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HomesteadHensandHoneyUpdates & animal shenanigans!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.2023-09-0850 minHomesteadHensandHoneyMy current nemesis: Thistle!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.htmlhttps://deepgreenpermaculture.com/2021/04/21/how-to-neutralise-glyphosate-roundup-herbicide-contamination-in-soil/https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2664.13867https://www.science.org/content/article/common-weed-killer-believed-harmless-animals-may-be-harming-bees-worldwidehttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721004654https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32723788/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy...2023-07-2145 minHomesteadHensandHoneyRelaxed Fit! Updates & Bee ChatterI'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 inspired!)Queenright Colonies' Beekeeping Calendar17th Century...2023-07-1450 minHomesteadHensandHoneyFrogs That FreezeHappy 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.2023-06-2330 minHomesteadHensandHoneyBaby Raccoon Attack??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). Frank discussion of animal death...2023-06-1637 minHomesteadHensandHoneyBaby Season! & Hive UpdateI'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-palooza here, right...2023-05-2646 minHomesteadHensandHoneyThe Birds & The BeesHappy 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 marked this episode explicit because a few swears slip out. I...2023-05-1239 minHomesteadHensandHoneyChaos Sprites (aka chickens)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 here. Apologies for the...2023-04-2817 minHomesteadHensandHoneySpring has sprung! (maybe)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!2023-04-2137 minHomesteadHensandHoneyFarm Story: Higgins, the Russian TortoiseThis 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 pics and videos of Higgins doing his thing.2023-04-141h 00HomesteadHensandHoneyRelaxed Fit! Homestead UpdatesI'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 CalendarTooth and Claw Podcast (highly recommend listening!!)My Website (which I will no longer be...2023-04-0751 minHomesteadHensandHoneyBees in the news!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 videoSmithsonian article‘Social Signal Learning of the waggle dance in honey bees’ by Shihao Dong...2023-03-1737 minHomesteadHensandHoneyFrostbite & ChickensHello, 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.2023-03-1038 minHomesteadHensandHoneyFarm Story: TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return)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...2023-03-0329 minHomesteadHensandHoneyObesity in ChickensHello! 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 sc...2023-02-2234 minHomesteadHensandHoneyFarm Story: Boo & the RoosterThis 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.2023-02-1520 minHomesteadHensandHoney2022 Hive NewsThis 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 th...2023-02-081h 10HomesteadHensandHoney2022 In Review(& Chicken Math)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.2023-02-0152 min
HomesteadHensandHoney2021 Goals: what worked? what didn't?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/privacy for more inf...2022-03-1156 minHomesteadHensandHoneyOn Hiatus until Spring 2022Hi 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 listening these la...2021-10-2111 minHomesteadHensandHoneyHive News & English OrpingtonsHappy 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 information related to my broody hen and chick d...2021-09-0241 minHomesteadHensandHoneyAll Things Varroa Mite (re-post)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 will act as a useful refresher on this nasty p...2021-08-191h 11HomesteadHensandHoneyMini episode: broody hens & hive updatesHello 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 episode. Thanks f...2021-08-0531 minHomesteadHensandHoneyVacation Ep: repost of Episode 1!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 will...2021-07-2249 minHomesteadHensandHoneyRelaxed Fit Episode!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 rescuearticle on wild and mock strawberriesCDC guide on cleaning raccoon latrines Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2021-07-081h 13HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Thinking Beekeeper by C.Hemenway - Part2Hello 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/privacy for more information.2021-06-241h 25HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Thinking Beekeeper by C.Hemenway - Part 1Hello 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)Mann Lake Ltd. Unassembled Top Bar HiveEtsy2021-06-101h 10HomesteadHensandHoneyGold Star Honeybees Top Bar Hive ReviewThis 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. Episode 16 can be found her...2021-05-271h 02HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Adventures of Ginny the Guinea!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 YoutubeGood Sprout RescueFowl Play RescueMy website (with photos and a rundown of everything discussed)Thank you so much for listening, and stay safe out t...2021-05-131h 08HomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, final chapters!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. Thanks for listening! Hosted on...2021-04-291h 08HomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 9Hello 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 pictures from around my homestead. I hope you'll join me again in...2021-04-1549 minHomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 8Hello 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 out this beautiful bee t...2021-04-0157 min
HomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 7Hello 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 Rescue; a wonderful organisation that saves domestic...2021-03-181h 10HomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 6This 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 of everything discussed plus some nifty photos. ...2021-03-0457 minHomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 5Hello 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 of some of my bee colonies, and the fun that is Ch...2021-02-181h 11HomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 4Hello 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 out the treats and layer feed available at...2021-02-041h 03HomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 3Hello 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 swarm a pair of boxes; 1 box had a typical nest entrance area of 12.5 sq-cm/2.5 sq-in, and th...2021-01-211h 11HomesteadHensandHoneyHoneybee Democracy, T.Seeley, Chpt 2Happy 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 from the book, please see my...2021-01-071h 09HomesteadHensandHoney'Honeybee Democracy', T.Seeley, Chpt 1Hello 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 episode with some personal updates and well wishes for the new year.2020-12-241h 04
HomesteadHensandHoney2020 Goals: What worked? What didn't?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 where I discussed my 2019 achievements (and my first year of hands o...2020-12-101h 08
HomesteadHensandHoneyChicken Biology, Part 2Happy 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 especially challenging, so I wanted to share some resources for anyone who...2020-11-261h 10HomesteadHensandHoneyChicken Biology, Part 1This 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 anterior thoracic air sacs. Whoops! There is a diagram on the website that shows all the air sacs an...2020-11-121h 04
HomesteadHensandHoneyReproductive Disorders in ChickensHello! 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 referenced for this episode:‘The Chicken Healt...2020-10-291h 16
HomesteadHensandHoney'The Lives of Bees', T.Seeley, Chpt 11It'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.2020-10-151h 19HomesteadHensandHoney'The Lives of Bees', T.Seeley, Chpt10Hello 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 Acast. See acast.com/pr...2020-10-011h 18HomesteadHensandHoney'The Lives of Bees', T.Seeley, Chpt 9I'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. Sorry about that! Thank you for li...2020-09-1755 minHomesteadHensandHoneyInterview with John Swan, host of The Hive Jive!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...2020-09-031h 16HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Lives of Bees, T.Seeley, Chpt 8Welcome 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 over the years. Local folks...2020-08-201h 13
HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Lives of Bees, T.Seeley, Chpt 7I'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 bees, and what you can do about it.2020-08-061h 06HomesteadHensandHoneyHive news & my first honey harvest!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....2020-07-231h 22HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Lives of Bees, T.Seeley, chpt 5&6Continuing 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, and graphs from the book. Stay s...2020-07-091h 21HomesteadHensandHoneyMaking nucleus colonies, & bee mathWelcome 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 details. Stay safe, stay healthy, and st...2020-06-251h 07
HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Lives of Bees book review, chpt 3&4Hello 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 Instagram that relates to the...2020-06-111h 08
HomesteadHensandHoneyRelaxed fit ep! & Chicken HospitalsHello 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 alert! I us...2020-05-281h 15HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Lives of Bees by T.Seeley, chapters 1&2Hello 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.2020-05-141h 05HomesteadHensandHoneyHive update, babies, book review #2Hey 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.2020-04-301h 35HomesteadHensandHoneyHive news & a book reviewHey 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.2020-04-161h 19HomesteadHensandHoneyHive update & the TCBA Spring workshopHey 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 discussed, as well as links and...2020-04-021h 30
HomesteadHensandHoneyEdible Gardens pt3! (sunflowers, 3 Sisters, pasture plants)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 well as a list of sources. Stay safe and take care of...2020-03-1955 minHomesteadHensandHoneyEdible Gardens pt2! (herbs, lettuce, greens, parsnips)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.2020-03-051h 16
HomesteadHensandHoneyEdible Gardens, pt1 (tomatoes, peppers, herbs)Hello hello! Thanks so much for tuning in. This week, I'm talking about edible gardens, and things that I'd like to grow! This is part 1 of a 3 part series so stay tuned! As always, check out my website for source materials, topics covered, and website links. Also, pretty pictures! Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-02-201h 11HomesteadHensandHoneyDreaming of Spring; 2nd year beekeepingHi folks! This week I'm talking about preparing for Spring and my second year of beekeeping. Find sources referenced and various links over on my website. Cheers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-02-061h 08HomesteadHensandHoneyAn Introduction to QuailHey folks! I had some volume issues with the first 20 minutes of this episode so I apologize if it's rather quiet. Apparently, I also couldn't pronounce 'coturnix' consistently, either! I blame the cold. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it!For the first episode of 2020, I am talking about quail and why they might be a good addition to your homestead. Please see my website for a list of sources and a rundown of everything discussed. Cheers! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2020-01-231h 30
HomesteadHensandHoneyHoney bee racesHey folks! This week, I give you the usual updates on the homestead, and then talk about different races of honey bee (such as the Italian, Caucasian, Cordovan, etc). Please check out my blog for a list of sources, and links to articles for further reading. Happy holidays! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-12-1953 min
HomesteadHensandHoneyBees, chickens, and ducks, oh my!Welcome to episode 9! A post-holiday, relaxed fit episode where I discuss three topics that caught my interest recently. Please see my website for links to articles and source material for this episode. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-12-051h 04
HomesteadHensandHoney2019 Goals; what worked? what didn't?This week, I'm talking about what goals I had set for 2019! I go through what didn't get accomplished, what did, and what I learned from it all. Please check out my website for links to items discussed in the episode, along with accompanying photos. Thanks for listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-11-211h 05
HomesteadHensandHoneyAll things honey!Welcome! This week, I talk about what honey is, how it's made, and how it is extracted. For references and article links, please see my my website!. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-11-071h 10HomesteadHensandHoneyHomestead update; hen and bee newsHi folks! This week, I talk about the happenings going on at my homestead. It's a sad one as I discuss the process of having a hen euthanized, and the issue of pets vs livestock. There's also a brief discussion of depression and seasonal affective disorder (and I drop the F-bomb at least once, sorry!). I also discuss my last hive inspection and how the colonies are shaping up before winter.As always, you can find my blog here. Thanks so much for listening and sticking with me! Hosted on Acast. See acas...2019-10-241h 02HomesteadHensandHoneyPreparing hives for winterThis week, I share what I learned about preparing honey bees to survive the winter. It can feel a little daunting but hopefully this helps clarify what we need to be doing at this time of year.As always, please see my website for a complete list of references used for this episode. Happy listening! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-10-101h 07
HomesteadHensandHoneyThe Varroa MiteThis week, it is all things varroa! What is this nasty mite? Where did it come from? What is it doing to our honey bees? I'll give you a history of transmission, some basic mite biology, and ways to test for and treat this troublesome parasite.For a list of sources/citations, please visit my website! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-09-261h 11
HomesteadHensandHoney#Beedrama! How I lost one queen and gained two moreWelcome to episode 3! This week, I give an update on things at the homestead, and then discuss how I came to make a hashtag for beedrama to chronicle my drama with the hives. The key lesson here is: bees don't read the textbook! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-09-1957 minHomesteadHensandHoneyWhy bees? An introduction to the European honey beeThis week's episode is all about bees! I discuss the meandering path I took to find my way to this exciting hobby, and then go over some beekeeping basics. If you've ever found yourself wondering about the marvelous insect that produces honey, give it a listen!Corresponding blog post can be found here! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-09-1250 min
HomesteadHensandHoneyA chicken in a parking lotBeekeeping and homesteading podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.2019-09-0547 min