Join us for an engaging conversation on the Apiary Chronicles podcast, where I sit down with the Jeff Harchoff, also known as Mr Ed. We explore his fascinating journey in beekeeping, which began in 1978 when a friend's passion for bees sparked his interest. Mr Ed recounts his transition from the bustling city of New Orleans to the serene countryside of St. Benedict, Louisiana, where he started with three hives. His story takes us through the challenges of managing bee colonies over the decades, including a hiatus following Hurricane Katrina, and highlights his passion for woodworking as he shares his experiences volunteering at a monastery to build caskets.
Our discussion shifts to the technical aspects of beekeeping, where we explore the equipment and methods Mr Ed has developed over the years. He shares insights into the construction of frames, the pros and cons of using plastic versus wooden frames, and his strategy for distributing hives across multiple locations to mitigate risks like flooding. Mr Ed's hands-off approach to beekeeping, which emphasizes natural selection and strong genetics, is highlighted as we explore his methods for hive management, including strategic swarm trapping and his innovative use of a double-screen divided board to manage bee colonies effectively.
As the conversation unfolds, we uncover valuable tips for both novice and experienced beekeepers. Mr Ed emphasizes the importance of community engagement, such as joining local bee clubs and utilizing online platforms like YouTube for region-specific advice and mentorship. His passion for sharing knowledge and fostering a supportive beekeeping community shines through as he discusses his favorite tools and techniques in the apiary. Don't miss the opportunity to gain insights from Mr Ed's extensive experience and learn how to enhance your own beekeeping practices.
https://www.youtube.com/@JeffHorchoff
studiobeeproductions.com
NOTE This file was generated by Descript
00:00:00 --> 00:00:00 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Mr.
00:00:00 --> 00:00:03 Ed, we want to welcome you to the Apiary Chronicles podcast.
00:00:03 --> 00:00:04 We're excited you're here
00:00:04 --> 00:00:05 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I am too.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:09 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Wonderful, let's, let's get started with the fast
00:00:09 --> 00:00:09 five.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:11 First question.
00:00:11 --> 00:00:11 What's your
00:00:12 --> 00:00:13 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: My name is Jeff Harchoff,
00:00:13 --> 00:00:15 but I never go by that.
00:00:15 --> 00:00:16 I always go by Mr.
00:00:16 --> 00:00:18 Ed, which is my YouTube channel.
00:00:19 --> 00:00:19 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Very good.
00:00:20 --> 00:00:21 What's your apiary's name?
00:00:22 --> 00:00:24 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I don't have an apiary name.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:30 I actually keep bees for a group of Benedictine monks in Covington, Louisiana.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:34 And so I am what I call their lone beekeeper.
00:00:35 --> 00:00:36 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very good.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:37 And you answered our next question.
00:00:38 --> 00:00:38 Where are you
00:00:38 --> 00:00:41 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Well, it is outside of Covington, but
00:00:42 --> 00:00:45 the monastery has its own zip code.
00:00:45 --> 00:00:46 So it's actually St.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:46 Benedict,
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
00:00:47 --> 00:00:47 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
00:00:48 --> 00:00:49 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: oh, interesting.
00:00:50 --> 00:00:51 What year did you start with bees?
00:00:52 --> 00:00:54 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: began, I got my first bees
00:00:54 --> 00:00:57 in the spring of 1978.
00:00:59 --> 00:01:00 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, wow.
00:01:00 --> 00:01:04 I'd like to say that's almost as old as I am, but not
00:01:04 --> 00:01:05 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: It just tells you how old I am.
00:01:06 --> 00:01:08 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: How many colonies do you manage?
00:01:09 --> 00:01:10 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Right now, we're somewhere
00:01:10 --> 00:01:14 between 180 and 200.
00:01:14 --> 00:01:15 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: very nice.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:20 Cal: Welcome to Apiary Chronicles, where we dive deep into the world of beekeeping
00:01:20 --> 00:01:22 and the people who make it all happen.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:26 I'm Cal Hardage your host and fellow bee enthusiast.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:27 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Well, Mr.
00:01:27 --> 00:01:28 Ed, why bees?
00:01:28 --> 00:01:30 Yeah,
00:01:30 --> 00:01:32 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: it was, it was bees are something
00:01:32 --> 00:01:34 that most people just fall into.
00:01:35 --> 00:01:36 And me too.
00:01:36 --> 00:01:43 I just, I was drawn into, into bees just because of the natural curiosity.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:46 I, I knew somebody who was a beekeeper.
00:01:46 --> 00:01:49 He showed me his bees and I said, I want to do that.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:49 That's all.
00:01:49 --> 00:01:54 It's, you know, it's very innocent naive and then, then the reality
00:01:54 --> 00:01:55 of it will come hit you later.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:01 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: it's one of those chance meetings or just one little
00:02:01 --> 00:02:05 speck in your life and then all of a sudden it takes over a bigger portion
00:02:05 --> 00:02:06 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: For sure, For sure,
00:02:07 --> 00:02:08 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: So, how'd you get started?
00:02:09 --> 00:02:12 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Well, again, like I, I got started
00:02:12 --> 00:02:16 because somebody showed me some bees and, and I really did like it.
00:02:16 --> 00:02:21 And that was in 1978 and what happened was I moved from the
00:02:21 --> 00:02:22 city, the big city of New Orleans.
00:02:23 --> 00:02:27 Into the country and I decide, well, when I'm going to move to the country,
00:02:27 --> 00:02:29 well, that's a perfect spot to keep bees.
00:02:29 --> 00:02:34 So that's when I got bees when I came over to the North Shore from New Orleans,
00:02:35 --> 00:02:36 which is only about 50 miles away.
00:02:37 --> 00:02:43 And and so, like, like most beekeepers I would have bees and then I would
00:02:43 --> 00:02:47 not have bees and then you'd have bees and it's a very common cycle.
00:02:48 --> 00:02:50 And then, and then eventually.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:52 It's either gonna stick or it's not gonna stick.
00:02:52 --> 00:02:53 For me, it's stuck.
00:02:54 --> 00:02:55 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah.
00:02:55 --> 00:02:56 Yeah.
00:02:56 --> 00:03:01 You know, I was just thinking as you you moved to the country then,
00:03:01 --> 00:03:03 you mentioned earlier, I think 1978.
00:03:03 --> 00:03:07 That was about the time I was standing in my dad's pickup watching
00:03:07 --> 00:03:11 him take care of bees that that ignited my journey with bees.
00:03:13 --> 00:03:16 And that was before we had to deal with varroa
00:03:16 --> 00:03:18 mites and a lot of other things.
00:03:18 --> 00:03:19 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: A lot
00:03:19 --> 00:03:20 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: was A nicer time.
00:03:20 --> 00:03:21 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: lot
00:03:21 --> 00:03:21 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
00:03:23 --> 00:03:27 So do you, when you got some hi hives, when you got some
00:03:27 --> 00:03:28 hives, did you jump whole hog
00:03:28 --> 00:03:30 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, no, no.
00:03:30 --> 00:03:30 They
00:03:30 --> 00:03:31 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: hogs, couple
00:03:31 --> 00:03:34 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: yeah, it, I started with three, just, you
00:03:34 --> 00:03:38 know, and I always, I always say three is a great number to begin with because,
00:03:38 --> 00:03:39 because you're always gonna have loss.
00:03:40 --> 00:03:44 And so, you know, if you lose two, well, at least you have one.
00:03:44 --> 00:03:46 And, and and that's generally how it works.
00:03:46 --> 00:03:47 And it worked that way for me too.
00:03:48 --> 00:03:52 So I had three, then I have one, then I have two, then I have three.
00:03:52 --> 00:04:00 And, and and then when I, in, in 84, when I moved from the house that I
00:04:00 --> 00:04:04 was living in to the house that I built I didn't bring my bees with me.
00:04:04 --> 00:04:07 I gave my bees to a brand new beekeeper.
00:04:07 --> 00:04:13 And and then so I was beeless for probably a year or two, and then I
00:04:13 --> 00:04:19 got more bees because you just, it's in your blood, you know, and, and,
00:04:19 --> 00:04:30 and, but what's funny in those initial years from, 1978 to probably 2006.
00:04:30 --> 00:04:36 I never, I never really did anything with bees other than they were in the backyard.
00:04:36 --> 00:04:39 I didn't, and every once in a while I'd go and get honey from them.
00:04:40 --> 00:04:44 It's like, but remember it was a lot easier to keep bees in, in those days.
00:04:45 --> 00:04:45 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh
00:04:45 --> 00:04:47 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: And, and so it's, they were just out
00:04:47 --> 00:04:49 there and if they swarmed, they swarmed.
00:04:49 --> 00:04:50 I didn't, I didn't worry about anything.
00:04:50 --> 00:04:53 The bees were in the yard and I got honey from them.
00:04:53 --> 00:04:55 So what a great job.
00:04:55 --> 00:04:55 So.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:05 And it was in, in Katrina 2006 that I, again, I was out of B's at that point.
00:05:05 --> 00:05:06 And,
00:05:06 --> 00:05:07 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah.
00:05:07 --> 00:05:08 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: and so, cause we got hit
00:05:08 --> 00:05:10 really hard from Katrina here.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:14 And, and again, then I went B list for probably about another
00:05:14 --> 00:05:15 two years until I retired.
00:05:16 --> 00:05:17 No, no, that's not true.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:18 I still had beehives.
00:05:18 --> 00:05:25 I had beehives all the way up to, to 2009 and, and and, and then in 2009, the last
00:05:25 --> 00:05:29 three colonies I had were stolen . So
00:05:29 --> 00:05:33 yeah, they they got some unscrupulous people out there in this world,
00:05:34 --> 00:05:34 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: oh yeah.
00:05:35 --> 00:05:37 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: So my, my last three hives were
00:05:37 --> 00:05:39 stolen, and so I, I was hive less.
00:05:40 --> 00:05:49 And I had retired in 2009 from the post office, and when I retired, I started
00:05:49 --> 00:05:55 volunteering here at the Abbey, and my volunteering wasn't for bees, it
00:05:55 --> 00:05:59 was to build caskets, because I've been a woodworker my entire life.
00:05:59 --> 00:06:01 my dad my dad was a cabinetmaker.
00:06:02 --> 00:06:06 He taught me the trade, and I learned the trade when I was, I was 14 years
00:06:06 --> 00:06:13 old and made my living at it till I was 22, so it was, you know, bees
00:06:13 --> 00:06:17 were a part of that, but when I volunteered at the Abbey, That's what
00:06:17 --> 00:06:19 I came here for was to build caskets.
00:06:19 --> 00:06:23 And during that that initial time, that first three years I was volunteering,
00:06:24 --> 00:06:28 one of the junior monks approached me and asked, he knew that I had bees.
00:06:28 --> 00:06:31 And he asked if I would help him.
00:06:32 --> 00:06:35 To start up beekeeping because all monks have hobbies.
00:06:35 --> 00:06:39 And so this would have been just a hobby for the monks for that monk.
00:06:40 --> 00:06:43 And and so I said, sure, since I didn't have any bees, I'll help you.
00:06:43 --> 00:06:48 And and so we got some bees and then about five months later
00:06:48 --> 00:06:50 that monk decided to leave.
00:06:50 --> 00:06:53 And so now we have the bees and so that's how it all began.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:54 Right?
00:06:54 --> 00:06:55 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yes.
00:06:56 --> 00:07:00 When that junior monk came to you all did did or came to you Did you you
00:07:00 --> 00:07:02 all start with just a few hives in
00:07:02 --> 00:07:03 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Again,
00:07:03 --> 00:07:04 three, three
00:07:05 --> 00:07:05 Rehives.
00:07:06 --> 00:07:09 So we, we, we, do you want me to tell you the story of that?
00:07:10 --> 00:07:11 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: I would love to hear
00:07:11 --> 00:07:14 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Cause it, it's that, it, is actually
00:07:14 --> 00:07:18 one of the stories that I do in, in my conference when I talk at conferences,
00:07:18 --> 00:07:27 because it, it really highlights bee keeping the, the reality of beekeeping.
00:07:28 --> 00:07:31 And, And it, it, for me.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:37 Beekeeping isn't just messing around with bugs, you know,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:39 it's, it's, it's more than that.
00:07:39 --> 00:07:45 That, that for me, keeping bees, you can relate life experience to, to that.
00:07:46 --> 00:07:52 And, and then the added aspect for me, it's, it's a spiritual dimension as well.
00:07:53 --> 00:08:00 So when, when we I took over that operation I grew it from
00:08:00 --> 00:08:04 it was in 2000 and 2012 Yeah.
00:08:04 --> 00:08:05 Is when I took it over
00:08:06 --> 00:08:09 and, and, then I grew it.
00:08:09 --> 00:08:12 To the to March of 2016.
00:08:12 --> 00:08:18 We went out, got out to about 35 hives and there, there never, there never was
00:08:18 --> 00:08:26 any like goal for the bees that at that point I was just keeping bees just to
00:08:26 --> 00:08:34 supply monks their their honey and, and so what, what happened was in the spring,
00:08:34 --> 00:08:39 it was March 16th of 2016, we experienced.
00:08:39 --> 00:08:41 here at the Abbey, a flood.
00:08:42 --> 00:08:45 So that flood wiped away all of our beehives.
00:08:45 --> 00:08:46 All of them were gone.
00:08:46 --> 00:08:47 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh No,
00:08:48 --> 00:08:49 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: it was also at that time
00:08:49 --> 00:08:52 because We've grown to 35 hives.
00:08:54 --> 00:09:01 If you're familiar with, with expansion of an apiary, how it, it consumes a lot
00:09:01 --> 00:09:06 of space, you know, the more hives you have, the more space that's required
00:09:06 --> 00:09:10 to keep your, your, your woodenware, your, your, equipment, all that stuff.
00:09:10 --> 00:09:17 And though the, the Abbey is a very large campus over 60 acres just for the campus.
00:09:17 --> 00:09:19 The monastery is 1200 acres.
00:09:20 --> 00:09:26 The I would, I had all of our bee stuff in five different buildings because I
00:09:26 --> 00:09:28 I couldn't house it in one building.
00:09:29 --> 00:09:34 So they, they had agreed to allow me to build a building.
00:09:34 --> 00:09:38 And so I built a honey house in 2016.
00:09:38 --> 00:09:41 It, it was, it was not completed.
00:09:41 --> 00:09:43 The frame was up, it's closed in.
00:09:44 --> 00:09:47 The, the stud walls were in, but there was no electrical or sheetrock or anything.
00:09:48 --> 00:09:54 And so in the spring, March, Of 2016, we had that flood and we had three
00:09:54 --> 00:09:56 feet of water everywhere on the campus.
00:09:57 --> 00:10:02 Every building, every building had water in it, and it, it, it the
00:10:02 --> 00:10:07 Abbey sustained like $35 million worth of damage from that one flood.
00:10:07 --> 00:10:10 But I mean, this, you gotta remember, the Abbey is a very large entity.
00:10:10 --> 00:10:11 It's like a little,
00:10:12 --> 00:10:12 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yes
00:10:13 --> 00:10:13 Oh yeah.
00:10:14 --> 00:10:15 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: at, at that point.
00:10:16 --> 00:10:21 When all of our hives were gone I could have, and this is, this is
00:10:21 --> 00:10:25 where, you know, it's a life lesson, but it's also, it's, it's a crossroad
00:10:25 --> 00:10:28 that every beekeeper is gonna come to.
00:10:28 --> 00:10:32 You know, it's, it's like the challenge of keeping bees.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:39 How do you overcome those challenges to sustain that initial desire
00:10:40 --> 00:10:42 that you had to begin keeping bees?
00:10:43 --> 00:10:48 So, Here I am, I'm at that crossroad that everything is gone.
00:10:48 --> 00:10:49 What do you, what do you do?
00:10:49 --> 00:10:52 And so I could have said, nah, I'm not, I'm, I'm finished with it.
00:10:53 --> 00:10:55 We didn't have any really plan or anything.
00:10:55 --> 00:11:02 And, you know, at that point in my life, I also was discerning the fact
00:11:02 --> 00:11:04 that I, I was going to become a monk.
00:11:05 --> 00:11:05 So,
00:11:06 --> 00:11:06 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh
00:11:06 --> 00:11:09 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: that, that my life as a volunteer, wasn't
00:11:09 --> 00:11:15 just, You know, volunteering to work at the Abbeywood is actually incorporating
00:11:15 --> 00:11:19 my life into the monastic life.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:26 And so with that added part of it and, and I'm looking in the
00:11:26 --> 00:11:27 future of my life as a monk.
00:11:28 --> 00:11:30 I want to continue this B thing.
00:11:30 --> 00:11:34 And so I said, well, no, let's, let's really get into this thing
00:11:34 --> 00:11:35 and do and grow this thing.
00:11:35 --> 00:11:43 And, and at that point, I, I came up with the, the, the goal, the, the, the purpose
00:11:43 --> 00:11:46 of what we would be calling Abby honey.
00:11:46 --> 00:11:48 And that is to.
00:11:49 --> 00:11:56 to be able to have enough beehives to supply honey, not to the monks, but
00:11:56 --> 00:12:01 to the gift shop, that we could sell honey in the gift shop all year round.
00:12:01 --> 00:12:05 And so that was the plan that I came up with.
00:12:06 --> 00:12:08 I didn't know what that number was.
00:12:09 --> 00:12:13 So for that reason I just went crazy and started just getting
00:12:13 --> 00:12:15 as many hives as I could.
00:12:15 --> 00:12:20 And I did that through learning how to do removals, cutouts swarms.
00:12:21 --> 00:12:23 Manipulating hives and, and doing splits.
00:12:24 --> 00:12:26 So I learned how to do that.
00:12:26 --> 00:12:30 And then from the, from 2016 to now we're at 2024.
00:12:30 --> 00:12:32 So that's what, 8 years.
00:12:32 --> 00:12:35 We went from 0 to 200 is what we did.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:39 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: And are you able to stock the gift shop
00:12:39 --> 00:12:40 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, all year round, yes.
00:12:40 --> 00:12:45 So, so the number that I need to, to get is minimally is 400 gallons.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:48 So I figured 450 gallons.
00:12:48 --> 00:12:52 Is what I need to get every, every year to supply them.
00:12:52 --> 00:12:57 And then we've been doing that for three, three, three, four
00:12:57 --> 00:12:58 years now, four years now,
00:13:00 --> 00:13:00 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very good.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:05 You mentioned early on in life, your dad showed you about woodworking.
00:13:06 --> 00:13:07 Do you make all your woodenware,
00:13:08 --> 00:13:08 or do
00:13:08 --> 00:13:10 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: when, when initially, when I first
00:13:10 --> 00:13:17 started I, I did made boxes, lids, covers, all that stuff, but it really is
00:13:17 --> 00:13:25 a lot cheaper to buy the boxes and the frames, I still build my bottom boards,
00:13:25 --> 00:13:27 my inner covers, my telescoping covers.
00:13:27 --> 00:13:28 I build those.
00:13:29 --> 00:13:33 Because I can build them cheaper than I can buy and, and I think they're
00:13:33 --> 00:13:34 better, they're better quality.
00:13:34 --> 00:13:37 And, and so I still do, I build those.
00:13:37 --> 00:13:42 In fact over the next well, until February, I'll be building, I've
00:13:42 --> 00:13:47 got, 150 high bodies to put together.
00:13:47 --> 00:13:51 I'm going to build 50 bottom boards, 50 screen double telescoping covers
00:13:51 --> 00:13:55 and inner cover, so I'll be making videos on that as I, as I go.
00:13:56 --> 00:13:57 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: yes.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:57 Yeah.
00:13:57 --> 00:14:02 I, I went through a phase when I was building all my equipment,
00:14:02 --> 00:14:05 and I even built some frames just to go through the process.
00:14:06 --> 00:14:09 I built like, I don't know, 20 or 30 frames.
00:14:09 --> 00:14:12 It wasn't very many, but it was plenty for a lifetime because that
00:14:12 --> 00:14:12 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: You're right.
00:14:12 --> 00:14:14 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: the process, but I just wanted to go
00:14:14 --> 00:14:15 through it.
00:14:17 --> 00:14:20 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, you will learn that it's, it's fun
00:14:20 --> 00:14:26 to build the stuff, but when you have all the other jobs that are required
00:14:26 --> 00:14:31 to do, it's, it's, it's not feasible and it's more economical just to buy
00:14:31 --> 00:14:34 them and spend your time building it.
00:14:36 --> 00:14:39 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: So, for your hives, are you running 10 frame hives,
00:14:39 --> 00:14:43 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: all 10 frame double deep broods and, and
00:14:43 --> 00:14:45 even for our honey supers, I use deep.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:48 for my honey supers because I, I,
00:14:49 --> 00:14:50 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: keeping your workout going?
00:14:50 --> 00:14:52 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: well, I, I cheat.
00:14:52 --> 00:14:57 I, I used to, I used to do the workout with, with just a two man lift, but
00:14:58 --> 00:15:00 now we have, we have very nice equipment.
00:15:01 --> 00:15:02 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very
00:15:02 --> 00:15:02 good.
00:15:02 --> 00:15:03 Very good.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:07 Have you always used deeps for your honey
00:15:08 --> 00:15:09 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Always, ever since the beginning,
00:15:09 --> 00:15:11 I've always used deeps.
00:15:11 --> 00:15:16 I, and I, I learned that lesson is that it's less equipment
00:15:16 --> 00:15:17 that I have to move around.
00:15:17 --> 00:15:18 They're interchangeable.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:25 If, if I need to, what, at two years ago, I wasn't even using excluders.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:30 And so I would, if I had queen got up into my honey box, I would just
00:15:30 --> 00:15:33 transfer brood for honey frames.
00:15:33 --> 00:15:35 You know, it, it worked very well for me.
00:15:35 --> 00:15:38 I use excluders now, though.
00:15:39 --> 00:15:40 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah, yeah.
00:15:42 --> 00:15:46 And are you, I'm assuming they're not on pallets
00:15:46 --> 00:15:46 because you're not
00:15:46 --> 00:15:48 moving them, you just have
00:15:48 --> 00:15:48 them
00:15:48 --> 00:15:50 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: They're all, they're all individual hives.
00:15:52 --> 00:15:55 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: And with 200 hives, are you, you
00:15:55 --> 00:15:56 have multiple locations with
00:15:56 --> 00:15:58 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: So the, one of the, things that
00:15:58 --> 00:16:02 the flood taught me was you never keep all your eggs in one nest.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:03 So,
00:16:03 --> 00:16:04 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, good
00:16:04 --> 00:16:07 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: they're in, they're in 10 different yards.
00:16:07 --> 00:16:10 They're about a 30 mile radius from the Abbey.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:15 And so people asked if we would keep our bees on their property.
00:16:15 --> 00:16:24 So, the, the number of hives per yard varies a lot and the, it ranges from.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:29 I don't know, 60 to 4, you know,
00:16:29 --> 00:16:33 it's, it's just a big big group of them.
00:16:33 --> 00:16:36 So it but that's, that's just how I do it
00:16:38 --> 00:16:38 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah.
00:16:38 --> 00:16:39 Yeah.
00:16:40 --> 00:16:43 On your products you're selling through the gift shop, is
00:16:43 --> 00:16:44 it just honey or do you have
00:16:44 --> 00:16:45 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: right now.
00:16:46 --> 00:16:49 I do, I do when I, when I rendered the wax.
00:16:50 --> 00:16:54 I supply wax to the, the monk soap operation.
00:16:55 --> 00:17:00 They will use that for balms for hand lotion and some candle production.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:06 So I, but most of the wax that I get, I, I put right back into our B
00:17:06 --> 00:17:09 operation for putting on the foundations.
00:17:11 --> 00:17:11 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yes.
00:17:12 --> 00:17:14 So do you make your own foundations?
00:17:14 --> 00:17:15 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: plastic foundation
00:17:16 --> 00:17:16 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
00:17:16 --> 00:17:19 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: and, and I, and I dip them into my wax.
00:17:19 --> 00:17:20 So then I coat.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:20 I coat.
00:17:20 --> 00:17:24 my foundation with wax, get the bees to draw it out.
00:17:25 --> 00:17:25 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
00:17:26 --> 00:17:31 Do you like, I'm guessing when you started a few decades ago you
00:17:31 --> 00:17:33 didn't use plastic foundation.
00:17:33 --> 00:17:34 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I've always used plastic,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
00:17:35 --> 00:17:35 have you always
00:17:36 --> 00:17:37 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: In fact, when I first started
00:17:37 --> 00:17:39 out, I was using complete.
00:17:39 --> 00:17:41 plastic frames.
00:17:41 --> 00:17:43 They were all plastic frames, right?
00:17:44 --> 00:17:44 And, and
00:17:44 --> 00:17:45 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
00:17:45 --> 00:17:46 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: for whatever reason back in
00:17:46 --> 00:17:49 those days, the bees didn't care.
00:17:49 --> 00:17:50 I never waxed them or anything.
00:17:50 --> 00:17:53 I just bought them and I was buying everything from Man Lake and I just
00:17:53 --> 00:17:55 stuck them in and the bees drew it out.
00:17:55 --> 00:17:56 But
00:17:56 --> 00:17:57 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: And it just worked.
00:17:57 --> 00:17:58 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: don't work like that no more.
00:17:58 --> 00:18:01 You better put wax on them or they will not draw it out.
00:18:02 --> 00:18:05 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: I have not used plastic frames for the most part.
00:18:06 --> 00:18:07 There's a handful I've used.
00:18:07 --> 00:18:13 Mess with, but but not intentionally, because I've always heard, you
00:18:13 --> 00:18:17 know, not great stories about plastic frames, so it's interesting.
00:18:17 --> 00:18:21 You started a long time ago with plastic frames and continue to use them.
00:18:21 --> 00:18:23 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: And I stopped, I stopped using
00:18:23 --> 00:18:26 them though, because right after the flood is when I stopped using
00:18:26 --> 00:18:28 them because I was having issues.
00:18:28 --> 00:18:30 The ears on them would get brittle and break.
00:18:30 --> 00:18:32 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah, yeah.
00:18:32 --> 00:18:35 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: But what was really nice about it is the
00:18:35 --> 00:18:40 wax moth could never tear them up like they did with a with a wooden frame.
00:18:41 --> 00:18:42 That's a part I always did like.
00:18:43 --> 00:18:50 But I, I had too much trouble with breaking up the ears and, and then
00:18:50 --> 00:18:55 it, it it just, I liked the plastic foundation in a wooden frame.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:56 I like that
00:18:56 --> 00:18:57 configuration a lot better.
00:18:57 --> 00:18:59 And I think it's just a personal preference.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:03 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, I, I think so.
00:19:04 --> 00:19:07 Once you get used to something or if, especially if you get started with,
00:19:08 --> 00:19:12 with plastic, you don't have this, well, I've been doing this this other way.
00:19:12 --> 00:19:13 Now, do I want to change?
00:19:13 --> 00:19:15 Do I change half of them?
00:19:15 --> 00:19:16 That's just the way you do
00:19:16 --> 00:19:18 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Now I've, I've actually now cycled
00:19:18 --> 00:19:21 out every bit of my plastic frames.
00:19:21 --> 00:19:22 There's, there's none of it in there.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:23 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
00:19:23 --> 00:19:26 Yeah.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:26 Yeah.
00:19:26 --> 00:19:27 It, it makes sense.
00:19:27 --> 00:19:34 Or, you know, It seems to me the plastic ones I've been exposed to does
00:19:34 --> 00:19:38 suffer from broken ears on them and things which causes you a problem.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:39 So I could see the
00:19:39 --> 00:19:39 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
00:19:39 --> 00:19:44 And then also if they get heated up, they can warp on you.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:45 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah.
00:19:45 --> 00:19:47 Oh
00:19:47 --> 00:19:49 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: that's not as big of an issue
00:19:49 --> 00:19:53 as the ears breaking off, but they, they do, they do warp.
00:19:55 --> 00:19:55 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: yeah.
00:19:57 --> 00:19:58 Very good.
00:19:58 --> 00:19:59 Mr.
00:19:59 --> 00:20:03 Ed, let's go ahead and take a little bit of a transition.
00:20:03 --> 00:20:07 It's an interesting journey you have for your bees, but let's go beyond
00:20:07 --> 00:20:09 the buzz and talk about making
00:20:09 --> 00:20:10 splits.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:14 It's going to be coming up to that time of year pretty soon for you.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:18 So let's just talk about how you get ready for making splits and what's your plan.
00:20:19 --> 00:20:21 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Believe it or not, here in Southeast
00:20:21 --> 00:20:30 Louisiana because our winters are so mild, our bees fly almost 365 days a year.
00:20:31 --> 00:20:36 We, you know, I bet you, don't get,
00:20:38 --> 00:20:42 don't know, 10, 15 days of temperatures below 20 degrees.
00:20:42 --> 00:20:43 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh
00:20:43 --> 00:20:44 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: know, it's like, it's so, it's
00:20:44 --> 00:20:47 so, it's almost tropical here.
00:20:47 --> 00:20:51 And so consequently our bees fly almost all, all year round.
00:20:52 --> 00:20:55 I'm not saying that, you know, when temperatures are, you know, in the low
00:20:55 --> 00:21:01 40s or 30s, they, you know, completely ball up and they're not breaking the ball.
00:21:02 --> 00:21:05 But even, even when days are, are, are.
00:21:06 --> 00:21:10 Upper thirties, you'll see bees flying because it's just, that's what they
00:21:10 --> 00:21:19 do also because we're so, so far south and in that moderate temperature zone
00:21:19 --> 00:21:26 our, our beginning trees that, that start blooming, we have the maple,
00:21:26 --> 00:21:29 the red maple, and our willow trees.
00:21:29 --> 00:21:30 They, they begin blooming.
00:21:31 --> 00:21:32 mid December.
00:21:32 --> 00:21:38 And so this is, this is, the start, really, of the beginning,
00:21:38 --> 00:21:43 the bees beginning to come out of winter and into spring.
00:21:43 --> 00:21:51 And, and what a lot of, a lot of particularly new beekeepers and old
00:21:51 --> 00:21:57 beekeepers, they, they fail to make the, the connection of, of, this
00:21:57 --> 00:22:04 time So here for us in middle of December, end of December, the winter
00:22:04 --> 00:22:10 solstice, which is the shortest day of the year, December 22nd, right?
00:22:10 --> 00:22:19 And so after December 22nd, the number of hours of daylight increase, while the
00:22:19 --> 00:22:21 number of hours of darkness decrease.
00:22:21 --> 00:22:25 So in this increase in daylight hours.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:30 Then we have the beginning of the photosynthesis and plants and trees.
00:22:31 --> 00:22:36 And then, you know, the spring is coming, coming about well, bees.
00:22:37 --> 00:22:42 are very, very, very good at reading nature.
00:22:42 --> 00:22:48 And, and so they, they keep pace with what nature is doing.
00:22:48 --> 00:22:52 Now, I'm not saying that they don't get thrown a curve ball, you know, and
00:22:52 --> 00:22:56 you get temperatures that drop and, you know, you're going to have problems,
00:22:56 --> 00:23:04 but generally it's, it isn't based on temperature, it's based on daylight.
00:23:05 --> 00:23:07 And that, that's a fact that.
00:23:07 --> 00:23:10 Few people really take into consideration.
00:23:11 --> 00:23:13 It is daylight hours that matter.
00:23:13 --> 00:23:18 And, and so sometimes the bees can get caught with their pants down, you know,
00:23:18 --> 00:23:23 the queen's laying good and you get hit with a cold snap for two or three days
00:23:23 --> 00:23:25 and you might get knocked back a little.
00:23:25 --> 00:23:30 But for the most part, our queens begin laying.
00:23:31 --> 00:23:35 They begin laying by second week in January.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 She's laying, laying pretty good
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 at that point.
00:23:38 --> 00:23:44 So, which is why I said, told you earlier, we, we can catch, I've caught
00:23:44 --> 00:23:46 swarms as early as February 3rd.
00:23:46 --> 00:23:50 So it's, so that's only two weeks after the middle of January.
00:23:50 --> 00:23:54 So the hives will build up relatively quick.
00:23:55 --> 00:24:00 So what, what I'm doing in, in, I I wait till.
00:24:01 --> 00:24:04 Generally, it's generally the second week in February.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:07 I will then start visiting my yards.
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 and checking for hive growth.
00:24:09 --> 00:24:11 I'm not worried about swarming.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:16 I'm looking for the, the bees, the number of bees in the hive to start
00:24:16 --> 00:24:21 growing because by this time, by the second week in, in February, I should
00:24:21 --> 00:24:24 have bees in both, both my deep supers.
00:24:25 --> 00:24:28 That I'm not saying we're going to have a lot of them, but there's going to be
00:24:28 --> 00:24:35 bees in both boxes for probably about 85 percent of all of our hives, you're
00:24:35 --> 00:24:38 going to have bees in two boxes, and this is why you have to constantly go out
00:24:38 --> 00:24:40 because not all genetics are the same.
00:24:40 --> 00:24:42 Not all the bees genetics are the same.
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 So some of them develop slower.
00:24:45 --> 00:24:47 It's not to say they won't catch up, but initially they're going
00:24:47 --> 00:24:48 to they're not going to develop.
00:24:50 --> 00:24:56 and all of, all of our bees all the avid bees are, are mutt bees, Hans 57.
00:24:56 --> 00:24:59 They're all from cutouts and splits.
00:25:00 --> 00:25:07 So I don't have any kind of genetically altered, you know, queen bees or anything.
00:25:07 --> 00:25:09 All of our bees are mutts.
00:25:09 --> 00:25:12 The one thing they have in common, and that's really the one thing they
00:25:12 --> 00:25:13 have in common, they're all mutts.
00:25:13 --> 00:25:20 So I find that, that idea of bees being able to,
00:25:22 --> 00:25:26 genetically okay or superior.
00:25:27 --> 00:25:32 That the, the bees that I keep in our yards have these qualities in them.
00:25:32 --> 00:25:38 Now, on top of that, I do not treat and I do not feed.
00:25:38 --> 00:25:41 I am the most hands off.
00:25:42 --> 00:25:44 beekeeper that's out there.
00:25:44 --> 00:25:48 And I attribute that to my extremely wide lazy streak.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:48 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yes.
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: plus I'm retired and I got other
00:25:50 --> 00:25:53 things to do besides fool with bees.
00:25:54 --> 00:26:02 But that being said, I am very, very conscious of and aware of the fact
00:26:02 --> 00:26:06 that at certain times of year, you need to be doing certain things in
00:26:06 --> 00:26:10 order for your bees to do what they need to do If I want to get honey.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:13 And that's the goal of my, my operation is to create honey.
00:26:13 --> 00:26:17 I'm not looking to sell bees, even though I do sell bees, because.
00:26:18 --> 00:26:20 I only need to keep 150 hives.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:24 And so generally I'll sell off anything over that.
00:26:24 --> 00:26:28 And I, and I don't sell bees off until after our honey season.
00:26:28 --> 00:26:31 After I've got, for sure I got my crop, then I'll sell
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 the bees off.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:36 And so we, we in mid February, I'm going out.
00:26:37 --> 00:26:41 And looking at my hives I'm also at that point setting swarm traps.
00:26:41 --> 00:26:42 I set swarm traps.
00:26:43 --> 00:26:49 I, I know fantastic locations where, you know, every year I, every year, if I
00:26:49 --> 00:26:54 wanted to spend the time catching swarms, I could catch 40, 50 swarms every year.
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 I don't want to catch.
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 40, 50 swarms.
00:26:57 --> 00:27:00 I've done it, but I don't want to do it anymore because it takes too much
00:27:00 --> 00:27:06 time to monitor these traps and but I do have one location that's only three
00:27:06 --> 00:27:12 miles away and I set traps there every year and minimally I'm gonna get seven
00:27:12 --> 00:27:17 to ten swarms off of this one So that's enough for me and all my other ones.
00:27:17 --> 00:27:20 I give those spots away to other, other beekeepers, but
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 I'll keep that when it's close.
00:27:22 --> 00:27:28 So I'm I'm monitoring my hives in February to see the growth of them
00:27:29 --> 00:27:38 and then by, by really the 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of February, I'm looking
00:27:38 --> 00:27:40 at the development in those hives.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:46 If, if I have the minimal number six frames of bees in both my bottom box
00:27:46 --> 00:27:53 and my top box, if I, if that criteria is met, then I can proceed forward to
00:27:53 --> 00:27:58 putting a double screen dividing board between them and then whichever box
00:27:58 --> 00:28:02 does not have a queen, the queen in it, they'll make emergency cells and
00:28:02 --> 00:28:06 and then I can then Make a basically a walk away split, but it's controlled
00:28:07 --> 00:28:08 because now I have queen cells in it.
00:28:08 --> 00:28:13 I also use swarm cells to do make splits.
00:28:13 --> 00:28:16 So if I'm, when I go into the hive and I've got swarm cells in it, I'll
00:28:16 --> 00:28:20 cut the swarm cells out and make the split right then and there and take
00:28:20 --> 00:28:24 the swarm cells and apply them into the box that doesn't have the queen
00:28:25 --> 00:28:26 and make my split right then and there.
00:28:26 --> 00:28:34 My, my whole focus of doing this so early in the year is because by March 15th,
00:28:34 --> 00:28:39 which is now you get, I have four weeks really to do this splitting by March 15th.
00:28:39 --> 00:28:44 I need to be finished my splits and which somehow aren't even
00:28:44 --> 00:28:46 going to be big enough to split.
00:28:46 --> 00:28:51 So there's some of them that won't be, but I mark all these, but the ones that are
00:28:51 --> 00:28:52 split, the reason I need to split them.
00:28:53 --> 00:29:00 is because our first major nectar flow is going to be in May.
00:29:00 --> 00:29:03 So if I'm in March, so that's eight weeks.
00:29:03 --> 00:29:06 So in eight weeks, you have basically have three brood cycles.
00:29:06 --> 00:29:12 So in three brood cycles, now you're able to build up the number of bees
00:29:12 --> 00:29:17 in that box to then create, begin to create that surplus of honey.
00:29:18 --> 00:29:20 You're not going to get a surplus honey if you don't have the bees.
00:29:21 --> 00:29:24 To get the bees, you have to build, get them to build up as
00:29:24 --> 00:29:29 quickly as possible, which is why I, Do it as early as, as I do.
00:29:30 --> 00:29:35 And, and it's, it's one of the, the aspects of, of producing
00:29:35 --> 00:29:39 honey that many, many, many beekeepers aren't, aren't aware of.
00:29:40 --> 00:29:47 The, the idea of, it's all about timing and the window to make that surplus honey.
00:29:47 --> 00:29:50 Not, not honey for them to survive through the year.
00:29:50 --> 00:29:54 That surplus honey for you to create a surplus of honey.
00:29:55 --> 00:29:59 You have to have an army of bees to create that, that surplus.
00:29:59 --> 00:30:01 And so that's, that's what I do.
00:30:01 --> 00:30:06 I, that's my reasoning behind splits, early splits, getting the hives
00:30:06 --> 00:30:14 ready and, and growing our apiaries so that by, by beginning of May, I'm
00:30:14 --> 00:30:18 already got my third honey super, my, my honey super is on the box.
00:30:18 --> 00:30:21 By May 1st, I got my honey supers out.
00:30:22 --> 00:30:22 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
00:30:22 --> 00:30:25 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: And so I have all of May and all of June.
00:30:25 --> 00:30:28 So it's eight weeks to collect surplus honey.
00:30:29 --> 00:30:29 And
00:30:29 --> 00:30:30 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: And you're,
00:30:30 --> 00:30:30 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: go ahead.
00:30:31 --> 00:30:33 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: you're able to collect surplus honey on those
00:30:33 --> 00:30:34 splits you made?
00:30:34 --> 00:30:34 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
00:30:35 --> 00:30:40 Generally, generally the, the new queen, no, but on the old queen, yes.
00:30:40 --> 00:30:40 Because
00:30:41 --> 00:30:42 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah.
00:30:42 --> 00:30:45 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: and the reason for that, I'm not saying that
00:30:45 --> 00:30:46 you don't get them off the new queen.
00:30:47 --> 00:30:55 But genetics plays a big role in this in that when, when I do my splits In
00:30:55 --> 00:31:00 say, middle of February we'll just say by March, I'm finished my splits.
00:31:00 --> 00:31:08 So if I have an emergency cell or queen cell in that box, from the time that
00:31:08 --> 00:31:16 cell is laid to the time her first eggs hatch out, it's 40 days, 40 days.
00:31:17 --> 00:31:19 That's four or five weeks.
00:31:19 --> 00:31:21 So five weeks is.
00:31:21 --> 00:31:22 A big deal.
00:31:22 --> 00:31:23 That's your honey season.
00:31:23 --> 00:31:24 Five weeks.
00:31:24 --> 00:31:30 So unless you get these new queens that are really with genetics that can lay,
00:31:30 --> 00:31:35 they can lay right from the get go, they don't catch up with the old queens.
00:31:35 --> 00:31:39 The old queens are laying at 2, 000 eggs every, every day.
00:31:39 --> 00:31:45 And so they're by, by beginning of May, you got 20, 000 bees in your box.
00:31:46 --> 00:31:49 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Do you ever take any of that brood to level some
00:31:49 --> 00:31:51 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Now, that's beekeeping.
00:31:51 --> 00:31:52 That's beekeeping.
00:31:52 --> 00:31:53 I don't do beekeeping.
00:31:54 --> 00:31:57 interested in getting honey and that's it.
00:31:57 --> 00:31:59 I don't, I don't manipulate hives.
00:31:59 --> 00:32:02 I don't, if a hive is struggling, that's their problem.
00:32:02 --> 00:32:03 It's not my
00:32:03 --> 00:32:03 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
00:32:03 --> 00:32:05 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: And, and I just soon had those
00:32:05 --> 00:32:07 genetics not in our field.
00:32:07 --> 00:32:08 So it's all right.
00:32:08 --> 00:32:14 It's, I'm okay with bees not making it because I've always gotten more
00:32:14 --> 00:32:18 and the genetics that, that wind up being in our apiaries, those
00:32:18 --> 00:32:20 are the genetics I want anyway.
00:32:20 --> 00:32:21 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: right.
00:32:21 --> 00:32:21 Yeah.
00:32:21 --> 00:32:28 Yeah, so I'm pretty sure You've answered this question by your previous answer
00:32:29 --> 00:32:32 Because it's probably gonna be too much beekeeping and not propagating the
00:32:32 --> 00:32:37 genetics you want But you're not going into hives and replacing queens then.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:37 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: no.
00:32:37 --> 00:32:38 If.
00:32:38 --> 00:32:44 If, if something should happen to that queen, the bees have got to
00:32:44 --> 00:32:45 fix the problem, because I'm not.
00:32:45 --> 00:32:46 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah
00:32:46 --> 00:32:48 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I'm not going to fix the problem.
00:32:48 --> 00:32:53 And, and so, you know, again, it goes into mite control.
00:32:53 --> 00:32:56 Well, you know, if the mites, if the mites are there, well, the bees
00:32:56 --> 00:32:59 better be able to handle it, or not.
00:32:59 --> 00:33:01 And then the same thing with beetles, you know, the beetles are
00:33:01 --> 00:33:03 there, they can't handle it, okay.
00:33:04 --> 00:33:09 But it's, I'm not, I'm, I would not recommend my method
00:33:09 --> 00:33:11 of keeping bees to anybody.
00:33:11 --> 00:33:12 It works for me.
00:33:12 --> 00:33:15 You know, I, I, I'm a big believer.
00:33:15 --> 00:33:21 If, if you need to treat your bees in order for them to survive, treat them.
00:33:21 --> 00:33:23 But I'm not going to do that.
00:33:24 --> 00:33:24 I'm not.
00:33:26 --> 00:33:26 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Right.
00:33:27 --> 00:33:29 It's very interesting to me.
00:33:30 --> 00:33:34 So, one thing beyond the splits, you talk about putting out swarm traps.
00:33:34 --> 00:33:35 So, that's increasing.
00:33:36 --> 00:33:38 What kind of swarm traps are you using?
00:33:38 --> 00:33:40 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I generally use a 10 frame bee
00:33:40 --> 00:33:43 box because yeah, it's yeah.
00:33:43 --> 00:33:45 because then that way I don't, I don't have to do anything.
00:33:45 --> 00:33:47 I just go get the box, bring it back, set it up.
00:33:48 --> 00:33:49 I'm done.
00:33:49 --> 00:33:51 I'm a very hands off guy.
00:33:51 --> 00:33:56 I have lots and lots and lots of old equipment, old brood comb.
00:33:57 --> 00:34:02 So all this, I have the, the right things to attract swarms.
00:34:02 --> 00:34:07 And so I set it out and I don't have any problems catching swarms because
00:34:07 --> 00:34:10 I, and I also know where to set traps.
00:34:10 --> 00:34:11 I've been doing it.
00:34:11 --> 00:34:14 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: are, are you setting those traps with a full box of
00:34:14 --> 00:34:15 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I sure am.
00:34:16 --> 00:34:19 So, and So, there it's all drawn out old brood cone.
00:34:20 --> 00:34:24 I use they, they have to be, I found you, you really need to
00:34:24 --> 00:34:28 have a solid bottom on that box.
00:34:28 --> 00:34:31 And then I, I, I use an attractant.
00:34:31 --> 00:34:33 Mostly I use lemongrass oil.
00:34:33 --> 00:34:34 To, to track it.
00:34:34 --> 00:34:38 You know, they have lots of swarm lures out there.
00:34:38 --> 00:34:41 Swarm commanders, swarm there's, there's a bunch of them out There
00:34:42 --> 00:34:42 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: there
00:34:42 --> 00:34:45 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: and but lemongrass arl has
00:34:45 --> 00:34:46 always, always worked well for me.
00:34:47 --> 00:34:51 And I've got a bunch of videos showing me setting traps.
00:34:51 --> 00:34:55 I got, I got plenty of videos showing the stuff I do.
00:34:55 --> 00:34:57 I got plenty of them.
00:34:58 --> 00:35:00 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: on, on those videos.
00:35:00 --> 00:35:03 And just in real life, how high are you setting them off the ground?
00:35:03 --> 00:35:06 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: set them just about chest high because I
00:35:06 --> 00:35:08 don't want to work anything over my head.
00:35:08 --> 00:35:08 it's,
00:35:08 --> 00:35:11 it's, this, this is, that's all I need to be.
00:35:11 --> 00:35:14 And I, because they're heavy, by the time I pull them out, those
00:35:14 --> 00:35:16 boxes could weigh 40 pounds.
00:35:17 --> 00:35:20 And, and I don't want to be 40 pounds like this.
00:35:20 --> 00:35:22 I'd rather, you know, I don't want it up here.
00:35:22 --> 00:35:23 I want it down here.
00:35:24 --> 00:35:26 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Right, exactly, yeah.
00:35:28 --> 00:35:35 So one thing when I was prepping for the, the episode and thinking about making
00:35:35 --> 00:35:41 splits, I really was thinking, well, what size hives are you using for those splits?
00:35:41 --> 00:35:45 But it sounds like you're just, everything is 10 frame deeps,
00:35:45 --> 00:35:47 and you're doing a walkaway
00:35:47 --> 00:35:49 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Well, it's, it's, it's, it's a
00:35:49 --> 00:35:53 modified walkway because I use a double screen dividing board.
00:35:53 --> 00:35:53 And
00:35:54 --> 00:35:54 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: using a double
00:35:55 --> 00:35:55 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: right.
00:35:55 --> 00:36:00 So what all that is, it's just a three quarter inch piece of plywood with screen.
00:36:01 --> 00:36:03 I use mosquito screen on both sides of it.
00:36:03 --> 00:36:07 And then on one end of it, there's an entrance.
00:36:07 --> 00:36:11 So that entrance is placed the opposite entrance of where
00:36:12 --> 00:36:13 the box on the bottom is.
00:36:13 --> 00:36:15 And you just take that screen, you put it between.
00:36:15 --> 00:36:17 I don't even look for the queen.
00:36:17 --> 00:36:20 I don't, I just, all I do is I open up that box.
00:36:20 --> 00:36:24 If I've got six frames of bees, I'm going to put that, that double board,
00:36:24 --> 00:36:28 double screen dividing board in between the box and set the top box on it.
00:36:29 --> 00:36:33 90 percent of the time the queen is going to be in the top box.
00:36:34 --> 00:36:34 So,
00:36:35 --> 00:36:38 She, she's at that, at that time of year, February, March.
00:36:38 --> 00:36:43 She's traveling between the top box and the bottom box lay in.
00:36:43 --> 00:36:51 So you have to have eggs young enough in the box that doesn't have the queen
00:36:51 --> 00:36:53 for them to make emergency cells.
00:36:54 --> 00:36:56 And generally.
00:36:57 --> 00:37:02 That's the case that, that you'll, you'll, you'll find the queen cells.
00:37:02 --> 00:37:07 Now, sometimes you guess wrong and the queen was in the bottom, not in the top.
00:37:07 --> 00:37:09 Well, all I do is I just rotate the boxes again.
00:37:09 --> 00:37:13 I just, cause I want to put my queen up in the top because I want to move
00:37:13 --> 00:37:16 her off of that original hive stand.
00:37:17 --> 00:37:17 And the reason,
00:37:18 --> 00:37:20 the reason I want to move her away.
00:37:20 --> 00:37:23 is it's, it's future swarm prevention.
00:37:23 --> 00:37:28 Every time I, I do anything with the queen, the box with the queen in it,
00:37:28 --> 00:37:31 is to rob her of her worker bees.
00:37:31 --> 00:37:35 Because if, if I don't rob her from her worker bees, she's going to grow so fast
00:37:35 --> 00:37:37 I can't keep up and she's going to swarm.
00:37:37 --> 00:37:41 So I steal from her as often as I can.
00:37:41 --> 00:37:47 And so when I, When I put that dividing board in there initially, whatever
00:37:47 --> 00:37:51 worker bees were in that top box with the queen, when they come out of that
00:37:51 --> 00:37:54 rear of the box, they're going to go around to the front of the box.
00:37:54 --> 00:37:56 They're going to go to the bottom box.
00:37:56 --> 00:38:00 So, you wind up with just hive bees in the top box initially.
00:38:01 --> 00:38:05 Well, pretty soon, those hive bees will become worker bees, and by the, you know,
00:38:05 --> 00:38:12 the two weeks time that the box with the queen on the top is, is sitting there.
00:38:12 --> 00:38:13 They become worker bees.
00:38:13 --> 00:38:17 And then when I go and actually make the split, and I move that top
00:38:17 --> 00:38:20 box off, all those worker bees are going to come back to that top box.
00:38:20 --> 00:38:25 So I always throw another box when I do the split, move the queen off, I
00:38:25 --> 00:38:29 add another super to the bottom box, put a stick in it, and all the high the
00:38:29 --> 00:38:33 worker bees We'll come back to the back of the entrance and then after two or
00:38:33 --> 00:38:36 three days, I'll take that stick out and now they have to go up to the front.
00:38:37 --> 00:38:38 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, okay.
00:38:38 --> 00:38:43 Yeah, so I've never used a double screen box board I've seen them.
00:38:44 --> 00:38:47 So 3 quarter inch
00:38:47 --> 00:38:50 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: So I, you know, this is, this is one of the
00:38:50 --> 00:38:52 only things I can say I really teach.
00:38:52 --> 00:38:52 on
00:38:53 --> 00:38:53 keys.
00:38:54 --> 00:38:59 And, and I every year I make videos on the double screen divine board.
00:39:00 --> 00:39:04 In fact, when, when I went to Oklahoma, I spoke on the double screen divide.
00:39:04 --> 00:39:09 I talk about the double screen divine board because It is by far
00:39:10 --> 00:39:17 the simplest way to make a split that a beginning beekeeper can do.
00:39:18 --> 00:39:23 As long as the criteria of enough bees in both boxes are there,
00:39:23 --> 00:39:24 you can put this board in there.
00:39:25 --> 00:39:29 And the chances are very good that you're going to have the box, the bottom
00:39:29 --> 00:39:31 box that doesn't have the queen in it.
00:39:31 --> 00:39:34 They're going to develop emergency queen cells in that box.
00:39:34 --> 00:39:37 And then once you come back and find them, then you can move your old
00:39:37 --> 00:39:39 queen off and you've done your split.
00:39:39 --> 00:39:41 And now you're moving forward.
00:39:42 --> 00:39:43 It's the simplest way.
00:39:43 --> 00:39:46 There's no going in your hive and looking for your queen, looking
00:39:46 --> 00:39:48 for brood, looking for pollen.
00:39:48 --> 00:39:52 Look, you know, there's nothing wrong with doing that.
00:39:52 --> 00:39:54 If that's how you want to do it, that's fine.
00:39:55 --> 00:39:57 Me, I want to do it the fastest, easiest way.
00:39:57 --> 00:40:06 I have been using a double screen dividing board since 2009, I think.
00:40:06 --> 00:40:07 And
00:40:07 --> 00:40:12 it, it, it, has been the most successful way and easiest way of doing it.
00:40:13 --> 00:40:18 I, I know last year I did over 90 splits.
00:40:18 --> 00:40:21 And I had 100 percent success in making
00:40:21 --> 00:40:22 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
00:40:22 --> 00:40:22 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: it.
00:40:22 --> 00:40:28 It is very, very, very efficient at making queen, new queens.
00:40:30 --> 00:40:32 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: so you put the board on you wait two weeks and
00:40:32 --> 00:40:32 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: yet.
00:40:33 --> 00:40:37 So you put the board in and then you have to go back within seven to 10 days.
00:40:37 --> 00:40:38 You have to go back.
00:40:38 --> 00:40:41 to see if they have emergency cells drawing out.
00:40:42 --> 00:40:45 And if they have the emergency cells drawn out at that point,
00:40:46 --> 00:40:49 you can then take the old queen and move her off because it's it's
00:40:49 --> 00:40:50 pointless.
00:40:50 --> 00:40:52 Keep her on there anymore.
00:40:52 --> 00:40:54 And you move her off.
00:40:54 --> 00:40:59 and add another box, and then those bees, they're going to have a new queen.
00:41:00 --> 00:41:03 And, and I always want to have at least three emergency cells
00:41:03 --> 00:41:07 in that box because not all of them are going to be successful.
00:41:08 --> 00:41:11 The first queen that comes out, she's going to kill the other ones.
00:41:11 --> 00:41:18 Now, I also, and I said before, when I, when I crack those two boxes to do my
00:41:18 --> 00:41:23 splits, if I have swarm cells in there already, I cut those swarm cells out.
00:41:24 --> 00:41:26 And, and I show on my videos how I do that.
00:41:27 --> 00:41:32 And, and I'll cut them out and I'll go in that same box below and I'll
00:41:32 --> 00:41:36 go through there and I'll scrape off a little bit of comb and put
00:41:36 --> 00:41:40 those swarm cells in there and they look just like a superseding cell.
00:41:40 --> 00:41:40 It's
00:41:41 --> 00:41:44 like, and then I make the split right then and there.
00:41:44 --> 00:41:45 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: So, oh,
00:41:45 --> 00:41:46 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: And it's like, again, I'll
00:41:46 --> 00:41:48 put at least three of them.
00:41:48 --> 00:41:49 They have to have three in each one.
00:41:51 --> 00:41:51 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
00:41:51 --> 00:41:53 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: If you have more than three, that's okay.
00:41:54 --> 00:41:54 Minimally.
00:41:54 --> 00:41:56 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, but you gotta have that at
00:41:56 --> 00:41:56 least three
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: In
00:41:57 --> 00:41:57 my opinion.
00:41:57 --> 00:41:58 Yes.
00:41:59 --> 00:42:01 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Do, is the only time, is spring
00:42:01 --> 00:42:03 or really very early spring?
00:42:03 --> 00:42:04 Is that the only time you
00:42:04 --> 00:42:05 make splits?
00:42:05 --> 00:42:07 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Because otherwise they're, they're
00:42:07 --> 00:42:09 they're getting ready to do the honey.
00:42:10 --> 00:42:12 And then after the honey, I'm not worried about it.
00:42:12 --> 00:42:18 They, they, I've got, I go and pull my honey supers generally
00:42:18 --> 00:42:23 at the end of June and I harvest around around the fourth of July.
00:42:23 --> 00:42:27 And at that point most of our boxes are back down to two boxes.
00:42:28 --> 00:42:32 Some of them have three because the, the cone wasn't drawn out or wasn't,
00:42:32 --> 00:42:37 the honey wasn't kept, whatever reason, but for whatever boxes are out in the
00:42:37 --> 00:42:42 field by December I'll go and pull those back, get them off of there.
00:42:42 --> 00:42:47 And harvest whatever honey that is, because by December, beginning of
00:42:47 --> 00:42:51 December, I want all of our hives back to two boxes, because I'm
00:42:51 --> 00:42:54 already preparing for the next year.
00:42:55 --> 00:42:58 The cycle is, is very, very predictable.
00:42:59 --> 00:43:00 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yes.
00:43:00 --> 00:43:00 Yeah.
00:43:01 --> 00:43:03 Excellent conversation, Mr.
00:43:03 --> 00:43:07 Ed, but we are going to transition to our next speaker.
00:43:07 --> 00:43:09 I don't know why I say transition.
00:43:09 --> 00:43:10 I, I need to figure out a new word.
00:43:10 --> 00:43:11 I'm going to have to buy a Thethoris.
00:43:12 --> 00:43:13 We're going to move to our famous four
00:43:13 --> 00:43:14 questions.
00:43:15 --> 00:43:16 And famous four questions
00:43:16 --> 00:43:18 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: And so who, who came up with
00:43:18 --> 00:43:19 these famous four questions?
00:43:20 --> 00:43:22 Well,
00:43:22 --> 00:43:25 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: I don't, used to, I still, I listened
00:43:25 --> 00:43:28 to the BiggerPockets podcast.
00:43:28 --> 00:43:33 So, They had on one of their podcasts, the famous four section, famous
00:43:33 --> 00:43:34 four, same four questions they ask.
00:43:35 --> 00:43:39 So when I started my other podcast, the Grazing Grass Podcast, I was
00:43:39 --> 00:43:46 like, I love that ending with the same four questions or type of questions.
00:43:46 --> 00:43:50 So, I, I came up with three questions for the grazing grass.
00:43:50 --> 00:43:52 I'm like, what's that fourth question?
00:43:52 --> 00:43:53 I finally figured it out.
00:43:54 --> 00:43:58 And so every episode of the Grazing Grass, we wrap up with the famous four.
00:43:59 --> 00:44:03 So I took those questions and modified them for the Apiary Chronicles.
00:44:04 --> 00:44:07 And it, it just, I, I really enjoy the answers to them.
00:44:07 --> 00:44:10 It, it introduces people to new resources.
00:44:11 --> 00:44:15 The one that was the last one was your tool and we'll go over them in
00:44:15 --> 00:44:19 just a minute, but the tool it was kind of a throwaway question for me.
00:44:19 --> 00:44:22 I just, I just was convinced I needed four.
00:44:22 --> 00:44:25 It's actually one of my favorite questions because you never know
00:44:25 --> 00:44:26 what people's going to answer.
00:44:27 --> 00:44:31 And, the answers run the gamut.
00:44:31 --> 00:44:36 And it's very interesting and then advice is always good in finding out from others.
00:44:36 --> 00:44:39 finding where people can find out more information.
00:44:39 --> 00:44:40 So I really like that.
00:44:40 --> 00:44:42 So we're continuing on here.
00:44:42 --> 00:44:45 And I continue to call it the Famous Four.
00:44:45 --> 00:44:49 It may not be famous outside this little studio right here, but it's famous.
00:44:51 --> 00:44:52 Mr.
00:44:52 --> 00:44:55 Ed, our first question is what's your favorite beekeeping
00:44:55 --> 00:44:56 related book or resource?
00:44:57 --> 00:45:01 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I would have to say my favorite because
00:45:01 --> 00:45:04 I've never, I've never read anything.
00:45:05 --> 00:45:07 I'm a hands on kind of guy.
00:45:07 --> 00:45:14 I never, my whole life has been one not of learning from a book.
00:45:14 --> 00:45:17 It's always been a hands on operation.
00:45:17 --> 00:45:24 So, the biggest resource that, that I can say that I've learned
00:45:24 --> 00:45:29 from is actually doing hive removals, going to people's houses
00:45:29 --> 00:45:30 and, and removing hives.
00:45:31 --> 00:45:39 That has by far shown me more about bee behavior than any other thing.
00:45:40 --> 00:45:46 And I, I, use what I have learned in the field in my understanding
00:45:47 --> 00:45:50 of how bees operate all the time.
00:45:50 --> 00:45:54 So this, this is for me, that is for sure the best tool that I have.
00:45:54 --> 00:45:58 Now, there's other great tools, which is, you know, I say YouTube is a
00:45:58 --> 00:46:04 great tool because there's all of this information out there, readily out there.
00:46:04 --> 00:46:07 It's just, you know, you have to be very cautious with what you're doing.
00:46:07 --> 00:46:14 on, on the filtering of, of, of what you watch because keeping bees in the north is
00:46:14 --> 00:46:16 not the same as keeping bees in the south.
00:46:16 --> 00:46:16 So,
00:46:16 --> 00:46:21 it's very area or specific and you, you, you need to be aware of that.
00:46:22 --> 00:46:30 However I think that many, many, many ideas can be tweaked to, to
00:46:30 --> 00:46:33 fit the individual beekeepers.
00:46:33 --> 00:46:35 And so YouTube is, is a great resource as well.
00:46:36 --> 00:46:38 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah.
00:46:39 --> 00:46:42 Our second question, what's your favorite tool for the apiary?
00:46:43 --> 00:46:47 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: I, I've, I've, our, our honey
00:46:48 --> 00:46:51 house and the tools I use in the honey house have to be my.
00:46:51 --> 00:46:56 my favorite tools because you know, every, everybody, well, I would
00:46:56 --> 00:47:00 say that, that, every beekeeper loves, you know, their hive tool.
00:47:00 --> 00:47:05 And, you know, how many, you probably got about 15, 20 of these things, right?
00:47:05 --> 00:47:06 So it's like,
00:47:06 --> 00:47:07 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, but they don't
00:47:07 --> 00:47:08 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: yeah, they, well, they disappear.
00:47:08 --> 00:47:09 I don't know, I don't
00:47:09 --> 00:47:10 know where they go.
00:47:11 --> 00:47:15 And, and so, you know, that's like, I don't go anywhere without
00:47:16 --> 00:47:18 a hive tool and, and my bee suit.
00:47:18 --> 00:47:24 But as far as a, a specific tool I, I can't say I have a favorite
00:47:24 --> 00:47:26 because I have so many favorites.
00:47:26 --> 00:47:33 Our our honey processing equipment we, we, we have a Dakota Gunness chain
00:47:33 --> 00:47:39 uncap where I can uncap two deep frames of, of honey in about four seconds in,
00:47:39 --> 00:47:41 in the top bottom and it's beautiful.
00:47:41 --> 00:47:43 The whole processing is, is.
00:47:44 --> 00:47:51 We, we can, we can process about 2000 pounds of hunting in about three hours.
00:47:51 --> 00:47:52 So it's, it's very quick.
00:47:53 --> 00:47:58 And so these tools that, that I've acquired over the, over the years make
00:47:58 --> 00:48:02 that job so much easier and pleasant.
00:48:03 --> 00:48:06 If I was to, if I was to recommend.
00:48:06 --> 00:48:13 One tool every beekeeper should have that would be a a I don't know what to say.
00:48:13 --> 00:48:17 It's, it's a hive lift, but it's using hydraulics, something that you can
00:48:17 --> 00:48:19 grab your honey super with.
00:48:19 --> 00:48:24 It's just like a, a, a a dolly, but it's got forks on it and it
00:48:24 --> 00:48:27 grabs your hive box, lifts it up, and then you can move it.
00:48:27 --> 00:48:28 You can move hives.
00:48:28 --> 00:48:32 You can, it's just so much more convenient.
00:48:32 --> 00:48:34 Then using a two man lift or
00:48:35 --> 00:48:38 has two people or doing, trying to move a hive by yourself.
00:48:39 --> 00:48:42 Now, if I have to move a hive, I'm going to grab my hive lift and move a hive.
00:48:42 --> 00:48:46 It is by far, and I just got one this year.
00:48:46 --> 00:48:50 And it, it, it has radically changed the way I harvest honey.
00:48:51 --> 00:48:52 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh very good.
00:48:54 --> 00:48:57 Our third question, what would you tell someone just getting started
00:48:57 --> 00:48:58 on their beekeeping journey?
00:48:59 --> 00:49:01 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: You know, if.
00:49:03 --> 00:49:08 If there was that question, what would I think would be the
00:49:08 --> 00:49:11 best thing to, to, to recommend?
00:49:11 --> 00:49:13 And, and is that what the question is?
00:49:14 --> 00:49:16 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, what would you tell someone just getting started?
00:49:16 --> 00:49:17 What would you?
00:49:18 --> 00:49:21 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: You know, I, I always stand by the
00:49:21 --> 00:49:27 fact that particularly for beginning beekeepers, that they should find a
00:49:27 --> 00:49:30 bee club in their area and join it.
00:49:30 --> 00:49:31 That, that.
00:49:33 --> 00:49:39 Local beekeepers being associated with beekeepers in the area you live with is
00:49:39 --> 00:49:44 going to help you out the most because there's always a possible possibility
00:49:44 --> 00:49:50 of Becoming you know, somebody mentoring you finding a mentor and, and, then
00:49:50 --> 00:49:57 you actually are learning to keep bees in the exact area that you are in.
00:49:57 --> 00:50:00 And so there's all kinds of ways of tweaking.
00:50:00 --> 00:50:06 And so these beekeepers that have experience in these clubs, they, they
00:50:06 --> 00:50:11 are very much exposed to these ideas and they, they, they're invaluable.
00:50:12 --> 00:50:14 Resource for beginning beekeepers.
00:50:15 --> 00:50:18 So yes, find a bee club in your area and, and join it.
00:50:19 --> 00:50:26 And the, the one, the one other thing that I, I, I would say to, to beginning
00:50:26 --> 00:50:34 beekeepers is that you Never Never forget the reason why you decide to become a
00:50:34 --> 00:50:41 beekeeper and that the the first thing that it may not be the very, very first
00:50:41 --> 00:50:47 thing, but associated with the very first thing is that you do it because it's fun.
00:50:49 --> 00:50:53 It's important, it's, it's paramount that the idea of
00:50:53 --> 00:50:58 keeping bees be fun all the time.
00:50:58 --> 00:51:02 'cause when it becomes not fun, you're not gonna be a beekeeper.
00:51:02 --> 00:51:09 So whatever whatever you need to do to sustain that initial desire of what
00:51:09 --> 00:51:15 you saw as, as a, a aspect of fun that should be nurtured and, and developed
00:51:16 --> 00:51:17 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Excellent advice there.
00:51:17 --> 00:51:20 I love the groups.
00:51:20 --> 00:51:25 I, I go to one that's about an hour away and I say I go.
00:51:25 --> 00:51:26 I haven't been in a year.
00:51:27 --> 00:51:29 I just tell my wife, I gotta get back going to it.
00:51:29 --> 00:51:35 And but, In regen ag, or regenative ag, I wish we had the same thing and we don't.
00:51:35 --> 00:51:40 I was talking to some, some fellow regenative farmers in my area, I'm like,
00:51:40 --> 00:51:42 we need to meet once a month just to
00:51:42 --> 00:51:43 talk.
00:51:43 --> 00:51:47 I really love that aspect of beekeeping and the groups all over the country.
00:51:47 --> 00:51:50 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: it's, it's you know, we in, in our
00:51:50 --> 00:51:55 area, we actually have two bee clubs and, and I, I, I don't, I don't, I go
00:51:55 --> 00:51:59 to bed early every night, so I don't like staying up late, and, and so I try
00:51:59 --> 00:52:00 to make these meetings occasionally.
00:52:01 --> 00:52:05 But we have one in my neighborhood and one 30 miles away, and I go to
00:52:05 --> 00:52:10 both of them, but all the, all the, the, the, the beekeepers in them,
00:52:11 --> 00:52:16 you will find it's a very close family, especially if you go to, if
00:52:16 --> 00:52:18 you're very faithful to the Bee club.
00:52:18 --> 00:52:22 You become it, it becomes like an extended family.
00:52:22 --> 00:52:23 It's, it's, it's, it's incredible.
00:52:23 --> 00:52:27 And, and then the, the, the, the friendships that develop from
00:52:27 --> 00:52:31 it as well as the knowledge that is gleaned from that friendship.
00:52:31 --> 00:52:32 It's.
00:52:33 --> 00:52:35 It is probably the best advice that I can give.
00:52:35 --> 00:52:36 Join a bee club.
00:52:37 --> 00:52:38 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Very good.
00:52:38 --> 00:52:39 And lastly, Mr.
00:52:39 --> 00:52:41 Ed, where can others find out more about you?
00:52:42 --> 00:52:44 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Well, anytime you come visit St.
00:52:44 --> 00:52:46 Joseph Abbey, I'm here.
00:52:47 --> 00:52:52 For those that aren't able to come make a visit at the Abbey I have a
00:52:52 --> 00:52:55 YouTube channel and that's all I have.
00:52:55 --> 00:52:55 I don't do Facebook.
00:52:56 --> 00:52:58 I don't do Instagram, Twitter.
00:52:58 --> 00:52:59 I don't do any of that.
00:52:59 --> 00:53:02 I'm very faithful to my YouTube channel.
00:53:02 --> 00:53:05 And I answer all my comments.
00:53:05 --> 00:53:10 So go to my YouTube channel, Jeff Harchoff Bees, and sign
00:53:10 --> 00:53:11 up, subscribe, hit the bell,
00:53:12 --> 00:53:13 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very
00:53:13 --> 00:53:13 good.
00:53:13 --> 00:53:14 Very good.
00:53:14 --> 00:53:14 We'll put a link
00:53:15 --> 00:53:15 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, great.
00:53:15 --> 00:53:16 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: in our show notes.
00:53:17 --> 00:53:18 And, Mr.
00:53:18 --> 00:53:20 Ed, we really appreciate you coming on and
00:53:20 --> 00:53:21 squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, my pleasure.
00:53:21 --> 00:53:21 My pleasure.
00:53:21 --> 00:53:23 Thank you for, for the invite.
00:53:23 --> 00:53:25 I'm, I'm looking forward to seeing what this thing looks
00:53:25 --> 00:53:27 like when you, when you post it.
00:53:28 --> 00:53:29 cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Wonderful.
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