treatments and without buying/catching replacement bees since 2010.

None of this would be possible without the generous donations from THE RECORDER CREW! i didn’t get the chance to add an intro and wrap up but will get better at all this. :-) Mark started with bees in 2010 and has been fully chemical free since 2013. He maintains upwards of 30-50 hives outside of Charlotte NC in Locust. Find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/flatwoodsbeefarm/https://www.facebook.com/flatwoodsbeefarm Thank you all for telling your beekeeping friends about the podcast and leaving reviews on Apple Podcasts! And to the Patreon supporters: Huge gratitude! Please consider becoming part of the Farm Crew at: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Show notes are available to everyone and include link to the online article I read from -- you can find it here: www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Show notes will be posted and available to everyone at: www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Book Review Part 2 - Selection read from Chapter 3 "Tolerant Stock." Continuation of last episode's discussion of the excellent book "Keeping Bees Alive: Sustainable Beekeeping Essentials" by Lawrence John Connor (Wicwas Press, 2019) And some GREAT news! The recorder is a go thanks to incredible support from: Deborah in Georgia, Michael in South Carolina, Jeff in North Carolina, Michelle in North Carolina, William in Minnesota, Herbert in Mississippi, and Joan C. THANK YOU ALL for the generous funding of a recorder with which I can do interviews to share on this podcast! with huge gratitude, Leigh questions or ideas for the next episode? Email me at blueridge714 [at] gmail [dot] com or send a message from the Five Apple Farm: Bees, Honey & More page on Facebook.

Discussion of this interesting book by Wicwas Press. (Part 1 of 2) THANK YOU to contributors to helped get the new interview recorders!!! Other ways to help: Tell a beekeeping friend or beekeepers organization about the podcast. Write a review of why you like the show and give it a great rating on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. Thanks to every one of you for listening! Leigh blueridge714 [at] gmail [dot] com

Some random chat about what I’m reading and studying for a future episode; stress free alcohol wash hack from Jeff; bee barn teaser; missing Kevin; the usual wanderings.

Taking the simple feeding of sugar syrup for hives you find too light to make it....and complicating it with things to tweak? Guilty. Part 1.

About that NC Journeyman test. Winter prep: building population vs adding weight.

Random items from the conference, geeking out on gut microbes...

Selections from Norman E Gary, chapter 8 of Hive & The Honey Bee (Dadant). Also: The observation hive I’m trying out: https://www.etsy.com/listing/19583341/indoor-full-size-bee-keeping-observation Michael Bush on Observation hives: http://www.bushfarms.com/beesobservationhives.htm

Gadget Garage with nice robber screen and other handy things (thanks Jeff!) https://youtu.be/xWA49Oy5Skw Photo of the Z fold hardware cloth robber screen similar to what I use — especially on all nucs: http://thebeehivejive.com/2017/02/22/make-simple-robbing-screens-now-get-ahead-summer/ Thanks for listening! Leigh

I’m happy to report good news on the two hives that had EFB. Also: Late summer is a critical decision/action window for your hives. Some things to consider, plan and prevent...

Top bars, natural comb, podcasting errors, hives without a Queen (apparently), queens from swarm cells — Listener Mail edition. First part recorded in the morning, 2nd part late at night....you may notice the different energy tone, haha! ;-) Thanks so much for listening! Leigh

Continuing with the reading of a selection on Summer and Fall bee plants.

Show notes and links to come.

Can you have too many new queens? Yes! But who can refuse the challenge to give it a try? Not me. Alternative title: Why my post office knows me by name....

European foulbrood is a bummer to discover in a hive. It could be worse though. Talking through some options.

Finally, a way to do a cut down split WITHOUT finding the queen! Thanks to Tina Sebasteyan in the May 2019 American Bee Journal.

Sorry about the poor sound quality on this one... If you would rather just read this interesting article it's here: https://www.naturalbeekeepingtrust.org/darwinian-beekeeping Seeley interviewed on Science Friday. This is great! https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/beekeeping-tips-from-bees/

Show notes to come.

———————————————————————————————————— 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/5applefarm/ I’m now a super-fan of Dr. Meghan Milbrath of Sand Hill Bees (Michigan). When I eventually figure out how to do recorded interviews on this podcast she is on my short list to interview. Read/Watch/Listen to her presentations for some of the most understandable, science-based rationale on moving toward treatment-free beekeeping out there — well seasoned with reality. That last part is what makes her work really stand out imo. I probably could have skipped this whole podcast and just shared the links below with a bunch of exclamation points. ;-) https://tinyurl.com/y6fbvwtd PDF of her article YOUR BEES DON’T HAVE TO DIE: HOW CAN WE BECOME TREATMENT-FREE WITHOUT KILLING OUR COLONIES? http://www.sandhillbees.com/education Collection of Milbrath’s articles, presentations at her apiary website. Keep Bees Alive http://keepbeesalive.org ( https://pollinators.msu.edu/keep-bees-alive/ ) A treasure trove of information to keep your bees healthy. Really great resource. THIS!!!! The best (imo) educational webinar in this collection. Please watch this! (also works well as audio-only). Making a plan for varroa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=km541EtCjbY The printed version of above is here: https://tinyurl.com/yxbms5pe All three webinars by Milbrath are here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCD7AYI-MRu_3mp3oRW1kWVw (Episode numbering adjusted. Will call this episode 16-17 and next will be 18. This will correct a numbering error in an early episode.) ———————————————————————————————————

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 Beekeeper” as a Christmas gift I found myself reading it cover to cover and really enjoying it. http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

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 website which is a treasure trove of bee reading: http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm (Thanks Chris!)

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

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

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 https://www.theapiarist.org/vertical-splits-making-increase/ https://www.theapiarist.org/cloake-board-queen-rearing/ https://www.theapiarist.org/ben-harden-queen-rearing-intro/ About the podcast: 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.

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

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

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.

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 in 2010 and keeps around a dozen hives at 3000' in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, chemical-free and without buying/catching replacement bees since starting.