“ Beginners Guide to Bee Keeping ”

Anne-Marie “Dash” Miller

*FULL TRANSCRIPT*

Hosted By Marjory Wildcraft www.TheGrowNetwork.com

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“Beginners Guide to Bee Keeping”

Anne-Marie “Dash” Miller

Marjory: Hello,andwelcometotheHomeGrownFoodSummit.MynameisMarjoryWildcraft,andI'myourhost.ThisSummitisbroughttoyoubyTheGrowNetwork,andweareacommunityofpeoplethatarereallydoingstuff.Imean,wegrowfood,wemakemedicine,andyouknowwhat?We'rebecomingextraordinarilyhealthy.We'realsoreally,reallyimportantinallofourneighborhoods.AndI'msogladthatyou'reherewithus.

Now,atopicthatcomesupthatpeopleaskmeaboutallthetimeisbeekeeping.AnnMarie,actuallyherfriendscallherDash,everybodyhereatTheGrowNetworkcallsherDash,hasstartedbeekeepingandputtogetherthisbeginningbeekeepingpresentation.Ithoughtitwasvery,verylovely.Forthoseofyouthathaveneverkeptbeesandyouwanttogetasenseofwhatit'sabout,Dashreallyshareswhat'sgoingon.

Here'salittlebitaboutDash.Shealwayswantedtoliveoutinthecountry,butwhenthatdidn'thappen,shedecidedtobloomwhereshewasplantedonasuburbanthird-acrelotinDallas,Texas.Now,Dashgrowsalotofthefoodforherfamilyonthatlot,includingtonsofveggies,rabbitmeat,eggs,and,ofcourse,honey.Dashhasverylittlemoneytoworkwith,soshe'sanexpertatthinkingoutsidetheboxandmakingsomethingoutofnothing.Ithinkyou'llreallyappreciatethatintheswarmboxthatsheshowsyouhere.Iwaslike,"Oh,mygosh,that'singenious."

DashisafirstchildofGod,andhopestoglorifyHimwithallthatshesaysanddoes.Herurbanhomesteadhasbecometheepicenterofanactivecommunityandawonderfuldemonstrationofhowtogrowfoodinanurbanarea.

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Now,whenIwasayounggirlgrowingup,IgrewupinFlorida,actuallyNorthMiami,Florida,andwehadbees.Tookoverpartofourhouse,andthenweendedupmovingthemintohives.Asayounggirl,andthisisearlymiddleschool,mysisterandI,wehadthejoboftakingcareofthebeesandthenextrudingthehoneyandbottlingitup.Wesolditatthefleamarketsontheweekends,andthat'showImademylittletweenagepocketmoneyforquiteafewyears.So,Iabsolutelyreallylovebees.Peoplewhocometovisitmenowsay,"Hey,Marjory,whereareyourbees?"AndIsay,"Youknowwhat?I'vegotsomethingbetter."

So,watchthispresentationwithDash,andattheendofit,I'lltellyouwhatIhavethat'sactuallybetterthanbees.Butbeesaresuperlovely,andthey'realotoffun.Watchthis.Dashdoesareallygreatjobofhelpingpeoplewhoarebrandnewbeginnersgetarealsenseofwhatit'sliketodealwithbees.

Dash: Hi.DashherefromBloomWhereYou'rePlantedandifyou'rewatchingthisvideo,thenyouareprobablyinterestedinbeekeepingonsomelevel.IhavebeenbeekeepingforfouryearsandIamheretotellyouitisthemostfascinating,exhilarating,amazing,rewardingthingthatIhaveeverdoneinmylifebutIthoughtbeekeepingwouldbeonewaybeforeIwasabeekeeperandthenwhenIbecameabeekeeper,IlearnedthatitwasalittlebitdifferentthanwhatIthoughtitwouldbe.

IhadsomemisconceptionsaboutbeekeepingandIwanttoclearthoseupforyouandshowyoutherealitiesofbeekeepingandthenwe'regoingtotalkaboutwhatyouneedtostartwith.Therearetwohivedesignsthatarepopular.We'regoingtotalkaboutthoseandtheadvantagesanddisadvantagestoboth.Thenwe'regoingtotalkaboutthebasicequipmentthatyou'regoingtoneednomatterwhichhiveyouchoosetogetyoustartedontherightfood.ThenhangontilltheendbecauseI'mgoingtoshowyouhowtobuildaswarmtrapthatwillbringthebeestoyou.

Allright.Therealitiesofbeekeeping.BeforeIbecameabeekeeper,Ihadonethoughtaboutitwouldbelikeandthenitwasverydifferent

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thanIwhatIthoughtitwasgoingtobe.SomeofthemisconceptionsIhad,thefirstoneisIthoughtthatIwouldgetthesebeesandIwouldinstalltheminthehiveandIhonestlythoughtthatwouldbethehardestpart,gettingtheminthehiveandgettingthemtostay.ThenIthoughtIwouldjustwalkawayandtheywoulddotheirthingandIwouldcomeinthespringtime,inthefallandIwouldharvestthehoneyformyhomesteadandIwouldbeabeekeeper.

Itotallyunderestimatedthetimeitwouldtaketobeasuccessfulbeekeeper.Itotallyunderestimatedtheamountoftime,theamountoffrequencythatIwouldneedtocheckinonthehive.WhyamIhavingtocheckinonthehivesomuch?Becauseespeciallyifyouhaveatop-bar,youneedtocheckeveryweekonthosebuildingperiodsinthespringbecauseyourbeescouldcross-comb.Letmeshowyouwhatthatis.Whenyouhaveatop-bar,thebeesarebuildingonthis.They'rebuildingtheircombdownonthisbar,hencethenametop-bar.

Whattheycando,though,isiftheydon'tthinkyouhaveenoughspacebetweenthesebars,insteadofbuildingonthebarstraight,theybuilddiagonallytogivethemselvesmorespace.Youcome.Yousayyou'veleftyourhiveforafewweeksandyou'vecometoharvestsomehoneyorcheckonthemandyoutrytolifeoneoftheseoutandthecombbreaksandit'sastickymess.Itfallsdowninthehiveandyougotarealmessonyourhands.Thatisonereasonabeekeeperneedstocheckontheirbeeseveryweek,especiallyifyouhaveatop-bar.Iwasnotexpectingtohavetocheckonthesecritterseveryweek.

ThenanotherreasonyouwanttocheckonthemisbecauseonetimeIhadaLangstrothhive.IworkedwiththosetwoandIputmyhiveinthere,Iinstalledthem,Icaughtoneinaswarmtrap,IinstalledthemintheLangstrothhive.Icamebackthreeweekslaterandopenedthelidandtherewasahugehivebeetleinfestation.

Yep.Westillhaveahugeproblem.Ohmygosh.

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IfIhadleftthosebeesformaybeeventwoorthreeweekslonger,theymighthavetotallydiedoutorabscondedthehivebecausethehivebeetleinfestationwassogreat.Asyoucansee,thereareproblemsthathappenthatyoucanhelpthebees,youcanworkwithbutifit'sleftforalongstretchoftime,youcanreallygetintotrouble.Theycangetintotrouble.ItotallyunderestimatedtheamountoftimeitwouldtakeandthefrequencythatIwouldneedtoworkwiththeseamazinginsects.That'soneoftherealitiesofbeekeeping.

MynextmisconceptionwasthatIcouldnevergetstung.IcouldjustlaughandlaughandlaughaboutthatbecauseIhavegottenstung.It'sjustapartofbeekeeping.OnetimeIactuallyhadabeecomeundermyveilandIfeltitclimbupmyneckandintomyearcanal.Yeah.Thatkindofunhingedmeandyeah,itstungmethereandIhadtoworkputtingupeverything,Ihadtoclosethehivewiththisbeeinmyearsquirmingaround.Yeah.Beingstungisjustpartofbeekeeping.It'sgoingtohappen,hopefullynotinyourear.

Thereissuchadisconnectbetweenthosebeesthatyouseeoutintheflowersandthebushessopeacefullygatheringnectarandpollenandthenwhenyoubecomeabeekeeper,you'reenteringtheirhomeandyou'restealingtheirfoodsourceandyou'removingtheirkidsaround.Imagineifsomebodybrokeintoyourhomeandstartedstealingyourfoodandmessingwithyourkids.Youwoulddefendyourself,wouldn'tyou?That'sthesamewithbees.It'ssuchadisconnectbetweenthosepeacefulinsectsthatIsawoutintheflowersthatIlovedasakid,Ilovedtositandwatchforhoursandevencatchtheminmyhandsandwatchthemandlookatthem.ThenwhenIbecameabeekeeper,Iwasexpectingthatpeacefulinsectandit'sadifferentthingwhenyou'rebreakingintheirhomeandyou'restealingtheirfood.Theyaregoingtodefendthemselvesandthey'regoingtogoforyoureyesbecauseifabearattackedtheirhive,theyknowgofortheeyesandthenoseandthat'sgoingtodissuadethemthefastest.Yeah.ThatwasdefinitelyarealityofbeekeepingthatIlearned.

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There'sonemorethingIwanttopointoutthat'sarealityofbeekeepingthatwasreallyconfusingtomeiswaswhenIwasbeginning,Iwouldseepeopleontheinternetinvideosandtheywouldbeworkingtheirbeeswithnothingon,atee-shirt,flip-flopsandthatconfusedme.ItmademethinkIcoulddothat,too.Usually,though,nowthatI'mwiseaboutbees,I'llgoonthosevideosandI'lllookwherearetheyfrom?Usuallyti'ssomewhereupnorthandforvariousreasonsbeekeepingdownsouthisjustnotthesameasinthenorthernstates.Thebeesdownsoutharemoreaggressivesodon'tseesomebodyonavideo,youdon'tknowwherethey'recomingfrom,workingtheirbeeswithoutprotectionandthinkyoucandothat,too.

IactuallyhavelearnedthatIamallergictobeessothatwasreallydisappointingbutasIgotstung,IstartedgettingmoreofareactionuntilIgotasystemicreactionandsonowwhenyouseemeinthevideos,you'regoingtoseemeinfullgarbandthatisbecauseI'malittlebitallergictobees.Itdoesn'tdissuademebecauseIamhooked.ThesearefascinatingcreaturesandthisissorewardingthatIjustcan'tturnbacknowsoI'mjustgoingtobecareful.

ThenextmisconceptionIhadwasthatIwouldgetlotsandlotsofhoney.Ittookmetwoyearsofmyhive,settingtheminthereandmyhivebuildingupbeforeIevergotadropofhoneybecausethisisthebee'sfood,too,andifthey'rebuildingandthey'regettingstarted,theyneedthathoneyandsoyoucan'thaveitforawhile.Yeah.Peoplewouldaskme,"AreyougettinglotsofhoneyandcanIhavesome?"Everybodywantssomehoneybutyeah.ItwasawhilebeforeIactuallygotthatyummytasteofhoneybutitmadeallthemoreworthitwhenIfinallydidgetmyfirsthoneyharvest.

ThenthelastmisconceptionaboutwhatbeekeepingisreallylikewasIthoughtthatIwouldneedtohavealotofroom,maybeaplaceoutinthecountry,afieldwheretheywouldhaveplentyoffoodsourceandIfoundthatnottobetrue.Ihavethreehivesandthey'reallinbackyard,notalotofspace.Wejustputtheminthecornerofthebackyardandtheyjustcomeoutandtheygooverthefence.Theydon'tmesswithmypetsormychildren.Theyjustexistnicelythere

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andIhonestlythinkthatinthecity,theymighthavemoreofafoodsourcethaninthecountrybecauseofallthebeautifullandscaping.I'minDallas,Texassothebeautifullandscapingthatisdone,theyactuallyIthinkhavealotofflowerstoworkwith.ThatwasdefinitelysomethingthatIwasexcitedtolearn.

Allright.Thatclearsupsomemisconceptionsthatmostpeoplehaveaboutbeekeeping.Iwantedtobehonestwithyouandtellyoutherealitiesofit.Nowwe'regoingtogetintowhatyou'regoingtoneed.Whattypeofhivedoyouwantyourbeestobein?

Inthisvideo,thisisusworkingoneofourtop-barhivesandtheadvantagestothetop-barhiveare,firstadvantage,theycanbeveryinexpensivetobuild.ThehivethatIhaveistrulyaworkofartandthat'skindoffunbecauseitcanbeaworkofartandthat'skindoffun.Myhiveissofancyjustbecausemybrother-in-lawhasmadcarpentryskillsandlovesmeandnowhealsolovesbeekeepingandheismybeekeepingbuddynowsoit'snicetohavehimalongsideme.Idohaveafriendthatusesscraplumbertobuildhistop-barhivesverysimplyforalmostnocosttohim.Youcanmakeitassimpleorassophisticatedasyouwant.

Thesecondadvantagetobuildinginatop-barhiveissomepeoplesaythetop-barhiveisamorenaturaloptionforthebeesbecausetheycanchoosetheirownbeespaceandtheirowncombsizejustliketheywouldbuildinanaturalhollowcavity.Somepeoplebelievethatyou'llhavehealthierbeesandlesspestsifyouputtheminatop-barhive.

Anotheradvantageismytop-barhiveisliftedupoffthegroundonlegsandsoit'sinmychickenyardandsothechickensworktheearthunderitandtheytotallytakecareofsmallhivebeetlesproblemforme.I'veneverseenasmallhivebeetleinmyhivethatIhaveinmychickenyardandtheydon'tbotherthechickens.Thechickensdon'tbotherthebeesbutyeah.Nosmallhivebeetles,whichisunheardof,especiallybecauseIhaveitintheshade.They'remoreprevalentintheshadesothat'sanadvantageforsure.Anotheradvantageiswiththetop-barhive,there'snoheavyliftingofboxesfullofbees.

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Okay,nowthedisadvantagestoatop-barhive,cross-comb.It'ssofrustrating.BeesaremuchmorelikelytobuildtheircomballwonkyandIexplainedwhatcross-combwasearlierinthevideo.Becauseofthis,youhavetocheckonthetop-barhivemoreoftenandsoit'smoreofatimecommitmentonyourpartifyouhaveyourbeesinatop-barhive.Anotherdisadvantageisit'shardtoexpand.Youjusthavethattop-barspacetoworkwithsooncetheyfillthatspaceup,youhavetomanagethemtokeepthemfromswarming.

Anotherdisadvantageit'shardertoharvestthehoneyandyouhavetoremovethewholecombandcrushitandstrainitonatop-barhive.Thebeeshavetoworkmuchhardertobuildnewhoneycombafteryouhaveharvestedthehoney.Asaresult,youprobablygetlesshoneywithatopbarhiveandyouneedtoleavemorehoneyforthembecauseittakesalotofhoneytobuildthatnewcomb.Thenanotherdisadvantageisthecombcanbreakoffifnothandledproperlyandespeciallyit'sweakintheheat,inthosehotTexassummers.Thosearethedisadvantages.

NowfortheLangstrothhive.TheadvantagestotheLangstrothhiveisyoucanjustorderakitandyoucanputittogethereasilyandgetstarted.Youdon'thaveanyrealcontroloverthepricebutit'seasytogetstarted.Nobuildingskillsrequired.Ifyouhaveahammerandanailandglue,youcanhandlethat.InaLangstrothhive,anotheradvantageisthere'smuchlesschanceofthemcrossingthecomb,buildingdiagonalbecauseyou'vegotthoseframesinthereandafterall,MisterLangstrothwhoinventedthebeespaceinaLangstrothhive,soit'snamedafterhim,andtheylikethatbeespaceandsotheybuildverystraightinaLangstrothhive.

Anotheradvantageisthehoneyharvestismucheasierandit'slessworkforthebees.WhenyouharvestthoseframesoutofaLangstrothhive,youcouldjustputtheminahoneyextractorandspinthemandgetthehoneyoutandthenyoucouldjustputthatcombrightbackthereforthebeestofillupagainsoit'salotlessworkforyouandthebees.Anotheradvantageisit'seasiertoexpandthehive.Youcanjustkeepaddingboxesontoptogiveyourbeesmoreroom.That'sabigadvantageandit'salsouniform,meaning

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otherbeekeepersareworkingwiththeexactsamemeasurementofboxesandframesthatyouaresoyoucanhelpeachotherout.

Mytop-barhive,I'vebuilt21inchesacrosswhichisthesameastheframesinaLangstrothhivesoIcantakemytop-bartohelpoutmyLanghivebutIcan'ttakeanythingfromtheLanghiveandhelpoutmytop-bar.Idon'tknowifthatmakessensebutitdoeshelp,ifyou'reworkingwithboth,ifyoumakeyourbarsthesamewidthacrossastheframeinaLangstrothoraLangstrothbox.

NowforthedisadvantagestotheLangstrothhive.It'sjustsounoriginal.WhatcanIsay?It'sawhitefilecabinetofbeesbasically.Althoughyoucanartitupifyouwant,thathelps.Thentheseconddisadvantageisit'sheavylifting.Whenyou'reliftingaboxfullofbuzzingbeesoraboxfullofhoney,it'sheavyandsoifyou'vegotabackproblemorifyou'reslightinstature,thenyou'regoingtoprobablyneedabeekeepingbuddy,somebodytoworkthebeeswithyouwhichisnotabadthing.Ienjoyitalotmorealongwithafriendbutifyou'regoingtoworkyourbeesyourself,thenyou'regoingtohavesomeheavylifting.Thenyoudefinitelywanttobeabletogetyourtruckoryourfour-wheelerbackeduptowhereveryouLanghiveisbecauseyou'regoingtowanttotakethatboxandIputitonatruckorsomesortoftransportationtogetitout.

Okay.Thenalsowhenyouhavetochangethebottomboardfromasolidtoascreenbottomboardtogivethemmoreventilationinthesummer,youhavetoliftallofthoseboxesofftochangeitandit'sveryhardtodobyyourself.ThosearesomedisadvantagestoaLangstrothhive.

Nomatterwhichhivestyleyouchoose,you'regoingtoneedsomebasicbeekeepingequipment.Thefirstoneisyou'regoingtoneedyourbeesuit.Thisisafull-bodyprotectivebeesuit.Ithinkitprotectsyouthebest.BecauseIhaveanallergytobees,thisisgreatforme.However,mycameramanwearsjustaveil,aseparateveilwithalongsleevewhiteshirtandthickpantsbuthe'snotallergictobeesandhe'snotgoingtobeintheregettingintothemlikeIam.Theyalsosellajacket,aone-sizebeejacketwithaveil.Ireallydolikethat.IfIwere

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notallergictobees,Iwouldpurchasethatbecauseit'ssonicetobeabletojustbeoutinthefieldandyou'redonewithyourbeesandyoucanjusttakethejacketoff.Its'justeasierthantheone-piecething.

Okay.Thenextthingyou'regoingtoneedisyourgloves.You'regoingtoneedbeeglovestoworkwithyourbeesanddefinitelygoforthelittlebitmoreexpensivegoatleatherglovesbecauseIstartedoutwiththecanvasglovesandthebeesstungrightthroughthemanditwasn'tpretty.Definitely,goatleather.Goatleather.

Thenyou'regoingtoneedahivetoo.Thisisgoingtobeyourbestfriend.Thisisforpryingupthoseframesandliftingthemoutbecausethebeesaregoingtostickeverythingtogetherwithpropolis,whichiskindoflikebeecaulking.You'regoingtodefinitelyneedthisandIwouldaddalsoagoodserratedknife,alongknife.Youcancutthepropolisout.Youcancutthecombawayfromthesideofthetop-barsodefinitelyIalwaysusethisalmosteverytimeIgetintothehive.

Thenyou'regoingtoneedabrushofsomesort.Theysellbeebrushes.IjusthadabrandnewpaintbrushthathadneverbeenusedandIjustdecidedtousethatsothisiswhatIuse.Thenlastbutnotleast,you'regoingtoneedasmoker.Whathappenswhenyousmokethebeesisittellsthem,"Oh,there'safirenearby.Thesmokeisblowingourway,ourtreeisnext."Theyruninsidethehiveandtheystartdrinkinghoney,whichtakestheattentionoffofyou,sothisisveryimportant.Definitelygetyourselfasmoker.

Allright.Thenyoumightnervesofsteelbecauseitwasalittlebithardformetogetusedtothesoundofthebeesbuzzing.Thatwasonethingthat'shardformetogetusedto.Ithelpsifyoucangetsomebodytoworkwithyouthathasworkedwithbeesbeforeoryoucanworksomeone'shivethat'shadbeestoreallygetusedtothatbecauseyou'llseethembeingcalmandtheyknowwhatthey'redoingandthey'lljusthelpyoujustgetusedtoitbeforeyoucrackintoyourownhive.Thenifyou'relikeme,youmightneedtoputalittlechewableBenadrylinyourpocketjustincase.

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Bythistimeyouprobablyrealizethatbeekeepingcanbeaveryexpensivehobby.Onceyou'veboughtyourhivebodyandallyourequipmentorbuiltitwithatop-bar,you'reshellingoutquiteabitofmoneypotentially.Thenyoustillhavetogetthebees.IfyouhaveaLangstrothhive,ifyou'vedecidedonthatstyle,thenyou'regoingtoneedtopurchaseanuke.Whatthisis,it'scalledanucleushiveandwhatitisisit'sjustaboxwithanentrancerighthereandframesinside,fiveframes.Theywillbefullofbeesandtheywillhaveaqueeninthere.ThesearebeesthathavebeenworkingandtheywillhaveestablishedcombandbroodandyoujusttaketheframesandyouinstallthemintoyourLangstrothbox.Anukewillbeabout$250.ThisiswhatyouneedforaLangstrothhive.

Foratop-barhive,ofcourseyoucan'ttakethisframeandputitinatriangularshapesoyoucan'tuseanukeforatop-barhive.Whatyou'regoingtogetforatop-barhiveisyou'regoingtogetapackageofbees.Thisiskindoffunbecauseyougetitmailedtoyouor,inmycase,theUPSmanbroughtittome.Hewasprettyshakenupaboutit.Hewantedtogetridofitasfastashepossiblycould.Insidethepackageofbuzzingbees,yeah,it'sjustfilledwithbeesbuzzingandthentherewillbeinsidealittlecagewithaqueeninit.Youwilltakethispackageofbeesandyouwilldumpitintoyourtop-barhive.

Thenyouwillhangthequeenjustinsideononeoftheframesandthat'skindofanothervideoonhowtoinstallapackagebutIjustwantedtoshowyoujustwhatitwasthatyou'regoingtoneedtopurchase.Apackagewillbeabout$150.That'showmuchminewas.IhavelotsofvideosonmyYouTubechannelandmyblogshowingyoumeinstallingthepackageandinstallingaswarmsoyoucangoandwatchthoseandreallygetagoodideaofhowtodoit.Ijustwantedtogiveyousomeideaofhowtogetyourbees.

ThedaytoorderbeesisJanuary,believeitornot,themiddleofthewinterbecausealotofsellersselloutsoyouhavetoreserveyourbeesandthenofcoursetheysendtheminspringtimebutyou'vegottopurchasethemandreservethemaheadoftime.Iknowyouguysarewatchingthisinspringsoyouhavealreadymissedthedateprobablytogetanukeorapackageofbees.That'sokay.Don'tworry

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aboutit.Spendthattimetakingabeecourse.Thatisveryvaluable.Spendthattimereadingaboutbees.Spendthattimecontactingsomebodywhohasbeesandgetyoursuitandgoworktheirbeeswiththemandmakesureit'ssomethingthatyouwanttodoandit'ssomethingthatyou'regoingtoenjoyandyouwanttoinvestthattimeintoandthatmoneyinto.

Ifyou'realittlecrazylikemeorjustcan'twaitfornextyear,nextJanuarytoorderyourbees,thenbuildaswarmtrapwithmeandattractthebeestoyou.Thisswarmtrap,youcanbringfreebeestoyou.Ihavedoneitfourtimes.Ihavecaughtaswarmfourtimesinthistrapsoit'sdefinitelyaneffectivewaytogetbees.It'sinexpensive.Youdon'tneedanyspecialbuildingskillstodoitand,likeIsaid,it'sworkedformefourtimesalready.Letmeshowyouhowtobuildyourownswarmtraptoattractthebeestoyou.

Allright.Let'sbuildaswarmtraptogethertogetfreebees.SeewhatIdidthere?Freebees.Okay.Thefirstthingyou'regoingtoneedissomepaperpressedplantpotsandIgotminefromtheGreenhouseMegastore.com.Theywere$3.50eachsoIgotfourofthembecauseIwantedtodotwoswarmtrapstoputupforspring.Whatyou'regoingtowanttodonextisyou'regoingtowanttowaterproofthem,soyouwanttogetsomeThompson'ssealer.Youcanspraythemoryoucanpaintiton.IpaintedmyThompson'swatersealeronjusttowaterproofthemfromtheelements.Then,puttheseaside.

Thenextstepdependsonifyouaregoingtoputyourbeesinatop-barhiveoraLangstrothhive.Ifyou'regoingtoputtheminatop-barhive,youwanttoputtheseinyourswarmtrap.Theseareyourtop-barssoyouwanttotakeafewofthoseforthat.Ifyou'regoingtohaveaLangstrothhive,you'regoingtowanttoputinframesbecausethewholeideaofthisisyou'regoingtotaketheserightoutoftheswarmtrapandputthemdownintoyourLangstrothhivebox.

Thenyou'regoingtowanttodrillholes.Ifyou'reusingtop-baryouwanttofindacenterplace.NormallyI'dmeasurethecenterbutI'mjustgoingtodoitrightnowforyouguys.Youwanttodrillalltheway

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through.Alittlebitoffthere.Letmedrillthisside,too.Okay.Youwanttodrillaholeineachofyourtop-barsorjustyou'regoingtowantto...Ifyou'reusingaLangstrothframe,you'regoingtowanttodothesamething.You'regoingtowanttofindyourcenterpointanddrillyourholejustthroughyourfoundationthere.

I'mgoingtoputthewire,I'mgoingtoweaveitthroughtheseandIwoulddofourofthemandthenpushthewirethrough.Okay.I'mgoingtobringitaroundontopofthem.I'mtryingtokeepthemlevel.I'mjustgoingtotwistitandI'mgoingtousethispartofthewiretobemyhandle,soI'mgoingtobringthataround.I'mgoingtotwistitaroundhere.IwishIhadbroughtmypliersoutbutIthinkyouguysgettheidea.We'regoingtotwistthisaroundheretomakesomethingwecanhangitbyandthenwe'regoingtoinstallitinourswarmtrap.We'rejustgoingtoputitinhere,putitinthereandvoila.That'sgoingtokeeptheframesupatthetopwherewewantthemandwe'regoingtohangoutswarmtrapbythiswirerighthere.

Thenthenextthingwewanttodoistakesomescrews.Oh,first,I'msorry.Beforeweputittogether,youwanttomakesuretoplugtheseholesup.Iusewinecorkstoplugeachoneupandalittlebitofgluetokeepthemintherebutyoucanalsouseexpandingfoamifyouwantto.You'regoingtoleaveoneoutbecausethisisgoingtobeyourentranceholerighthere.Youwantitfacingdownwardsandthenalltheothersonthisendarepluggedupandthenalloftheonesonthispotarepluggedupwithcorks.

Okay.Thenwe'regoingtoinstallourtop-bars.Therewego.Thenwe'rejustgoingtoattachittogether.Usesomescrews.Justattachittogether.Nowremember,whereveryouputscrews,you'regoingtohavetounscrewwithbeesinitsoyoudon'twanttoputtoomanybutjustsoyoucangetittogethersothatyoucanuseyourexpandingfoam.ThefirsttimeIdiditIusedGorillaGlue.That'skindofanexpensiveoptionbutitworked.Istuckittogetheranditexpandedsoitwasweatherproof.Youcanalsouseexpandingfoamtosealthisseamup.Allright.

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Afteryou'vedonethat,youhavetobaityourhive.Letmeshowyouonealreadymadeandwe'llbaitittogetherforourbees.Thisisthepartthat'sakeytoit.Thebaittogettingyourbeestocometoisandwheretoplacetheswarmtrap,there'salotofimportanceinthatsopayattentiontothispart.

Hereisaswarmtrapthat'salreadybeendonewiththeexpandedfoam.We'vegotthecorksinit.It'sallreadytogo.Thenwe'regoingtobaitit.Whatyou'regoingtoneedtobaititwithisfirstyou'regoingtoneedawaterbottleandwe'rejustgoingtocuttheendoff.We'regoingtousethis.Thenwhatyou'regoingtoneedisaGladeScentsyrefillandwhenyougetit,getwhateverscentyouwant.Igotvanillabutthenyou'regoingtotakeitapartwhenyougetithomeandyou'regoingtotakeoutallthepieces,thelittlewickingpiece,andyou'regoingtorinsethemout,pouroutthescentandyouaregoingtorinsethemoutandyou'regoingtosoaktheminrubbingalcoholforafewdays.

Thenwhenyou'vegotthemallwithoutanyscent,you'vegotthemallsoaked,youaregoingtotakesomelemongrassoilandyou'regoingtodropabout10or15dropsoflemongrassoilintoyourGladeScentsyrefill.Itsmellsverymuchlikethepheromoneofaqueenbeeandthisiswhat'sgoingtoattractthebeestoyourswarmtrap.Thenyou'regoingtoputthewickingthingbackinandthatlemongrass,thesmellofthatlemongrassisjustgoingtowhiffinthespringbreezeandattractthosebeestoyourswarmtrap.Allright.

We'regoingtoputthisinheretoattachittotheoutsideoftheswarmtrapbutoneproblemIfoundwiththisisitfillswithwater.First,we'regoingtodosomedrainageholesinthis.I'mgoingtodothreedrainageholesinthis.Okay.Thewatergetsoutandthenwhenweputourscentinthere,wewantittobestable.Wedon'twantittofalloutwhilewe'rehangingourswarmtraporanything.I'mgoingtousesometape,somestrongtape.I'musingGorillaGluetape.I'mjustgoingtofolditover.I'mgoingtostickitinthebottomofthat.I'mgoingtotrynottocoverupmydrainageholesthatIjustdrilled.I'mgoingtokindofclumpitupinthebottomandthenI'mjustgoing

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totakemyGladrefillscentsandI'mjustgoingtostickontheresoit'llstayontherewhenI'mhangingtheswarmtrapup.

ThenI'mgoingtotakeitandI'mgoingtoputathumbtackinit.YoucouldprobablyalsouseascrewandI'mjustgoingtoputitonmyswarmtrap.Here'stheentranceholesoI'mjustgoingtoputitrightabovetheentrancehole.Thereyouhaveit.Thereyourswarmtrapisreadytohanginatree.IjustattachedaropetothehangerhereandIthrewtheropeoveralimbandIjustputitupthereandItiedtheropetothetreeandjustletitbeandittookoneweekandIhadbees.ItwasonEasterSunday.Itwassoexciting.Thewholechurchcameouttosee.Everybody's,"Dashhasbeesinhertrap,"andeverybodycameouttosee.Itwassoexciting.ThatwasthefirstswarmIevergotanditjusttookoneweek.Thesecondone,alsooneweekandIhadbees.

Thereisalittletrickonwheretoputit.Ihadnoticedthattherehadbeenanoldbeetree.Therewerenolongerbeesinitbutonceuponatimewhenwefirststartedthechurch,IremembersittingandwatchingthebeescomingandgoingbeforeIeverdreamedIwouldbeabeekeeper.TheywerecomingandgoingoutofthistreeandsoIsaid,"Okay,thisistheplaceIneedtoputthat."Eventhoughtherewerenotbeesanymoreinit,anoldbeetreeorsomeplacewhereyou'veseenbeesbefore,evenifthey'vecomeandestablishedthemselvesinsomebody'shomeandthey'vehadthatremoved,youcantrythat.

Ithinkit'sgoodonatreelinebyawatersource,maybeacreek.Thishappenedtobe,Iputmyswarmtrapup,likeIsaid,anoldbeetreeonatreelinebyacreekanditwasperfect.ItissometricktowhereyouputitbutIjustfoundthatkeyplace.Ihavehadotherfriendsputthemup,usethesamedesign,putthemupandtheyarecatchingtheirswarmsrightandleft.That'sit.That'showoattractfreebeestoyou.

Youwanttoputyourtrapupinearlyspringwhenthebeesareswarminginyourarea.Forme,that'sMarch,AprilandevenMaybutfornorthernclimatesitmightbealittlebitlater.I'mnotsureso

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wheneverthebeesareswarminginyourarea,youwanttohaveitup.Thenonceit'sfullofbuzzingwithbees,youjusttaketherope,youloweritdown.Putonyoursuitfirst,makesureeverybody'sprotected.Loweritdownandyouwanttoplugitupandyouknowwhat.Thisiskindofawholedifferentvideoistakingthosebeesfromyourswarmtrapandinstallingthemintoyourtop-baroryourLangstrothhive.

YoucangotomyYouTubechannelBloomWhereYou'rePlantedoryoucangotomyblog,BloomWhereYourePlanted.com,andyoucanseevideoswhereIhaveloweredmyswarmtraps,itwassoexciting,andbroughtthebeesinthevantothehiveandtakenoutthebeesandinstalledtheminthehivewhichcanbekindofcomplicateddependingonwhethertheybuildonthoseframesthatyouhaveprovidedforthemorthetop-barsyouprovidedforthemorwhethertheybuildinthebackofthehive.That'swhathappenedtomeonce.TheytotallyskippedallthebeautifulframesthatIhadprovidedforthemandtheybuiltinthebackofthehiveandsoIhadtoremoveallthatandwireinspeciallyandputitinmyhive.I'vegotvideosofallthatifyouwanttovisitmychannelandseehowtodothat.

Anotherwaytocatchsomefreebeesisifsomebodycallsyouandsays,"Wehaveaswarm.Doyouwanttocomegetit?"Thathappenedtomethislastspring.WhatIliketokeeponhandisjustorderanukeboxandthisisjustacorrugatedcardboardboxandyouwanttohavethefiveframesinsideandIjustsimplywentwiththis.Ihaveavideoaboutthat,too,soit'salittlebitmorecomplicatedthansimplywent.Iwent,Icollectedtheswarmintothisboxandsealeditupandtookithomeandinstalledtheminmyhive.Definitelyvisitmysiteandjoinmeonmybeekeepingadventure.

Asyoucansee,beekeepingisjustafascinatinghobby.It'ssoamazingandrewardingandonceyoustart,man,you'llbehooked.Youwon'tbeabletoturnback.TheyareamazinginsectsandIhopeIclearedupforyousomemisconceptionsthatsomethingpeoplehaveaboutbeekeeping.IcertainlythoughtitwouldbedifferentthanitactuallyissoIwantedyoutogointoarealisticpictureofhowmuchtimecommitmentittakestoreallybeasuccessfulbeekeeperandthe

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frequencythatyou'regoingtoneedtocheckonthathiveisprobablymorethanyouthoughtitwould.Wewentoverthetwodifferentstylesofhivesyoucanchoose,thetop-barortheLangstroth.IhopeIclearedthatupforyou.Youcanchoosewhichonewouldbebestforyourbeesinyoursituation.Thenthebasicequipmentyou'llneed,doneforgetthegoodbeesuit,glovesandsmokers.Thosethings,nomatterwhichhiveyouchoose,you'regoingtoneed.

IhopeIclearedupforyou.IwasconfusedabouthowIwouldpurchasemybees,whatIwouldneedsoanucleuswithfiveframes,anukegoesinaLangstrothandthenapackageyou'llbuytoinstallinyourtop-barandbothofthosewillsetyouofftoagoodstartbutthosehavetobeorderedinJanuary.Iknowyou'reseeingthisinspringsoifyoucan'twait,thenbuildaswarmtrapandIthink,likeIsaid,Ihavecaughtfourswarmsinthattrapandmyfriends,usingthesamedesign,havebeencatchingbees.Iwishyougoodluckwithit.Hopeforthebestforyousoyoucangetstartedonyourownbeekeepingadventure.

Tobehonest,thebeesreallyneedourhelprightnow.Theyarebeingattackedbysomeveryrecentpests,parasitesandalongwiththosepestscomesomeverybadvirusesanddiseasesandtheyarecripplingourbestpollinatorsandourhoneysource.Ihopethatyouwillbeencouragedtogetintothisfun,fascinatinghobbyandalso,atthesametime,helpoutourhoneybees.Thanksforwatching.I'llseeyoulater.Bye.

Marjory: Allright,soIteasedyouattheverybeginningthatIhadsomethingbetterthanbees.Bytheway,wasn'tDash'spresentationjustawesome?Youknow,Ijustloveherbubblyenthusiasmandjusthergetitdonestylewithout...Alotofusdon'thaveahugeamountofbudget.

Anyway,whenIwasgrowingup,wehadbees,asIsaid,andnow,Ihavesomethingbetter.WhatthatisisIhaveaneighborwhohasbees,andsoItraderabbitmeatandvegetablesandthingslikethatformyneighbor'shoneyaswellashis...Hemakesgoatcheese,solovethatsituation,andthat'soneoftheotherreasonswereallyharp

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oncommunitysomuch.It'ssoimportant.It'sreallyhardtogroweverything,truly,andhavingotherneighborswhoaregrowingsometotradewithissoimportant.

Anyway,Dashhasmorevideosonhowtocatchaswarm,andactuallyhowtotakethemfromthatswarmtrapandputthemintoahive,andawholelotofotherwonderfulinformation.Youcangetintouchwiththat,andseeallthevideosthatDashhasbyclickingthatbuttonontheright.Bloomwhereyou'replanted,connectupwithDash.Really,reallywonderfulperson,andcertainlyifyou'reinthatnorthTexasarea,IknowDashwouldlovetohangoutwithyou.

Andthebuttondownbelow,that,ofcourse,youcanownthispresentationaswellasalltheother30-somethingpresentationsthatwehavebyclickingthebuttondownbelow.ThatalsosupportstheworkofTheGrowNetwork.Idon'tknowifyou'venoticed.Wedon'thaveanyrealoutsideadvertisers.Thisisauser-supportedcommunity.WhenyoupickupthatwholesetofSummitpresentations,notonlywillitgetmailedtoyouonaUSBsoit'sonyourcomputer...Iknowalotofusarepreppers,andwewanttohavethatinformationonourowncomputer,justincase.Shh.Wedon'ttelleverybodythat.We'rekindoflikeclosetpreppers.ButpickuptheSummitpackage,andyou'llhaveit,andyou'llbedoingareally,reallyawesomething,supportingthisworkandsupportingthismovementofgettingmorehome-grownfoodandhomemedicinebackinthehomewhereitbelongs.

Okay.ThisisMarjoryWildcraft.We'vegotabunchofotherpresentationsoutthere.Afteryou'vepickedupyourSummitpackage,comebackandjoinme,andwe'lldoanotheronetogether.