In the first beejive hive podcast of 2021 we discuss what jobs are left to do and our plans for the upcoming season.

You’ve probably noticed that the podcast has been on a sabbatical in 2020. Earlier this year Paul was diagnosed with cancer and has been receiving treatment for it this year, hopefully, we’ll be back next spring smokers blazing.  In this episode, Paul and Tracey catch up in the first-ever remotely recorded podcast. Tracey has been looking after Paul’s bees for him and we discuss how she’s managed to make way way more honey from his bees than he ever has.

In the December episode of our beekeeping podcast, we visit our friend Heather. A clinical scientist she spent her time researching viruses that none of us wants to catch before she discovered the far more charming beekeeping bug. She also bands her honey ‘Heather’s Honey’ a label that always makes me smile. Heather keeps her hive on a local allotment, which are local community gardens people use to grow fruits, vegetables and occasionally keep bees. If you’re interested in this uniquely British institution here is a handy history – https://www.learningwithexperts.com/gardening/blog/the-history-of-allotments  Unlike bees, people aren’t very harmonious in tight spaces and large groups making allotment beekeeping somewhat challenging. Heather’s bees have been blamed for everything including the obvious ‘your bees stung me’ to the comical ‘your bees are on my grass’ Listen to Heather tell her allotment tales and have a chuckle. By the way, I’ve discovered that in the United States ‘soda crystals’ aren’t sold in bags marked soda crystal. However, don’t despair you can buy it under its chemical name –  sodium carbonate decahydrate.

Welcome to the November episode of our beekeeping podcast. What did we get up to at the National Honey Show? At the end of the UK, beekeeping season is marked by the World’s oldest and largest honey show. Starting in 1923 the Honey Show is in its 88th year, interrupted only by the odd pesky World War and occasional fire.  I’ve only been going for the last five years but it’s now firmly established as my end of season ritual. Tracey, myself and some of our beekeeping friends meet up at the show, buy some stuff, watch some talks and visit the Bear Pub for a few beers. If you want to know more about the National Honey Show why not check out our interview with its Chairman and all-round class act Bob Maurer. The Honey Show show Every year the Honey Show books world-class speakers from across the beekeeping World and this year the keynote was Dr Ralph Büchler from the Kirchhain Bee Insitute and a key member of the Smart bees project. Over four lectures Ralph explored the importance of preserving the native strains of the honey bee, what we can learn about wild populations that have developed resistance to varroa, how to select from your own stock and an innovative biotechnical control for varroa you can use in your apiary. More detail about his technique can be found here –  https://freethebees.ch/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/brood-removal-web.pdf The National Honey Show videos all these lectures and eventually publishes them for free – http://www.honeyshow.co.uk/lecture-videos.php – whilst you are waiting to see Ralph and the other speakers yourself check out this valuable resource. Although our show is about the National Honey Show, it’s also about Honey the dog. As you’ll hear in the show Tracey’s dog Honey decided the recording podcast shenanigans wasn’t as important as chasing fox in the garden. We also have an exciting new podcast section to look forward to. Enjoy.

Hydroxymethylfurfural what a title for episode nineteen of our beekeeping podcast! I’ve googled what it means and this is how Rusty over at www.honeybeesuite.com explains it. hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) is a naturally-occurring organic acid with the formula C6H6O3. It is often formed during the dehydration of sugars, especially fructose, and is known to be toxic to honey bees. In this episode, we delve deep into organic chemistry. Only kidding Tracey mentions it during the recording and I thought it would be a cool title for this months show. You have no idea how tricky titling podcasts can be, so I take what I’m given. It’s the end of the season and we settle down to reflect how our beekeeping season has gone, what we have learned the high and low lights. This year Tracey’s apiary has been hit by Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus and it still persists into the autumn. She wonders if CBPV is going to be part of her beekeeping for the next few years as it is slowly eliminated from her honey bee colonies. Finding another site to use as an isolation apiary is one of her goals for next season. I’ve mastered the art of lazy smoker cleaning, maybe not the greatest beekeeping achievement. But, if you’ve ever spent five minutes gently smashing the lid of your sticky smoker to open it you’ll know the simple joy of having a clean smoker. We’re off to the National Honey Show this month and will be making an attempt to record the show in the pub. Should be out early November. Thanks for listening and if you enjoy the show please consider leaving a review. It helps people find us.

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In this episode, we discuss Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus and why grafting in the rain probably isn’t a good idea. We talk about the downs of beekeeping, but still have a laugh.

The beekeeping season has well and truly kicked off. Paul has been queen rearing in the rain, Tracey has moved her bees to Poo Farm. We chart about Snelgove boards, grumpy bees and are joined by Tracey’s dog and cats. IF you fancy coming on the podcast check out thebeehivejive.com/chat

  The new season is here!! Tracey has been roaming the outback of Australia, probably wrestling crocs but she made it back in time to record the first podcast of the year. Spring has sprung, and we’ve been in our hives, all alive and well … the stresses of beekeeping has begun. Paul is worried about swarm control and is planning to try the Snelgrove board method this year. Tracey has had great success in overwintering her colonies in poly hives now has started moving them into wood for the summer honey flows. She is also looking forward to moving bees back to the sewage works … erm … I mean the water treatment plant. We’re looking for a guests, so if you’ve ever fancied being on the podcast drop us a line at thebeehivejive@gmail.com and we’ll arrange a date.

In this episode of the worst introduced podcast in beekeeping, we chat with friend of the show John who has been keeping bees for a few years. 00:00 – 08:00: Paul’s oxalic sublimation method 08:00 – 14:00: The Croydon honey show 14:00 – 27:00: John’s honey year 27:00 – 34:00: John and Pauls beekeeping exam day 34:00 – 40:00: John’s top tip 40:00 – 48:00: Grouchy bees 48:00 – 55:00: How to spot a queen 55:00 – 01:05: Asian hornet update 01:05 – 01:22: Overwintering setups