Hello hello! This week, we move on to Chapter 9 of Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Seeley. This chapter looks at how the decision making process of honey bee swarms is comparable to the decision making process of primate brains. Yes, really! Quick correction: at the end, I say my next episode will cover chapter 10 and the Prologue. I meant chapter 10 and the epilogue. Whoops! Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed today, including some handy-dandy graphics from the book, and pi...
Apr 15, 2021•49 min
Hello hello! This week, I push on with my book review of Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Seeley, and cover Chapter 8. This chapter is all about the dynamics of swarm flight. How do the bees make their way to their chosen nest site? Which bees lead the way? How many bees of the 10k+ within a swarm have visited the nest before? These questions and more will be answered! Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed as well as some useful graphics from the book. I also recommend checking...
Apr 01, 2021•58 min
Hello hello! This week, I am covering Chapter 7 of Honeybee Democracy, which is all about the swarm's final flight home. Have you ever wondered how a honeybee swarm manages to take flight all at once, as one great cloud of bees? What allows 10 thousand plus bees to take off as one cohesive unit? What signals to them to prepare for flight? You're about to find out! Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed, as well as some nifty photos. And please check out Mid-Ohio Waterfowl Re...
Mar 18, 2021•1 hr 11 min
This week, I cover chapter 6 of Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Seeley. This chapter is all about how the scout bees of a swarm come to a consensus on their new nest site. We will learn about how nest site quality relates to waggle dance enthusiasm; how the discoverer scouts recruit other bees to support their site; and whether scout bees compare various nest sites to assess quality, or whether they have an innate knowledge of what makes a nest site good or bad. Visit my website for a full rundown ...
Mar 04, 2021•58 min
Hello from snowy Ohio! This episode, we are tackling Chapter 5 of Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Seeley. This chapter focuses on the studies Seeley created to ascertain what sort of nest cavity is considered acceptable but not ideal by honeybees, in an attempt to deepen his understanding of how scout bees make decisions when assessing nest site options. I also talk about a sick hen who is cozy and warm in the house during her treatment period, a naughty whippet who is eating gross things, the loss...
Feb 18, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Hello hello! On to Chapter 4 of Honeybee Democracy by Thomas Seeley today. This chapter answers such questions as: how does a forager know when to start looking for potential nest sites? How is a nest site chosen if multiple options are found by scout bees? Is there a genetic component to which foragers become scouts when the need arises? Listen in and learn all about the fascinating dance-off of the scout bees! Learn more about Brood X cicadas, set to emerge this spring at this website . Check ...
Feb 04, 2021•1 hr 3 min
Hello lovelies! The book review continues with Chapter 3: Dream Home for Honeybees. Please see my website for diagrams, photos from the book, and a full rundown of all the information covered. CORRECTION CORNER: during the 'location, location, location' section of this episode/chapter, I realised too late that I had written down some dimensions incorrectly (and somehow missed them during my read-through). So here is the corrected information: To test entrance preference, if any, Seeley offered a...
Jan 21, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Happy new year, my lovelies! I hope you had a safe and relaxing holiday away from the hustle and bustle. This week, I continue with my review of 'Honeybee Democracy'. Chapter 2 covers information that is very familiar to many of us: the societal structure of the honeybee colony, how queen bees are reared, the process of swarming, etc. I hope it's not too dull for you to hear it all again but I'd like to think it never hurts to rehash this kind of information. For some really wonderful diagrams f...
Jan 07, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Hello hello! This episode, I start reviewing 'Honeybee Democracy' by Thomas Seeley. This is a very popular book that was recommended by many so I hope you enjoy it! Please see my website for photos, diagrams, and a rundown of everything discussed. I start things off today with some fun facts about opossums! Then I cover the prologue and Chapter 1 of this fascinating book that investigates the collective intelligence and decision making process of a honeybee swarm. And, finally, I close the episo...
Dec 24, 2020•1 hr 4 min
Welcome! This week, I compare my 2019 goals to those of 2020, and discuss what worked and what didn't. I go over issues I had in the hives, general time-sucks, unexpected accomplishments, changes I made on the homestead, and what I am planning for 2021. A few links of interest for this episode: my website (for photos and a rundown of everything discussed); the blog post I found that details how to render beeswax using a slow cooker; Bee Cozy wraps vs Dadant wraps , and episode 8 of my podcast wh...
Dec 10, 2020•1 hr 9 min
Happy Turkey Day! Take a break from eating obscene amounts of pie and other decadent holiday treats, and listen in to the final part of my series on basic chicken biology/anatomy. This week, I discuss the digestive, urinary, male reproductive, nervous, and circulatory systems. Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed, as well as some handy-dandy pics/graphs. Here's the funny Mercedes/chicken video I mention this week. I know the holidays can be tough, and 2020 has been especia...
Nov 26, 2020•1 hr 11 min
This week, I am continuing my 'chicken theme' and talking about chicken biology. This is part 1 in a 2 part series, and covers the skin, immune system, lymphatic system, muscles, skeletal system, and respiratory system. Part 2 will cover the digestive, male reproductive, nervous, and circulatory system. Check out my website for a run down of everything discussed as well as photos and informative diagrams. Quick correction/note: when discussing the air sacs, I somehow forgot to mention the anteri...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Hello! Episode 31 covers all my hive news (spoiler: it's not great), the loss of a hen, the introduction of a new hen, and finally some common reproductive disorders in chickens. I go over the reproductive system of our feathered friends, and talk about a few disorders that you might come across in your flock. Please check out my website for a rundown of everything discussed (and photos!). Wikipedia article on poor Basel the rooster, who was burned at the stake for being a witch. Books reference...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 17 min
It's here, the final chapter!! Episode 30 covers chapter 11 of 'The Lives of Bees' by Thomas Seeley, summarizing all that has been discussed in the book so far, and offering suggestions as to how we can manage our colonies in a more bee friendly manner. For a rundown of everything discussed (as well as a few photos), please see my website . Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Oct 15, 2020•1 hr 19 min
Hello hello! This is the second to last chapter of the book. Huzzah! We learn all about colony defense, which includes a fair amount of information about the development of varroa mite resistance behaviours in honey bees. This is particularly timely for me as I'm dealing with high mite loads this year, which I detail at the beginning of the episode. Please see my website for photos and a transcript of all that is discussed in this episode. Thank you for listening! Stay safe out there. Hosted on ...
Oct 01, 2020•1 hr 19 min
I'm back with the book review that never ends! Today, we learn all about how bees regulate the temperature of their brood nest; how they generate heat via their flight muscles; and how wild nest cavities provide key insulation advantages to the wood-ware we use in our managed apiaries. Please see my website for photos from the book chapter. Also, please note that I erroneously say that the University of Graz is located in Australia; this was a slip of the tongue. It's actually located in AUSTRIA...
Sep 17, 2020•55 min
Hello hello! Today, I have the pleasure of interviewing John Swan, host of the Hive Jive podcast. I'm a huge fan of this podcast, and I've been listening from the beginning, so when John asked me if I'd like to do an interview, I jumped at the chance! We were using some new software/equipment for this episode so I'm afraid the sound quality is not as good as usual. My apologies! And thank you for bearing with me as I did my best to fix things in editing. You can check out John's interview of me ...
Sep 03, 2020•1 hr 17 min
Welcome back to the book review that never ends! This chapter is all about food collection and is fascinating. You will be amazed at just how much pollen and nectar is needed to sustain a single colony of honey bees! And have you ever wondered how far a single foraging bee will travel in her lifetime? Because you're about to find out! I also chat a little about how things are going here at home. Quick shout out to B-Sharp Property Management for all the wonderful mulch they have delivered to me ...
Aug 20, 2020•1 hr 13 min
I'm back with the book review that never ends! This week, I cover chapter 7, which is all about honey bee reproduction, including such interesting subjects as the average amount of drones vs queens produced in a year; the optimal amount of worker bees that leave with the first swarm; what effects the production of 'afterswarms'; and how the honey bee is much like an apple tree! Confused? You soon will be! Or not, if I've done this right. I also spend a little time discussed robbing behaviour in ...
Aug 06, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Hello hello! This week, I discuss everything that's been going on here, including: why people should be wearing masks, living in a COVID hotspot, heat stress in chickens, how I came to adopt my first whippet, and how cocktails can creep up on you and lead to impromptu sleepovers where I end up covered in cats! I also discuss my first honey harvest, and detail how things went, what equipment was used, how to clean up, etc. Find a run down of everything discussed, complete with pics, at my website...
Jul 23, 2020•1 hr 22 min
Continuing my book review of 'The Lives of Bees' by Thomas Seeley! Today, we tackle chapters 5 and 6, which take a detailed look at the nest site preferences of honey bees, as well as their unique annual cycle, and how both these things affect their survival. Early in the episode, I mention a website where you can find medications for all your avian friends. Click here to check that out. As always, my website has everything outlined that was discussed as well as photos of my hives, greyhound, an...
Jul 09, 2020•1 hr 22 min
Welcome to episode 22! Today, I'm talking about what's going on in my hive, what you can expect during a state apiary inspection, why I chose to make nucleus colonies over splits, and how knowing about bee math can help you when rearing queens (or letting your colony raise their own). For photos, sources, and all links, please see my website . For the Ohio Apiary Inspection program, please click here. I mentioned a 'natural' wormer for chickens in this episode called Strike III. Click here for d...
Jun 25, 2020•1 hr 7 min
Hello hello! I'm back to reviewing the book 'The Lives of Bees' by Thomas Seeley, and cover chapters 3 and 4 this episode. Seeley takes a look at the history of the honey bee and humanity's relationship to it, and then gives us a detailed run down of how beekeeping changed over time to what we see today. Everything discussed in this week's episode can be found on my website , complete with photos! Please take a look. At the end of the episode, I mention an infographic that I shared on my Instagr...
Jun 11, 2020•1 hr 8 min
Hello hello! This week, I am taking a break from the book reviews to just chat about things that have been happening here on the homestead, and other points of interest. Then I discuss how to set up a 'chicken hospital' for when you need to help an ailing hen. Please check out my website for links and photos, as well as a rundown of everything covered in this episode. Click for PolliNation's Podcast, episode 52, on mowing. And here is the Beekeeping Today Podcast that I discuss. British slang al...
May 28, 2020•1 hr 16 min
Hello hello! This week, I talk a little about the Asian Giant Hornet and why we don't need to panic, and then start a detailed review of 'The Lives of Bees' by Thomas Seeley. I cover chapters 1-2, and there's a lot of info to share! This will be part of a series where I cover 2 chapters each episode. You can find links and photos related to today's episode over on my website . Stay safe out there! And thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 14, 2020•1 hr 6 min
Hey folks! This week, I'm giving you all the news about my hives, including a colony loss and a package install. Then I go into a detailed review of the fictional book 'The Bees' by Laline Paul, which I highly recommend. As always, you can find a run down of everything discussed in this episode, along with links and photos, over on my website . Stay safe, stay healthy, and stay self-isolating! Until next time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 30, 2020•1 hr 36 min
Hey folks! This week I share an update on how my bees are getting along, and then review the book 'Top-Bar Beekeeping' by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell. You can find a run down of everything discussed (complete with photos and video) over on my website . Thank you for tuning in, and stay safe! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 16, 2020•1 hr 19 min
Hey folks! Hoping you are all safe and healthy, and muddling through this scary time as best you can. We're on a shelter in place order like many others and are adjusting to the new routine. This week, I share a a big update on how my 3 hives are doing as we move into Spring; talk about the TriCounty Beekeepers Association Spring Workshop; discuss why creating nucleus colonies could be a huge benefit to your apiary; and share some top-bar hive information. You can find the rundown of everything ...
Apr 02, 2020•1 hr 30 min
Hi folks! I hope you're all staying safe during this COVID-19 madness. This week is my final episode on my 3 part series about edible gardens. I talk about sunflowers and their benefits as a pollinator plant; the 3 Sisters method; and how pasture plants can benefit our livestock, local ecosystems, and pollinators (including our beloved honey bee!). I also briefly discuss why you might be getting thin egg shells from your chickens. Please see my website for a rundown of everything discussed, as w...
Mar 19, 2020•55 min
Hello my lovelies! This is part 2 of my 3 part series on edible gardens. This episode, I talk about even more herbs, lettuce/salad greens, leafy greens, and parsnips (which are apparently quite the stubborn root vegetable). Please see my website for a run down of everything I discussed this week, as well as sources, websites/accounts mentioned, and various other points of interest. Cheers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 05, 2020•1 hr 16 min
