Hi, this week we are talking about adapting honeybees, Surplus secrets and International Podcast Day. This is Episode Seventy Eight of our beekeeping podcast.
This executive producers for this months show are Lauren Hoffman and Aaron Jennings from Jennings Apiaries
You can download the podcast directly HERE, or click on the play button above. Feel free to share it with your friends.
Welcome To the kiwimana buzz…
Hi, it’s Gary and Margaret here, We are beekeepers from the hills of the Waitakere Ranges in West Auckland, New Zealand. Our podcast is about beekeeping, Gardening and bit of politics about environmental issues. We also have been known to go off on tangents about other issues.
What’s happening at kiwimana
Gary
Sad news – Dr Peter Molan has passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family.
You can find out more about International podcast day by visiting HERE.
Beekeeping News
Some honeybee colonies adapt in wake of deadly mites
Bees were studied in the Cornell university forest and some interesting results were found comparing Bee Samples from the 1970’s to todays bees.
The generic diversity has reduced, suggesting that perhaps only a small number of Queens survived the introduction of varroa mites.
The surviving bees evolved to be smaller. Is this proof that small cell bees are the answer?
A new genetics study of wild honeybees offers clues to how a population has adapted to a mite that has devastated bee colonies worldwide. The findings may aid beekeepers and bee breeders to prevent future honeybee declines.
Rita James – Maybe we could add apple cider vinegar to some water, we put out for them as it is supposed to stop mites in birds
Surplus secret: access holes with platforms
Is the secret to more honey “access holes with platforms” in your hives. Anthony Planakis from New York suite thinks so. Rusty from the Honey Bee Suite investigates Tony’s method.
For years I’ve followed the exploits of Detective Anthony Planakis, aka Tony Bees, as he rescued swarms of honey bees from the streets of New York City. Now retired, Tony Bees tends his own hives, sells honey, teaches beginners, and tries to keep me in line.
Have been using this method since 1977. The old timers would say “I’m not drilling into my wooden ware” but, understand, the supers are put into storage after extraction….Tony
Your feedback
Jennifer Finucane – Good web site and I have been using upper super entrances for about 4 years. Well worth the effort of drilling a hole, I use a dial on dial off method to close the hole with corflute. Best of all the bees love upper entrances.
The Controversial Flow Hive
An article from England from the Permaculture website. Helen talks to one of the creators and addresses some concerns from natural beekeepers.
Helen iles speaks with the creators of the controversial flow hive and some of its critics, giving you the two sides of the flow hive.
A sad story about a beekeepers loss due to an American Foul Brood incident near Christchurch.
Destroying and then burning a hive was the cruelest thing I ever had to do. All entrances to the hive had to be blocked and petrol poured over the bees. The noise they made when they died will forever be etched into my memory.
Marian Evans – This is so sad. I heard a similar story re rogue beekeeper scandal AFB in Auckland and last week.
Tracey Ultra – How terrible, poor bees. I loved watching my dads bees and our fruit trees flourished. Keepers have some huge challenges and disappointments that appear to be partly caused by intensive production.
Beekeepers try to keep bees and livelihoods from going extinct
An article from Leah Sottile in the Washington Post. Beekeepers are dying out, we ask how can we get young people into bees?
Over the past decade, billions of bees have been lost to colony collapse disorder, an umbrella term for factors thought to be killing honeybees in droves and threatening the nation’s food supply. Amid the die-off, beekeepers have been going to extraordinary lengths to save both their bees and their livelihoods.
Sweet deal leaves a sting for Australian honey producers
An article from the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia. There are concerns that some imported honey is mainly made from plant sugars and not honey at all. Australian beekeepers are struggling to compete with cheap imported honey. Jodie is refusing to import honey.
After emerging from a severe honey shortage, Beechworth Honey owner Jodie Goldsworthy contacted some her old customers to tell them she could supply them again. Their response surprised her.
Grant Turnpenny – Australian importers do not care about their customers!
Craig Lovell – Hope someone sorts out that mess fast.
Questions from you…
How do you make a wasp trap for your bee hive – Jamie from Avondale
How often can you use oxalic vaporizer on a hive – Sam from the South Island
How to attract swarm of bees – Brian – Northland
What are the different feeding methods – Sue in Auckland
If you have a question, email [email protected] and the team at kiwimana will do our best to answer it. Or visit out speakpipe page HERE
Feedback from you guys!!!
Email
Hello Hoppity & Awesome – Meg
I love your podcast. I listen on my android phone and can’t find a feedback option to tell you so, iPhone evidently has this but Android seems not to. I typically listen while I am doing chores on our dairy farm and often laugh out loud. (In the Midwest of the US where I live, we would say you are “a hoot.”)
I enjoy both the “Gary and Margaret Show” version (when the two of you chat about this and that) and the special guest/interview shows that teach me about beekeeping around the world and always make me resolve to do a better job engaging w/ my own 4 hives (I confess that I am kind of laissez faire beekeeper, I am afraid, although I guess Phil Chandler would say that’s ok, too).
At any rate, BANANAS to you !!!
Meg
Check out Meg and Kevins Minnesota farm at Derrydale Farm
Twitter
Hershel in Virginia
Started listening to episode 1 and now up to 8. Enjoying every minute while learning from you. Margaret threw me for a loop when talking about the mesh boards – it took me a bit to recognize she was saying “mesh” and not “mish” – Definitely not the southern accent I am used to here in Virginia!
Gary is the web designer and chief Propeller-head at kiwimana. He enjoys designing products which solve problems and is passionate about saving the Bees and encouraging urban beekeeping. Gary loves to write about issues that affect the Bees and our environment. He is one of the hosts of the kiwimana buzz Beekeeping podcast.
Hi, this week we are talking about adapting honeybees, Surplus secrets and International Podcast Day. This is Episode Seventy Eight of our beekeeping podcast.
Sad news – Dr Peter Molan has passed away. Our thoughts go out to his family.
Bees were studied in the Cornell university forest and some interesting results were found comparing Bee Samples from the 1970’s to todays bees.
An article from the Sydney Morning Herald in Australia.