Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Beekeeping at FiveApple

 Did you know honey bees are able to detect lung cancer by smell? Today I share that amazing study as well as more about the scents our bees use to communicate vital info: food! danger! home! here it is! Plus updates on the bee yards, black jar honey contest, new requeening presentation, Bee Expo 2027 and more.

Links mentioned in this episode:

MSU researchers discover honeybees can detect lung cancer https://msutoday.msu.edu/news/2024/06/msu-researchers-discover-honeybees-can-detect-lung-cancer

Smells - by Kevin Cheatham-McFadden in Bee Culture https://beeculture.com/smells-2/

Not a subscriber to Bee Culture yet? https://simplecirc.com/subscribe/bee-culture

North American Honey Bee Expo, Louisville KY Jan 7-9, 2027 https://www.nahbexpo.com/

Speaker Info: https://www.nahbexpo.com/speakers

wishing you all a wonderful October! Leigh

 

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments. • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • DMs so I can answer your questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you keeping the show going and advert-free! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh has spent the last 16 years keeping a self-sustaining hobby apiary. She enjoys helping fellow beekeepers get off the purchased-package treadmill by introducing backyard queen-rearing via specialty splits and alternatives to non-stop chemical treatments. After a decade and a half of maintaining fully treatment-free hives, Leigh now practices a hybrid approach that blends Varroa-resistant genetics with organic tools for thriving bees and minimal use of treatments. She enjoys sharing strategies with bee clubs across the country via zoom, speaking on specialty splits (so you never have to buy a package again), simple frame-based queen rearing, requeening approaches and ways to increase VSH genetics in your own backyard. Leigh’s podcast Beekeeping at Five Apple Farm—with over 300K downloads— makes these and other topics available free, anytime.

The light and the leaves are both saying Autumn has started. Our winter bees are already emerging and there are things we can do to give them their best chance. In today's episode I'm talking about the things I'm getting done to get ready for the bees journey through Winter.

kind regards to you all in every kind of weather,

Leigh

 

Also: for my past episode on Condensing Hives vs Ventilating Hives see Ep 122

*Ep 122: New Insulation Setup and The "Condensing Hive"*

A deeper dive into the why and how of the insulation setup I started using several years ago, the condensing-hive concept. For the patrons, find the links to everything mentioned in the show, and the video I made for you.

Bill Hesbach's website, with links to his articles etc

https://www.wingdancehoney.com/about

 

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

• In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh has spent the last 16 years keeping a self-sustaining hobby apiary. She enjoys helping fellow beekeepers get off the purchased-package treadmill by introducing backyard queen-rearing via specialty splits and alternatives to non-stop chemical treatments. After sixteen years maintaining fully treatment-free hives, Leigh now practices a hybrid approach that blends Varroa-resistant genetics with organic tools for thriving bees and minimal use of treatments. She enjoys sharing strategies with bee clubs across the country via zoom, speaking on specialty splits (so you never have to buy a package again), simple frame-based queen rearing, requeening approaches and ways to increase VSH genetics in your own backyard. Leigh’s podcast Beekeeping at Five Apple—with over 300K downloads— makes these and other topics available free, anytime.

Found a research article that was food for thought on how warmer autumns may be having effects on our bees that aren't so good: creating smaller late-winter clusters by increased wear and tear on the precious winter bees who should not be as active as the temps drive them to be. But also, it goes into novel solutions (well, not novel in Canada but novel in more Southern climes) to help. Do backyard beekeepers have any options to help? I do some thinking aloud about all that and pondering on an unexpected potential benefit of insulation perhaps?

Here is the original study if you take those straight-up-no-chaser (looking at you Susan S! ;-) : https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-55327-8

For a reader friendly overview that will help you then dive into the research paper: https://news.wsu.edu/press-release/2024/03/25/honey-bees-at-risk-for-colony-collapse-from-longer-warmer-fall-seasons/

Also: for my past episode on Condensing Hives vs Ventilating Hives see Ep 122

*Ep 122: New Insulation Setup and The "Condensing Hive"*

A deeper dive into the why and how of the insulation setup I started using several years ago, the condensing-hive concept. For the patrons, find the links to everything mentioned in the show, and the video I made for .

 

Wishing you all a wonderful week and let me know if there are topics about bees you have been wondering about and it's a great excuse for me to do a geek deep dive into research on it! —kind regards, Leigh

 

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

• In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, and organic to chemical-free methods. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

Ep165: Bee Radio Reader "Reflections on the Past Seasons" by Richard Wahl (Off the Wahl Beekeeping Column, Nov 2025. Read by permission of Bee Culture magazine. )

Today it's a radio reader episode on learning to reflect on the past in a way that makes it useful for the future. As well as a bit of clarification on the last episode.

Link to the article: https://beeculture.com/off-the-wahl-beekeeping-46/

Link to another good on in the same issue: https://beeculture.com/minding-your-bees-and-cues-50/ Becky Masterman & Bridget Mendel on the fascinating Nasonov gland in "Come Hither."

Both full articles are available free online. And while you are there you can get access to the whole archive with a digital subscription for as low as $24. https://simplecirc.com/subscribe/bee-culture

Wishing you all a wonderful week and sure hope I'll get to meet a lot of you at the 2027 North American Honey Bee Expo (Louisville, Kentucky Jan 7-9) where I'm delighted to be a speaker for one of their smaller venue "Community Series" talks. I'll likely be talking about specialty splits (but of course!) ;-)

kind regards, Leigh

 

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

• In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, and organic to chemical-free methods. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

[Last Thursday Apple podcasts had an outage and the episode didn't show up as a new one in your feed. Here it is again for the Apple folks -- just a duplicate of last weeks episode that was missing for many! --Leigh]

Listeners,

This has been a test year in my bee yards, to see if my old treatment-free methods that worked so well for 16 years in an isolated bee yard would hold up in areas with more beekeepers. Answer: Nope.

[Deep sigh and regroup. ]

I now feel so lucky to have learned a hybrid system that still allows me to work on my long term project of stock selection towards mite resistance–while also utilizing organic acids for mite clean up in colonies that don't make the cut, with a requeen afterwards with the better genetics. Back on track!

Thank you to queen breeders Ryan Williamson, Ang Roell, Troy Hall , James Lee and YouTube legend Bob Binnie for helping me understand a system that allows for both. Thank you all so much for pioneering a method that gave me resolve to farmer up! I'm happy to have a plan and have put it underway.

in gratitude, Leigh

Thank you to the supporting Patrons. You make this podcast possible as well as keeping all of us from needing to listen to adverts! Thank you to Lisa N the newest podcast angel and thank you to Bev M, Anderson M, Greg K, Dan G, Donald F, and Kerri A for joining this community this summer! Welcome to you all!

And a special shout out to podcast angels Michael C and Will C, plus Jeff T, Deborah P, Chuck J, Bruce H and Blaine N for being with the podcast since it started in 2019! What a huge amount of gratitude I have for your continued support. It's thanks to you this podcast still exists.

 

 

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

• In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, and organic to chemical-free methods. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

This has been a test year in my bee yards, to see if my old treatment-free methods that worked so well for 16 years in an isolated bee yard would hold up in areas with more beekeepers. Answer: Nope.

[Deep sigh and regroup. ]

I now feel so lucky to have learned a hybrid system that still allows me to work on my long term project of stock selection towards mite resistance–while also utilizing organic acids for mite clean up in colonies that don't make the cut, with a requeen afterwards with the better genetics. Back on track!

Thank you to queen breeders Ryan Williamson, Ang Roell, Troy Hall , James Lee and YouTube legend Bob Binnie for helping me understand a system that allows for both. Thank you all so much for pioneering a method that gave me resolve to farmer up! I'm happy to have a plan and have put it underway.

in gratitude, Leigh

Thank you to the supporting Patrons. You make this podcast possible as well as keeping all of us from needing to listen to adverts! Thank you to Lisa N the newest podcast angel and thank you to Bev M, Anderson M, Greg K, Dan G, Donald F, and Kerri A for joining this community this summer! Welcome to you all!

And a special shout out to podcast angels Michael C and Will C, plus Jeff T, Deborah P, Chuck J, Bruce H and Blaine N for being with the podcast since it started in 2019! What a huge amount of gratitude I have for your continued support. It's thanks to you this podcast still exists.

 

 

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

• In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, and organic to chemical-free methods. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

Today it's about the bee's most awful behavior: ROBBING. I found a tip on reducing robbing while doing inspections and it works great!!

The PerfectBee.com website I mentioned. The article was from their email newsletter but here's a link to an article on robbing on their blog.

BetterBee's article on robbing and prevention

Rusty of HoneyBeeSuite.com on robbing and another post on preventing it.

May your season be blessedly free of robbing among your bees! kind regards, Leigh

_________________________

You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

• In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, and organic to chemical-free approaches. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

Today Episode:

• July bee yard update

• William's tips on honey harvest (see Williams letter here)

• Tip on making bee boxes last longer "painting with glue" — this whole presentation is well worth watching! ( YouTube Link)

• Invitation to see Julia Mahood present on drones (see below for info)

• Reminder to take care in the heat with electrolytes

• Thoughts on "Chasing Sourwood" and the impacts on stationary beekeepers (AR apiary law. See section 3B for the provision I mention.)

See LINKS and a copy of Williams letter here! (free and available to everyone)

Thank you to the patrons who keep this podcast available to all (and they also get extra goodies as a thank you for the support). Not a patron yet? Please join us at https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

July 28, 2026

July Monthly With Guest Speaker Julia Mahood / ToeCane Beekeepers

Julia Mahood is a Georgia Master Crafts Beekeeper who has been keeping bees since 2004. She is currently president of the Georgia Beekeepers Association.  She will discuss honey bee drone behavior, drone congregation areas, and why drones matter. Meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. with official business starting at 6:30. Meetings are held at Trinity Episcopal Church, 15 Hemlock Ave., Spruce Pine NC 28777.

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, and organic to chemical-free approaches. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

 

 

 

UBO, PKB, FKB, mite washes, Harbo assays... It's an alphabet soup out there of ways to test your bees for hygienic traits and resistance to varroa. You may be testing to find out when to apply mite treatments or a brood break to a colony and in that case a simple mite wash is usually enough. But you may be testing to find out your very best genetics you have to raise next years queens for your yards and in that case, you probably need need more information than a mite wash provides. Or do you?

Do these assays work, how reliably do they work and which one is the most reliable, if any? Ang Roell and Bi Kline of They Keep Bees are working to find out with a new NE SARE grant comparison study. Today Ang and I talk about the cornucopia of testing methods that each have their complications and limitations. We'll also find out what Ang and Bi will explore in this ongoing study. Plus, we chat bees, of course. :-) Hope you enjoy this weeks episode! kind regards, Leigh

The Study (read the full grant proposal and study design here)

In 2025 national honey bee losses exceeded 60% in commercial beekeeping operations. Miticide resistance was discovered in 100% of tested samples, highlighting an urgent need for biology-based strategies that reduce chemical dependence while strengthening colony resilience.

This project evaluates the reliability and heritability of four major hygienic behavior assays, in order to determine which methods best predict mite resistance and overwinter survival. We will compare assay performance in twelve breeder colonies (six selected, six controls) and their untreated F1 daughters. Across two seasons, all colonies will undergo standardized rounds of UBO, PKB, and FKB testing, as well as mite washes and Harbo assays. By analyzing correlations among assay scores, mite loads, reproductive mite presence, and overwinter survival, we will identify which tools reliably capture heritable Varroa-resistant traits and which factors influence assay consistency.

This project addresses a documented need for effective selection tools that help beekeepers identify and propagate Varroa-resistant stock. Results will be shared through a report, digital outreach, and a presentation at Cornell's Dyce Lab. A hands-on workshop at They Keep Bees will train beekeepers to practice each assay method. By providing evidence-based guidance to at least 100 beekeepers, the project aims to enable measurable improvements such as higher overwinter survival and reduced reliance on miticides.

Project objectives from proposal: Primary Research Questions

1. Do pin-killed brood (PKB), freeze-killed brood using liquid nitrogen (FKB), and unhealthy brood odor (UBO) assays provide predictive measures of heritable mite-resistant traits in F1 daughter queens?

2. Are these assays also predictive of overall colony mite loads and winter survival outcomes? Winter survival will be defined as survival from August of year 1 until March of year 2.

Thank you to the patrons who keep this podcast available to all (and they also get extra goodies as a thank you for the support). Not a patron yet? Please join us at https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

 

In this episode I share my own process for getting honey from the hives to the jars. It's quirky but it works for me and I'm hoping you might find ideas for your own process or just enjoy hearing how someone else does it. That's what I did when researching this episode!

For supporting patrons, I've also collected a few videos (with video summaries included)  you might enjoy and for newer beekeepers, a PDF with a list of tips and links that may help you figure out your own process. If you aren't a supporting patron yet, please join and find that post here: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple/posts/ep160-honey-162052074

 

 

__________________________

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

• In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, and organic to chemical-free approaches. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

So you have a caged mated queen and a colony that needs requeening, how to make that happen (so that your special queen actually survives the process!) is what we cover today!

As a thank-you, Patrons got this episode a day early and also get a bonus portion covering the vertical requeening methods that Ryan mentioned last episode plus tips and resources on introducing virgin queens. Supporting patrons keep this show on the air and keep it advertisement free! 

__________________________

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

Input on the podcast topics

Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show  please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Beekeeping at Five Apple — talk, tips, and how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the Blue Ridge mountains of Southern Appalachia.

Host Leigh Wilkerson brings sixteen years of hands-on experience from her self-sustaining apiary since 2010. The podcast explores colony health, natural bee biology, IPM from organic to chemical-free approaches. Episodes go deep on seasonal management, swarm control, queen rearing, hive biology, nutrition, and sustainable genetics. Designed for beekeepers ready to go beyond the basics, with episodes for newer beekeepers too.

Leigh is also a popular Zoom presenter for bee clubs and associations. Topics include specialty splits so you never buy a package again; requeening approaches; simple frame-based queen rearing;  alternative hives including Layens; building VSH genetics in your yard; and topics by request.

Something special today! This interview with Ryan Williamson of Sourwood Farm of Virginia has been the one where I learned the most. He is a full time beekeeper selling local nucs and honey, but who also specializes in offering VSH queens from tested breeders he raises himself.

We start off with how he got into the bee biz and just got to talking between beekeepers and ended up in full geek mode on tips and hacks for testing and introducing queens and much more. He is doing wonderful work and is a joy to get into conversation. Enjoy!

PS. Ryan is a frequent speaker at bee clubs and conferences. He is available by Zoom and in-person in some cases. I got a sneak preview of a couple of his talks and I'm going to be lobbying our club and state conference to book him as soon as possible. You can contact him at his website.

Find our more about Ryan, order queens, honey or this winter...hats (!) Ryan makes from the links below.

Home page: http://sourwoodfarm.com/

Buy Queens or Honey: https://sourwoodfarm.square.site/

Ryan's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SourwoodFarm

Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/sourwoodfarms 

-------------------

In case you missed it:

Ep157 More Springtime Tips

Ep156 Spring in the Bees! 

Ep 155 Interview with Colorado beekeeper and writer Tina Sebestyen

Ep 153 Interview with James Lee of SBGMI

⬆️ available wherever you listen to podcasts

Patron Exclusives:

Patron exclusive show notes on Ep 155 which includes link to the split notes compendium.

Links to Five Apple’s podcast on the Reverse Doolittle split on Patreon, with links to Tina’s how-to article as well as my own silly drawings of the process AND the link to the compendium of splits methods I teach (the handout when I speak to bee clubs)

---------------------------------

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen+ hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for sixteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Ep157  More Springtime Tips: Keeping bees in the boxes, avoid the honey dome, get more comb drawn, know if your hive is queenright or queenless. 

In case you missed it:

Ep156 Spring in the Bees! 

Ep 155 Interview with Colorado beekeeper and writer Tina Sebestyen

Ep 153 Interview with James Lee of SBGMI

⬆️ available wherever you listen to podcasts

Patron Exclusives:

Patron exclusive show notes on Ep 155 which includes link to the split notes compendium.

Links to Five Apple’s podcast on the Reverse Doolittle split on Patreon, with links to Tina’s how-to article as well as my own silly drawings of the process AND the link to the compendium of splits methods I teach (the handout when I speak to bee clubs)

---------------------------------

Here's an extra tip for those who read show notes: If you see your hive swarm, and it was a large hive, there are probably enough swarm cells left in the original hive to cause afterswarms. It's wise to carefully go in the hive and look for swarm cells on frames.

I like to relocate a frame with swarm cells, a frame with open nectar and ideally some pollen, and a capped brood frame to a nuc box and add a few shakes of bees (remember to never shake a frame with a queen cell on it if you plan to keep that cell). This is your backup insurance.

In the main hive, go through each frame carefully and brush bees off brood frames with a feather or bee brush so you can see the swarm cells. Cut them down to one large swarm cell and replace in the original hive.

You have greatly reduced the chances of afterswarms. Plus, you have a backup nuc (or three!) that will also requeen. If your main hive fails to make a queen (check 3 weeks after you do this split to look for eggs from the new queen!) you have the nuc most likely with a new queen and you can combine the two. You now have a young robust queen to go into winter! 

---------------------------------

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for sixteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Today it's a ramble through things going on in the bee yard as Spring has taken over and the bees won't wait! Doing some quick splits to save the day, still aiming for more data-driven stock selection and whose swarm is this in my equipment?

In case you missed it:

Ep 155 Interview with Colorado beekeeper and writer Tina Sebestyen

Ep 153 Interview with James Lee of SBGMI

⬆️ both of these also available wherever you listen to podcasts

Patron Exclusives:

Patron exclusive show notes on Ep 155 which includes link to the split notes compendium.

Links to Five Apple’s podcast on the Reverse Doolittle split on Patreon, with links to Tina’s how-to article as well as my own silly drawings of the process AND the link to the compendium of splits methods I teach (the handout when I speak to bee clubs)

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for sixteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

I ask Tina about the Miller (graftless) method of Queen rearing and her recent articles in ABJ, then we wander into chat between bee friends of goings on in our apiaries, things we want to try this year and more. Enjoy!

-Leigh

Supporting Patrons, view your exclusive show notes here. 

Patron exclusive detailed show notes include:

• What is the Miller Method? 

• More info and how-to from Tina’s on the Miller method

• Article on the Miller Method with illustrations of the special comb cuts. 

• Handy queen calculator where you fill in the date you graft (or remove the queen in a frame-based split) and it fills in the critical dates such as the cell being ripe and able to be moved to another hive (day 10), when to check back for eggs, etc

• Videos from Tina’s Four Corners Bee Association on splits and other topics

• Link to Tina’s ABJ article on the Demaree method of swarm management. 

• (You will need an ABJ subscription to access that article. The subscription gets you access to years of archived issues so it’s a real reference resource!)  Not an ABJ subscriber? Subscription info here: https://americanbeejournal.com/subscribers/orderrenew-subscription/

• Five Apple’s podcast on the Reverse Doolittle split on Patreon, with links to Tina’s how-to article as well as my own silly drawings of the process. 

• Queen Breeders we mentioned in the show and their links:

• Cory Stevens (MO) 

• Sourwood Farms (VA) 

• Hall Apiaries (NH)

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for sixteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Today I share some great tips shared by Greg Rogers of Haw Creek Honey when he presented to our local club. Then we work through swarm prevention strategies (starts at 16:25) that are especially important when it's too early in the season to make splits due to drone availability.

Patrons, you will find your exclusive detailed show notes here.

Today's notes include:

• Greg's favorite YouTube channels
• links about the Demaree method (that AI gets so wrong!)
• image of how to tip a box up to look for swarm cells
• a how-to section on opening the broodnest (or spreading the brood as Greg calls it)
• a link to my master handout of favorite SPLITS METHODS that I give to bee clubs when I present on that topic
• ENJOY! And thank you so much for keeping this podcast going through your support.

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon and join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

Today I interview James Lee, president of the Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan about the goals and offerings of this important virtual education hub for beekeepers interested in increasing the genetic work towards reducing the need for treatments in hives. We talk about his work in creating the Northern Queen Initiative to provide locally raised Northern adapted queens as well as his own apiary and management techniques which you can follow on his YouTube channel James Lee's Bees. 

We mention the Harbo Assay, a well-documented but labor intensive way to 'grade' queens on their expression of varroa sensitive hygiene as a way to guide stock selection. SGBMI even offers a course you can take to learn to do it. Or you can read about it from this publication from Penn State. 

I hope you enjoy this interview! Leigh

 

------------------------------

This episode is free and available to everyone....and your support really makes a difference. You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor and mite/disease resistance. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

This is a hefty episode that reviews some of the many, many ways knowing bee biology will directly affect the decisions you have to make as a beekeeper in every season of beekeeping. It's long because it affects nearly everything and this is just a sampling! Beginners: take the details you need and just roll with the stuff that you haven't learned yet, but please note how important learning all that bee life cycle stuff turns out to be! Experienced beekeepers: I hope this will inspire you to emphasize bee biology to your mentees as the framework they can build their beekeeping upon.

This episode is free and available to everyone....and your support really makes a difference. You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

It's that time of year as beekeepers that we find out how we did — how we did all the way back to the summer before. Some years it can be a tough report-card to get! As all things in bees there are many ways to understand what happened. The good news even if it was a bad year is this: we can do better in the coming season. In this episode I encourage you to do just that, while also acknowledging its really really hard to lose any of our colonies. But there's no way to be a beekeeper without losing hives sooner or later. If we truly learn from the losses, it can turn into beekeeping skills that help keep more colonies alive.

Things mentioned in the episode:

Ep 150: Lifecycle of the Bees (and beekeeper) - a storytelling of the yearly cycle the bees circle through and how the beekeeper interacts. Please share with friends and family who want to understand what you and your bees are doing as well as with new beekeepers who need this grounding to start learning about bees.

Ep 149: Starting with a Nucleus Colony, for Newbees A guide with tips for someone starting for the first time (or starting again) with Nucleus colonies. Supporting Patrons have access to an 11 page PDF with more content and hints on how to give your nuc the best start. Note: you may need to log into Patreon so the PDF attachment will show at the bottom of the post.

The New Hampshire Dead Out Checklist: Even if you don't live in NH, this checklist is VERY thorough on the kind of info you can collect from your deadout. It's a great model imo for other clubs to track what their members are seeing in lost hives to see if there are patterns.

Maine Beekeepers share this article on things to look for in an autopsy.

Once you have gathered info from these checklists, it's a great time to discuss with your mentor or with an experienced and successful* beekeeper at your next club meeting.

*in this case, I mean successful at reliably keeping their bees alive over winter

Wishing you all the very best, no matter what you found or find in your bee yard coming out of winter. No matter what, if you love working with bees: Don't quit!! As a speaker told our group one time: FAIL stands for First Attempt in Learning. Hang in there!

A special thanks to all the supporting patrons who keep this podcast going!! And thanks to all of you who take the time to share the podcast with your beekeeping friends and associations. If you would like to support this podcast (as well as get bonus content) please join us at Patreon.com/fiveapple

kind regards, Leigh

Ep 150: Lifecycle of the Bees (and the beekeeper) for Newbees

So this is a version of the talk I'm giving at my local club's bee school this year, telling the story of the bees' yearly cycle. There's nothing else more important to learn as a basis for beekeeping imo. Because whenever we enter the hive, it only makes sense if we understand what the bees are already doing in that season of their cycle. We match our actions to their pattern. Give it a listen and let me know what you think!

kind regards,

Leigh

PS: Supporting patrons, the thick PDF I made you all last week with tips and suggestions for starting with Nucs is posted at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/149455905 Download and feel free to share with your bee club or newbees who buy your nucs.

A full overview for beginners of starting with your first nucleus colony. Things to know, things to learn, things to watch out for. Experienced beekeepers: I've asked for your help in creating a TIP SHEET to share with the patrons of this show on starting with nucs. Send me your best tips and I'll include them on the pdf I'm creating for new beekeepers. It will be available *next week* on the patreon post for this episode to assist new beekeepers and to be available for experienced beekeepers to share with their mentees.

Want to add your advice to the TIP SHEET? Email me at fiveapple [dot] bees [at] gmail [dot] com or send me a DM here on Patreon anytime! Please tell me where you are writing from too.

Wishing you all a wonderful week!

Leigh

 

--

You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

But of course there's beekeeping stuff you can do in winter! :-) Listen in to get ideas about what tasks need doing (check in on your bees food stores!) as well as thought on how to get ahead for the upcoming bee season. Along the way: an idea for setting up a 'learning nuc' and thoughts on record keeping, bee school and more.

This is the video I mention:

https://youtu.be/BEqikrm9PRY?si=ag51ZJt2fVJsYfMU

THANK YOU PATRONS

for keeping this podcast going and keeping it commercial free!

kind regards,

Leigh

Not a Patron yet and want to keep this podcast going commercial-free with a few bucks a month? Please join us by clicking here: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

The gifts we get from spending time with the bees, learning about the bees and learning from other beekeepers are so amazing. This episode is a reflection on just some of the beauties and realizations that come with beekeeping in good years and even in not so good beekeeping years. I'd love to hear what gifts you got from your bees this year.

It's the last episode of 2025 and already I look forward to meeting you back here in 2026! I'm sending a shout out and a big appreciative hug to each and ever Patron for making this podcast a reality and for each and every listener who is the reason it exists. I thank you all. kind regards, Leigh

If you are not yet a supporting patron, you are warmly invited to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/c/fiveapple/membership

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

What makes a perfect winter home for 60,000 bees? This episode explores Dr. James Tew's look at the architecture of the winter bee nest. You'll discover what scout bees look for when house hunting, what propolis really does, and why the entire colony functions as a single super-organism.

A Radio-reader edition of The Honey Bee's Winter Nest" by Dr. James E. Tew, Bee Culture magazine, October 2023. Read with permission of Bee Culture Magazine. Get a subscription to have access to years of archives as well as a new magazine monthly. Subscribe at: https://beeculture.com/

kind regards, Leigh

--

You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Ep145 Organic? Treatment-Free? Chemical-Free? Natural Beekeeping Terms Explained in this ABJ article

Ever get confused by all the "natural beekeeping" terms floating around? In this episode I'm discussing an article (Oct 2023 ABJ) that breaks down three approaches that sound similar but are actually pretty different: organic beekeeping, treatment-free beekeeping, and chemical-free beekeeping. They're NOT interchangeable, and understanding the differences might change how you think about managing your hives.

Whether you're curious about going more natural with your bees or you just want to know what other beekeepers are talking about when they describe their approach. Handy for new beekeepers trying to figure out their philosophy and seasoned beeks who want to geek out on the fine print of management styles.

Article used with permission of American Bee Journal. Want to say thanks to ABJ for allowing these episodes from their archives? Grab a subscription and get access to years and years of bee magazines! One year digital only, with archive access: 21.00. One year print (with access to the archives)

Links I mentioned I'd share with everyone—It's Thanksgiving after all!

• If for any reason these links don't work in your podcast app, you can view them in your web browser here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/144457183

• Free At Home Beekeeping Series from Alabama Extension

• Direct link to Julia Mahood's presentation on recordkeeping (available only til Dec 2 it says) on the Alabama Extension Facebook page.

• SBGMI Virtual Winter Conference 2026

• Certified Naturally Grown apiary standards in handbook form : Whether or not you get certified, this is a top notch collection of 'best practices' imo.

• Ran across this just today! "Get 40% off a year long subscription to BEE CULTURE MAGAZINE" (limited time offer; this is their fine print below)

  Valid on online orders only through https://simplecirc.com/subscribe/bee-culture Once on this page, click the 1-Year Print Only Option. Then click the 'Apply Promo Code' (BLUE line of text on the right hand side of screen.) Next, enter code SOC40 and click 'Apply code'. Valid 6PM EST November 26 through 11:59PM December 1, 2025. For U.S. subscriptions only. New subscriptions will begin with the February 2026 issue.

  If you want to get links like those every time I release an episode, join as a patron!

You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• Occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Some surprise late autumn deadouts in the yard, something I've never experienced before in summer or fall. I break down the likely reasons and what I plan to do different next year. Also, happier seasonal updates around the bee yard about the other hives going into winter.

kind regards to you all!

Leigh

Patrons: if you are listening here on the public channel, remember to check out the detailed show notes, links and occasional videos that are a small thank you for supporting this podcast. Today's episode link is: https://www.patreon.com/posts/143437965

 

---

 

Not a supporting patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at FiveApple:

Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

Today's episode is an overview and discussion of prepping hives for winter. For supporting Patrons, I've also made a checklist (and printable PDF) as well as compiled several links for more info on the issues and the methods. Not a supporting patron yet? Please join us below! 

 kind regards, Leigh

--

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Not a supporting patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments

• Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos

• occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes

• Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions

• Input on the podcast topics

• Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you! 

If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

About Beekeeping at Five Apple:

Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Some days you just need some amazement and that's what I found in learning about what researcher Karl von Frisch demonstrated in the first half of the 1900s about how bees see, how they navigate (!) , and what they are telling each other (!!) with the dances they do. Equally fascinating is how he managed to design experiments to confirm and prove it all! Hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Patrons: Detailed show notes with links to more information on all the topics will be available to you this weekend—a way to say thank you to the group of you who support this podcast to keep it on the air and advertisement free! Just check out this link on Sunday afternoon and I will have your links added: https://www.patreon.com/posts/141368230

kind regards,

Leigh

 

--

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple   About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for fifteen years. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

Today's episode starts with a rambling overview of how things are around here in the beeyard from hive beetles to one year mark from the WNC floods. Then a discussion of a YouTube interview with the legendary Vermont beekeeper for 50 years, Michael Palmer who says being "near row crops" is seriously hurting his beekeeping in a severe new way. Then a related article I happened to find on how neonics make varroa destructor much more destructive. I encourage you to listen to the two part video interview presented by Inside The Hive TV, a YouTube channel with some very interesting interviews. 

Links to the material discussed:

Part One of the YouTube featured on the Inside the Hive TV channel. Part Two is here. Part Three is just a short about Palmer talking about the book he is still trying to write. And OH I hope he does!

Here's the article I quote from in Entomology Today.

Keep heart dear beekeepers. Keep on keeping on.

–Leigh

 

--

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple   About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

In today's podcast, how a backyard experiment led me to find a bunch of research to back up that Vit C added to bee syrup can make a difference for bee health! Plus what's up in the bee yard, wonderful email from listeners, and the usual wandering tangents that somehow all relate to bees! kind regards, Leigh

PS. Patrons: watch for your exclusive post this weekend with extensive links on the research and other fascinating info I've found on feeding of late.

--

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple   About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hope you enjoy this podcast geek out on pollen and its uses in the hive and how critical it is to the colony's success.

Patrons: If you have any portions you would enjoy knowing more about, just let me know and I'll share the links to the sites and presentations I used to research this episode!

Wishing you all a beautiful Fall season, a generous fall nectar and pollen flow in your area, and fat bees being raised for winter!

kind regards, Leigh

--

https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple   About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Today I'll tell you the unfortunate bear story and how the hives are doing...then, the full episode continues on Patreon with the bonus audio I've promised patrons:  an explainer on how the age distribution in a colony (the topic of the last ABJ article I read to you) impacts your beekeeping and the health of the hive, including some important August tasks in the bee yard as a result. It's a way I say thank you to the Patrons, whose support keeps this podcast going! 

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https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible, who keep the archives available and who keep it all advertising-free.

In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

• Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple   About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

It's my least favorite month of beekeeping, August, aka Grumpy Bee Month. Here are some tips to help you and the bees get through it the best we all can. Kind regards to you all and patrons, you keep this all going: Thank you! --Leigh

 

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Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

  • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

Ep 136 Post-conference ramble

A few thoughts after a day of the NC State Beekeepers Association summer conference day last Saturday / Back Care Tips / Details of the why and how of feeding in summer-dearth or to get comb drawn out / and general bee ramblings! 

Are you looking for the notes on the presentation I gave at the conference on "Smart Splitting?" If so please email me! Email is fiveapple [dot] bees [at] gmail.com

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Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

  • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

Part 2 of a radio-reader episode of Kayla deJong's March 2024 article on the division of labor in a colony. It's fascinating to remember the many roles the bees move through in a lifetime!

If you are a subscriber to American Bee Journal you can read the article in the digital archives : https://americanbeejournal.com/

If you are not a subscriber then here's your chance! Enter you special number in the comments on this Patreon post (details in the episode. :-) Free and open to everyone, not just patrons.

I appreciate each and every one of you patrons and listeners,

Leigh

--

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

  • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

A radio-reader episode of Kayla deJong's article in American Bee Journal March 2024 on the division of labor in a colony. It's fascinating to remember the many roles the bees move through in a lifetime! This is part one of two.

If you are a subscriber to American Bee Journal you can read the article in the digital archives : https://americanbeejournal.com/

If you are not a subscriber then here's your chance! Enter you special number on this free page (details in episode) over on Patreon.

I appreciate each and every one of you patrons and listeners,

Leigh

--

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

  • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

Ep 133 Queen Excluders: the good the bad etc--

A wonderful patron asked that I talk about the pros and cons of using queen excluders so that is the subject of today's episode.  Detailed show notes (all the resources I used to prepare today's episode) are available for patrons for further exploration of the MANY opinions on this piece of equipment. 

 https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple

Not a patron yet? You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

  • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • occasional bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Springtime greetings to you all!  Part one of today's episode is a chat on the evolution of how I keep records in my own apiary, in hopes there may be helpful ideas for your own. Then part two is a wonderful letter about experiences with Layens Hive beekeeping from listener William along with some of the great gadgets he has developed for working with them.

Today's patreon page is FREE and open to everyone so you can all see the photos he shared. Here's the link:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-132-keeping-128457959

Thank you SO much William for taking the time to share your experience and the photos. Your observations are important for folks to consider who are thinking of going Layens. Plus, the gadgets you have problem-solved with are excellent!

Thank you to every Patron and listener who support the podcast! If there are topics you have been wondering about and would like me to explore, please reply on the Patreon post!  Hope you have a wonderful week! --Leigh

--

You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:

  • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

This episodes concludes the series on splits, with the best saved for last: The Reverse Doolittle, aka The Cutdown. (Best for intermediate beekeepers. ) Also, a review of split dynamics for beginners.

Exclusive for patrons on the Patreon post are links for the how-to, drawing of the whole process, and the complete handout for the splits talk I gave to a few bee clubs on this topic: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ep-131-best-for-127402747

 

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https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Talking today about the handy and easy Nuc (or Retirement Nuc) split; using a quiet box; making and using a Doolittle Box....with a printable PDFs on making a Nucleus Split and a Doolittle box exclusively for patrons on the Five Apple Patreon Post

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https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple   You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

With some swarm prevention skills, you can better time your splits! Patrons, the printable of the notes/links on this episode can be downloaded on the Patreon post. Thank you all for your support! Leigh

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https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Patron "Show Me Bees" from Missouri asked that I talk about the ins and outs of running all 8-frame mediums. So in today's episode I do. :-) 

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https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

Telling the recent story of how my apiary was saved by bee friends after a tree fell right over the middle of it. Ed and Jim, you saved the day. Plus a reminder to keep an eye on your hive's stores as we start getting more warm days.

Photos of the rescue (open to everyone) at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123119994

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You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • bonus podcasts and early access episodes • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

A couple things the bees do with propolis I forgot to mention in the episode: embalming hive intruders, fencing in hive beetles! Bee caulk is amazing. Links collected over at Patreon on the post:

• The first video I watched on the unexpected winter losses among commercial beekeepers in the US by Dr Humberto Boncristiani of Inside the Hive TV.
• More on the losses from The Bee Supply channel.
• GA Master Craftsman Beekeeper Cindy Hodges' excellent presentation on Propolis.
• Dr. Marla Spivak's presentation on her research on propolis. An interview with her on propolis in general.
• Ian Steppler on selecting for high propolis bees.

Do you have any favorite uses for propolis?

Wishing you a wonderful week Patrons and Listeners! I sure appreciate all of you!

You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

Tips and thoughts on starting with packages for the first time, or starting again after winter loss. Patron exclusive links over at patreon.com/fiveapple

• Kamon Reynolds showing both ways to install on YouTube. I thought this was an excellent overview.
• A non-video tutorial from NC extension -- showing the "shake them out" method...the one you will need to use if the weather is poor or chilly.
• Rusty Ballew showing the walk-out install method. Her site is always a reliable source of info!
• Dadant's How-to tutorial on installing.
• Michael Bush's list of installation mistakes to avoid. He recommends direct queen release..somewhat more risky, use at your own risk tho clearly many people do this.
• The synthetic comb I mentioned 

You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

Ep 124 Better (than caging) Brood Breaks

Diving into why there are better options (imo) than caging a queen to create a brood break for mite reduction. Exclusive show notes and links to the things mentioned in this episode are available for patrons over at Patreon. 

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You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

 

 

Some reflection on the past year's bee season and things I'd like to continue with (and get better at) in the new season to come. Show notes for patrons with links for stuff mentioned in this episode are over in the  Patreon post for this episode: Layens hives, Queen Castles, Long Langs, fave beekeeper YouTubers.

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You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Commenting on posts (and DMs) allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

 

A deeper dive into the why and how of the insulation setup I started using several years ago, the condensing-hive concept. For the patrons, find the links to everything mentioned in the show, and the video I made for you, over at Patreon.com/fiveapple  Thanks to all the listeners and wishing you a good overwintering of your bees! Leigh

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You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Commenting on posts or messaging allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

The first portion is about bees and the ups and downs of Fall care. Then in a change of subject, I want to tell you about what happened in my little section of Western NC in the floods of Hurricane Helene...as well as try to help get you thinking about your own disaster preparedness. I'm grateful to all of you and want you to be prepared for the when-not-if of weather disasters in your region. 

 

And WELCOME new patrons Leslie and Robert! I appreciate you so much. 

 

Late Fall...and Large NC disaster (Ep 121)

 

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You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Commenting on posts or messaging allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year. 

 

 

Fall prep list (120) How can it be September already?!? In this episode I go through my own fall prep list and considerations.

WELCOME new patrons Sam, Phil, Taylor and Missy! Thank you so much for joining us and keeping this podcast free of advertising.

Thank you so much for listening, sharing and leaving a good review if you are enjoying the episodes. Leigh

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You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts possible and keep it advertising-free. In addition to huge gratitude, you get:   • BONUS podcasts and early access episodes • Detailed show notes with links, tips, comments • Access to Patreon blog posts including tips and videos • Commenting on posts or messaging allows me to answer questions • Input on the podcast topics • Shout-outs on the show because I appreciate you!    If you can support the show with $3 a month or more, please sign up today: https://www.patreon.com/fiveapple -- About Beekeeping at Five Apple: Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year.