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.