I'm back! It's taken multiple attempts to record this episode due to various life chaos but here it is! I start with some quick personal updates, a little sad news (RIP Petal), homestead and hive news, and then I share some funny animal stories from the last few weeks. Thanks for your patience with me! Please check out my Instagram for photos of things discussed. (Marked explicit due to some light cursing.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 08, 2023•51 min•Ep. 71
This week, I talk about thistles! How can we identify them? Are they good for pollinators? How do we destroy and conquer the invasive species? Will I be digging them up forever?? (Probably, yes) All this and more in episode 70! * References: https://weedwise.conservationdistrict.org/2017/thistle-identification.html https://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2021/04/21/how-to-neutralise-glyphosate-roundup-herbicide-contamination-in-soil/ https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13...
Jul 21, 2023•46 min•Ep. 70
I'm back! Hurrah! This week, I share all the news from the homestead, including chicken updates, bee colony progress, and why I am drinking a gin & tonic at 4 in the afternoon! Then I get into some bee chatter; where I analyze a question from one of my mentees, and go through my thoughts on the topic. Warnings for bad language (sorry, mum), discussion of chicken prolapse, alcohol chat (I bought fancy gin!), and mention of surgery. Links: Hendrick's Gin Flora Adora (it's flower and pollinator...
Jul 14, 2023•50 min•Ep. 69
Happy Friday! I hope you will enjoy this addition to my 'farm story' episodes. I am a big fan of this extraordinary little frog, and I hope you are too! * Article on crushed egg shells and slugs: https://www.gardenmyths.com/eggshells-control-slugs/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 23, 2023•30 min•Ep. 68
I'm back after my short break! Thank you for your patience. This episode starts with some updates on my sad-sack-ness and why I haven't uploaded anything for 2 weeks. I also talk about my hives (up to 2 colonies now!), and my garden (what is planted, what's growing, what's in bloom, etc). Then we get to the main story, which will not be for everyone. Listener discretion advised! I tell the story of two baby raccoons who appeared to willfully throw themselves into the jaws of death (aka my dogs)....
Jun 16, 2023•37 min•Ep. 67
I'm back after last week's break! Things have been very busy here the last 2 weeks, and I talk a little about what has been going on. Then I get into baby season here on the homestead! I have news on the skinks, and the chickens. I ended up incubating the rest of Dahlia's clutch so discuss how that works and how to set up a brooder for newly hatched chicks. I also talk about how my package of bees is settling in to their new home, and share general bee news from my local community (it's swarm-a-...
May 26, 2023•46 min•Ep. 66
Happy Friday! This week, we're talking about the birds and the bees! Specifically, my install of a 3lb honey bee package, mallard ducks and their mating shenanigans, and my chickens. Funnily enough, right after I recorded this episode, I went out and found that one of Dahlia's eggs has hatched! It's a beautiful little yellow fluffball. Check out my Instagram for pics! I mention Queenright Colonies, which is a great beekeeping supply company. You can find their website here. (Please note: I've ma...
May 12, 2023•40 min•Ep. 65
Happy Friday! This is a short one because I haven't been able to do much outside due to the weather, and life off the homestead has been a touch chaotic. Speaking of chaos. . . a recent experience with one of my chickens has convinced me that they're actually adorably fluffy chaos sprites (who can't be trusted!). Listen in to hear how Petal, a small frizzle hen, defied the laws of physics and caused great confusion (and noise)! I mention a 'no pick' lotion in this episode, which can be found her...
Apr 28, 2023•18 min•Ep. 64
Happy Friday! This week, I talk about what has been going on at the homestead. Is Spring finally here? It felt like it for about a week but then the cold returned! I have tried to make the most of the nice weather by cleaning up and prepping the gardens, and there's just so much to do that it can be hard to focus. Early in the episode, I give a sad update on my gecko, Pixie. Animal death discussed so please listen with caution. I also got a bit sniffly, sorry! Then I talk about some community ac...
Apr 21, 2023•37 min
This week, I continue my Farm Story series by talking about a fan favourite: Higgins, the Russian tortoise. Have you ever wondered what the difference between a turtle and a tortoise is? Or where they come from? What they eat? If you have tortoise questions, I have some of the answers! Learn about how Higgins came to live with me, and about Russian tortoise care and feeding. I also dare to speak aloud the 'open secret' to tortoise ownership! Intrigued? Listen in! Please visit my Instagram for pi...
Apr 14, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 62
I'm back from my holiday! This week, I talk about my Spring Break in Florida where I saw lots of alligators and interesting birds. Then I give updates on the homestead, including my chickens, bees, reptiles, and gardens. Please note, I did some swearing in this one! So please be mindful if listening around impressionable young minds. I will mark the episode as 'explicit'. Links: Circle B Bar Reserve my Pink Tongue Skink website Queenright Colonies Beekeeping Calendar Tooth and Claw Podcast (high...
Apr 07, 2023•52 min•Ep. 61
Hello hello! Well, I didn't have time to get my tortoise episode ready BUT I did bring you something. This week, I talk about a few science publications and news articles that talk about our precious honey bees (and bumble bees). I had a lot of fun putting this one together, and I hope you enjoy it too. Links to articles/publications: Sci-Hub (free access to science papers) CBS News article with video Smithsonian article ‘ Social Signal Learning of the waggle dance in honey bees’ by Shihao Dong,...
Mar 17, 2023•37 min•Ep. 60
Hello, hello! This week, I give a quick update on my stray kitty friend, as well as my 'baby' Orpingtons. Then I dive into frostbite: what is it? What does it look like in our chickens? Can we prevent it? And, most importantly, how to treat it. Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed as well as a list of references. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 10, 2023•38 min•Ep. 59
Hello! This week, I share another Farm Story. Listen in to learn about my local cat population, what TNR is, and how it can help humanely lower stray/feral cat populations. Also, learn about my own kitty friend! Please see my website for photos of the kitties in question, and for a rundown of everything discussed. You can check out the TNR clinic I used here . ALSO, since recording this, I found out that the clinic does have a way to donate cold hard cash!! I think it just wasn't showing up on t...
Mar 03, 2023•29 min•Ep. 58
Hello! Today's episode starts with a quick update on my fierce little hen, Boo, and then goes on to discuss the issue of obesity in chickens. How can we identify an overweight chicken? What can we do to prevent obesity? And just how much food should our chickens be eating anyway? Visit my website for a rundown of everything discussed, as well as some educational photos. References for this episode: The Chicken Health Handbook by Gail Damerow Fresh Eggs Daily by Lisa Steele Mypetchicken.com scrat...
Feb 22, 2023•35 min•Ep. 57
This week is the first in my series of what I am calling 'Farm Stories'. These are mini-episodes that share stories from around my homestead, with a focus on all the animals I am fortunate to share my life with. This week, I tell you all about my tiny hen, Boo, and her big attitude. Can a tiny hen take on a rooster three times her size? Listen in to find out! Check out my website for photos of Boo and Red! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 15, 2023•20 min•Ep. 56
This week, I do a 'year in review' for my apiary. I went into 2022 with two colonies, brought home a package and 4 nucleus colonies, and ended up with 5 colonies as of January 2023. Listen in to learn all about my gains, losses, and to follow each of my colonies as we moved through last year. Reading my bee journal for this episode was a wonderful learning tool for me, and I hope you will also find it useful! Please see my website for a rundown of all things discussed as well as photos from the ...
Feb 08, 2023•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 55
I'm back! and I have news! For this episode, I go through goals I set for myself in 2022; what worked, what didn't. And then I explain how I fell afowl (hehe!) of the dreaded 'chicken math'. Please visit my website for a rundown of everything discussed, photos, and links. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 01, 2023•52 min•Ep. 54
Hello hello! I have returned from my podcast hiatus, and I have lots of news. Most of it depressing (sorry!). In this episode, I discuss goals I set for myself in 2021, what worked, what didn't; as well as what has been happening with me since my hiatus. Please note: this episode includes frank discussion of chicken death, depression, cancer, and chronic illness. You can find a list of everything discussed, as well as photos and useful links, over on my blog . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/priv...
Mar 11, 2022•57 min•Ep. 53
Hi folks! I've decided to place the podcast on hiatus until next Spring. We're going full tilt through autumn and into winter now, and things will be slowing down around the homestead. Plus, I'm just completely burned out due to a number of different factors, and I need the time to reset. I wanted to share some suggestions of episodes and podcasts that might be of interest to you! You can find those over on my website (with direct links to their homepages to make things easy to find). Thanks for...
Oct 21, 2021•11 min
Happy September! Important announcement: I will be taking the rest of September off so there will be no new episodes (or reposts) until October. I'm taking a much needed break to reset. I hope you will bear with me! This week, I discuss what things look like in my apiary, treating my top bar hive for mites using the oxalic acid dribble method, bringing home new chickens/pullets, and then share some facts about the supremely fluffy English Orpington chicken. I do discuss some upsetting informatio...
Sep 02, 2021•42 min
Hello from rainy Ohio! This week, I am reposting one of my earliest episodes that covers all things Varroa Mite. I go over what this nasty little parasite is, how it transferred from the Asian honeybee (apis cerana) to our beloved European honeybee (apis mellifera), its method of transmission into the US; testing methods, and available treatments. This topic is especially timely since those of us in the West are moving into Autumn, which is when varroa mite levels can start to climb. I hope this...
Aug 19, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Hello hello! I am back from my vacation and right back into the thick of things. I've been so busy catching up on everything at the homestead that I am bringing you just a mini episode this week. I'll be discussing broody hens (or what it means when a hen 'goes broody') as well as what is happening in my bee hives. Then I'll share some highlights from my vacation. Visit my website for a rundown of everything discussed, as well as photos. I'll be back in 2 weeks with a regular, full length episod...
Aug 05, 2021•32 min
Hello from my vacation! For the first time since I started this podcast, I am taking time off. I didn't want to leave you hanging, though, so I thought now would be a good time to repost Episode 1: A Chicken in a Parking Lot. This is all about how I fell into chicken keeping (and homesteading) when I found a small, beakless hen in an ALDI parking lot. It's a pivotal moment in my life and a fun story to share. The sound quality of this first episode is poor and I apologize for that. I hope you wi...
Jul 22, 2021•50 min
Hello! This week, I'm taking time off from the book reviews and educational topics, and instead talking about everything that has been happening here on the homestead. Topics include: rehoming an aggressive rooster, bringing a new rooster home, vegetable garden progress, and hive news. Please visit my website for photos of all things discussed. Handy-dandy links/references: Farm rescue article on wild and mock strawberries CDC guide on cleaning raccoon latrines Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pri...
Jul 08, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Hello hello! This is part 2 of my review of 'The Thinking Beekeeper' by Christy Hemenway. This half of the book goes in depth on how to manage your top bar hive colony during its first year, complete with some very handy-dandy diagrams. Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed plus photos. Here is the garlic-water varroa treatment study I mention, and here is Christy Hemenway's guide to chemical-free varroa mite treatments. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/...
Jun 24, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Hello hello! This week, I'll be covering the first half of 'The Thinking Beekeeper' by Christy Hemenway, which is an excellent how-to guide on getting started with top bar hives. I also announce the winner of my giveaway! As always, please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed as well as photos from the book. Additional resources: Scientific Beekeeping ( Trial of HoneySuperCell Small Cell Combs ) Honey Bee Suite ( Monday Morning Myth: small-cell foundation discourages varroa mites...
Jun 10, 2021•1 hr 11 min
This week, I’m sharing my thoughts and experiences with the Gold Star Honeybees top bar hive (complete kit); the quality of the materials, ease of putting it together, and how it is working out. I’m also hosting a giveaway for the book ‘The Thinking Beekeeper - Natural Beekeeping in Top Bar Hives’ by the owner of Gold Star Honeybees, Christy Hemenway. Details at the end of the episode! You can find the Gold Star website here . Click here for the construction guide, and here for the hive kit. Epi...
May 27, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Welcome to episode 45! This episode is all about the adventures of Ginny, the guinea fowl hen. I also cover some facts about guinea fowl so that you can decide whether they might be a good fit for your homestead or farm. Links of interest: Episode 101 of the Hive Jive Podcast (Telling the Bees) Female Guinea Keet call from Youtube Good Sprout Rescue Fowl Play Rescue My website (with photos and a rundown of everything discussed) Thank you so much for listening, and stay safe out there! Hosted on ...
May 13, 2021•1 hr 8 min
Hello hello! This week, I finish up my book review of 'Honeybee Democracy' by Thomas Seeley with chapter 10 and the epilogue. Chapter 10 is all about how we can apply the 'swarm smarts' of honeybee swarms to our human forms of governing and decision-making. The Epilogue is a succinct summary of everything covered in the book. I hope you enjoy it! A few handy-dandy links: My website for a rundown of everything discussed, as well as photos from my homestead. And the queen marking disc I mention. T...
Apr 29, 2021•1 hr 8 min
