Beekeeping at FiveApple

Feb 26 2025 121 ep. 32 mins 364
Beekeeping at FiveApple Podcast artwork

Talk, tips & how-to on sustainable beekeeping from the North Carolina mountains of Southern Appalachia.

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Ep 127 Rescued by Bee Friends!

Feb 26 2025 32 mins  
Telling the recent story of how my apiary was saved by bee friends after a tree fell right over the middle of it. Ed and Jim, you saved the day. Plus a reminder to keep an eye on your hive's stores as we start getting more warm days. Photos of the rescue (open to everyone) at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/123119994 -- You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Pat

Ep126 Propolis!

Feb 11 2025 36 mins  
A couple things the bees do with propolis I forgot to mention in the episode: embalming hive intruders, fencing in hive beetles! Bee caulk is amazing. Links collected over at Patreon on the post: The first video I watched on the unexpected winter losses among commercial beekeepers in the US by Dr Humberto Boncristiani of Inside the Hive TV. More on the losses from The Bee Supply c

Ep 125 Starting with packages

Feb 01 2025 49 mins  
Tips and thoughts on starting with packages for the first time, or starting again after winter loss. Patron exclusive links over at patreon.com/fiveapple Kamon Reynolds showing both ways to install on YouTube. I thought this was an excellent overview. A non-video tutorial from NC extension -- showing the "shake them out" method...the one you will need to use if the weather is poor

Ep 124 Better (than caging) Brood Breaks

Jan 15 2025 37 mins  
Ep 124 Better (than caging) Brood Breaks Diving into why there are better options (imo) than caging a queen to create a brood break for mite reduction. Exclusive show notes and links to the things mentioned in this episode are available for patrons over at Patreon. -- ---- You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patreon to join the folks who make the podcasts p

Ep 123 Welcome to 2025!

Jan 03 2025 38 mins  
Some reflection on the past year's bee season and things I'd like to continue with (and get better at) in the new season to come. Show notes for patrons with links for stuff mentioned in this episode are over in the Patreon post for this episode: Layens hives, Queen Castles, Long Langs, fave beekeeper YouTubers. ---- You are warmly invited to become a Friend of Five Apple on Patr

Ep 122: New Insulation Setup and The "Condensing Hive"

Dec 12 2024 48 mins  
A deeper dive into the why and how of the insulation setup I started using several years ago, the condensing-hive concept. For the patrons, find the links to everything mentioned in the show, and the video I made for you, over at Patreon.com/fiveapple Thanks to all the listeners and wishing you a good overwintering of your bees! Leigh ---- You are warmly invited to become a Frien

Late Fall...and Large NC disaster (Ep 121)

Nov 14 2024 83 mins  
The first portion is about bees and the ups and downs of Fall care. Then in a change of subject, I want to tell you about what happened in my little section of Western NC in the floods of Hurricane Helene...as well as try to help get you thinking about your own disaster preparedness. I'm grateful to all of you and want you to be prepared for the when-not-if of weather disasters in

Fall prep list (120)

Sep 13 2024 35 mins  
Fall prep list (120) How can it be September already?!? In this episode I go through my own fall prep list and considerations. WELCOME new patrons Sam, Phil, Taylor and Missy! Thank you so much for joining us and keeping this podcast free of advertising. Thank you so much for listening, sharing and leaving a good review if you are enjoying the episodes. Leigh ---- You are warmly

Loads of info! Part 2 Troy Hall of Hall Apiaries (119)

Aug 11 2024 36 mins  
In the second part of the interview, Troy talks about his late summer/fall management strategy as well as how he manages to overwinter nucs (a core part of his operation as it is to mine) in New Hampshire winters. He also gives me some great tips on how to make winter feeding of those nucs easier in my apiary. Troy also talks about the benefits of raising and selling overwintered n

Troy Hall of Hall Apiaries Interview part 1, Ep 118

Jul 15 2024 52 mins  
Today's episode is part one of a rambling bee chat I had with full-time beekeeper Troy Hall of New Hampshire back in the Spring. At Hall Apiaries he produces honey, queens and nucs in a creative, stationary operation of 700ish hives primarily managed without treatments. What a delightful and inspiring person and beekeeper! Hope you enjoy it. Show Note Links: Hall Apiaries Website h