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Apiary Chronicles is the podcast where the world of beekeeping comes alive. Hosted by Cal Hardage, this show explores the personal journeys, challenges, and triumphs of beekeepers from all walks of life. From backyard enthusiasts to commercial apiarists, each episode dives into the unique stories and invaluable insights that make beekeeping both an art and a science.
Discover tips on hive management, pollinator health, and honey production while learning about the dedication and passion behind each beekeeper’s journey. Whether you’re an experienced apiarist, a beginner, or just curious about the buzzing world of bees, Apiary Chronicles offers inspiration, education, and community.
Join us weekly as we celebrate the people and pollinators shaping a sustainable future, one hive at a time. Subscribe now and step into the world of Apiary Chronicles!
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Mr.
Ed, we want to welcome you to
the Apiary Chronicles podcast.
We're excited you're here
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I am too.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Wonderful,
let's, let's get started with the fast
five.
First question.
What's your
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
My name is Jeff Harchoff,
but I never go by that.
I always go by Mr.
Ed, which is my YouTube channel.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Very good.
What's your apiary's name?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I don't have an apiary name.
I actually keep bees for a group of
Benedictine monks in Covington, Louisiana.
And so I am what I call
their lone beekeeper.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very good.
And you answered our next question.
Where are you
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Well, it is outside of Covington, but
the monastery has its own zip code.
So it's actually St.
Benedict,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Yeah.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: oh, interesting.
What year did you start with bees?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
began, I got my first bees
in the spring of 1978.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, wow.
I'd like to say that's almost
as old as I am, but not
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
It just tells you how old I am.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: How
many colonies do you manage?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Right now, we're somewhere
between 180 and 200.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: very nice.
Cal: Welcome to Apiary Chronicles, where
we dive deep into the world of beekeeping
and the people who make it all happen.
I'm Cal Hardage your host
and fellow bee enthusiast.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Well, Mr.
Ed, why bees?
Yeah,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
it was, it was bees are something
that most people just fall into.
And me too.
I just, I was drawn into, into bees
just because of the natural curiosity.
I, I knew somebody who was a beekeeper.
He showed me his bees and
I said, I want to do that.
That's all.
It's, you know, it's very innocent
naive and then, then the reality
of it will come hit you later.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: it's one of
those chance meetings or just one little
speck in your life and then all of a
sudden it takes over a bigger portion
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
For sure, For sure,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
So, how'd you get started?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Well, again, like I, I got started
because somebody showed me some
bees and, and I really did like it.
And that was in 1978 and what
happened was I moved from the
city, the big city of New Orleans.
Into the country and I decide, well,
when I'm going to move to the country,
well, that's a perfect spot to keep bees.
So that's when I got bees when I came
over to the North Shore from New Orleans,
which is only about 50 miles away.
And and so, like, like most beekeepers
I would have bees and then I would
not have bees and then you'd have
bees and it's a very common cycle.
And then, and then eventually.
It's either gonna stick
or it's not gonna stick.
For me, it's stuck.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
You know, I was just thinking as
you you moved to the country then,
you mentioned earlier, I think 1978.
That was about the time I was
standing in my dad's pickup watching
him take care of bees that that
ignited my journey with bees.
And that was before we
had to deal with varroa
mites and a lot of other things.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
A lot
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: was A nicer time.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: lot
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
So do you, when you got some
hi hives, when you got some
hives, did you jump whole hog
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Oh, no, no.
They
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: hogs, couple
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
yeah, it, I started with three, just, you
know, and I always, I always say three
is a great number to begin with because,
because you're always gonna have loss.
And so, you know, if you lose
two, well, at least you have one.
And, and and that's
generally how it works.
And it worked that way for me too.
So I had three, then I have one,
then I have two, then I have three.
And, and and then when I, in, in 84,
when I moved from the house that I
was living in to the house that I
built I didn't bring my bees with me.
I gave my bees to a brand new beekeeper.
And and then so I was beeless for
probably a year or two, and then I
got more bees because you just, it's
in your blood, you know, and, and,
and, but what's funny in those initial
years from, 1978 to probably 2006.
I never, I never really did anything with
bees other than they were in the backyard.
I didn't, and every once in a while
I'd go and get honey from them.
It's like, but remember it was a lot
easier to keep bees in, in those days.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
And, and so it's, they were just out
there and if they swarmed, they swarmed.
I didn't, I didn't worry about anything.
The bees were in the yard
and I got honey from them.
So what a great job.
So.
And it was in, in Katrina 2006 that I,
again, I was out of B's at that point.
And,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
and so, cause we got hit
really hard from Katrina here.
And, and again, then I went B
list for probably about another
two years until I retired.
No, no, that's not true.
I still had beehives.
I had beehives all the way up to, to 2009
and, and and, and then in 2009, the last
three colonies I had were stolen . So
yeah, they they got some unscrupulous
people out there in this world,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: oh yeah.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
So my, my last three hives were
stolen, and so I, I was hive less.
And I had retired in 2009 from the post
office, and when I retired, I started
volunteering here at the Abbey, and
my volunteering wasn't for bees, it
was to build caskets, because I've
been a woodworker my entire life.
my dad my dad was a cabinetmaker.
He taught me the trade, and I learned
the trade when I was, I was 14 years
old and made my living at it till
I was 22, so it was, you know, bees
were a part of that, but when I
volunteered at the Abbey, That's what
I came here for was to build caskets.
And during that that initial time, that
first three years I was volunteering,
one of the junior monks approached me
and asked, he knew that I had bees.
And he asked if I would help him.
To start up beekeeping because
all monks have hobbies.
And so this would have been just a
hobby for the monks for that monk.
And and so I said, sure, since I
didn't have any bees, I'll help you.
And and so we got some bees and
then about five months later
that monk decided to leave.
And so now we have the bees
and so that's how it all began.
Right?
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yes.
When that junior monk came to you all
did did or came to you Did you you
all start with just a few hives in
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Again,
three, three
Rehives.
So we, we, we, do you want me
to tell you the story of that?
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I would love to hear
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Cause it, it's that, it, is actually
one of the stories that I do in, in my
conference when I talk at conferences,
because it, it really highlights bee
keeping the, the reality of beekeeping.
And, And it, it, for me.
Beekeeping isn't just messing
around with bugs, you know,
it's, it's, it's more than that.
That, that for me, keeping bees, you
can relate life experience to, to that.
And, and then the added aspect for me,
it's, it's a spiritual dimension as well.
So when, when we I took over
that operation I grew it from
it was in 2000 and 2012 Yeah.
Is when I took it over
and, and, then I grew it.
To the to March of 2016.
We went out, got out to about 35 hives
and there, there never, there never was
any like goal for the bees that at that
point I was just keeping bees just to
supply monks their their honey and, and
so what, what happened was in the spring,
it was March 16th of 2016, we experienced.
here at the Abbey, a flood.
So that flood wiped away
all of our beehives.
All of them were gone.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh No,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
it was also at that time
because We've grown to 35 hives.
If you're familiar with, with expansion
of an apiary, how it, it consumes a lot
of space, you know, the more hives you
have, the more space that's required
to keep your, your, your woodenware,
your, your, equipment, all that stuff.
And though the, the Abbey is a very large
campus over 60 acres just for the campus.
The monastery is 1200 acres.
The I would, I had all of our bee stuff
in five different buildings because I
I couldn't house it in one building.
So they, they had agreed to
allow me to build a building.
And so I built a honey house in 2016.
It, it was, it was not completed.
The frame was up, it's closed in.
The, the stud walls were in, but there was
no electrical or sheetrock or anything.
And so in the spring, March, Of 2016,
we had that flood and we had three
feet of water everywhere on the campus.
Every building, every building had
water in it, and it, it, it the
Abbey sustained like $35 million
worth of damage from that one flood.
But I mean, this, you gotta remember,
the Abbey is a very large entity.
It's like a little,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yes
Oh yeah.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
at, at that point.
When all of our hives were gone I
could have, and this is, this is
where, you know, it's a life lesson,
but it's also, it's, it's a crossroad
that every beekeeper is gonna come to.
You know, it's, it's like the
challenge of keeping bees.
How do you overcome those challenges
to sustain that initial desire
that you had to begin keeping bees?
So, Here I am, I'm at that
crossroad that everything is gone.
What do you, what do you do?
And so I could have said, nah, I'm
not, I'm, I'm finished with it.
We didn't have any
really plan or anything.
And, you know, at that point in my
life, I also was discerning the fact
that I, I was going to become a monk.
So,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
that, that my life as a volunteer, wasn't
just, You know, volunteering to work at
the Abbeywood is actually incorporating
my life into the monastic life.
And so with that added part of
it and, and I'm looking in the
future of my life as a monk.
I want to continue this B thing.
And so I said, well, no, let's,
let's really get into this thing
and do and grow this thing.
And, and at that point, I, I came up with
the, the, the goal, the, the, the purpose
of what we would be calling Abby honey.
And that is to.
to be able to have enough beehives to
supply honey, not to the monks, but
to the gift shop, that we could sell
honey in the gift shop all year round.
And so that was the plan
that I came up with.
I didn't know what that number was.
So for that reason I just went
crazy and started just getting
as many hives as I could.
And I did that through learning
how to do removals, cutouts swarms.
Manipulating hives and, and doing splits.
So I learned how to do that.
And then from the, from
2016 to now we're at 2024.
So that's what, 8 years.
We went from 0 to 200 is what we did.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: And are
you able to stock the gift shop
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Oh, all year round, yes.
So, so the number that I need to,
to get is minimally is 400 gallons.
So I figured 450 gallons.
Is what I need to get every,
every year to supply them.
And then we've been doing that
for three, three, three, four
years now, four years now,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very good.
You mentioned early on in life, your
dad showed you about woodworking.
Do you make all your woodenware,
or do
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
when, when initially, when I first
started I, I did made boxes, lids,
covers, all that stuff, but it really is
a lot cheaper to buy the boxes and the
frames, I still build my bottom boards,
my inner covers, my telescoping covers.
I build those.
Because I can build them cheaper than
I can buy and, and I think they're
better, they're better quality.
And, and so I still do, I build those.
In fact over the next well, until
February, I'll be building, I've
got, 150 high bodies to put together.
I'm going to build 50 bottom boards,
50 screen double telescoping covers
and inner cover, so I'll be making
videos on that as I, as I go.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: yes.
Yeah.
I, I went through a phase when
I was building all my equipment,
and I even built some frames
just to go through the process.
I built like, I don't
know, 20 or 30 frames.
It wasn't very many, but it was
plenty for a lifetime because that
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
You're right.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: the
process, but I just wanted to go
through it.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Yeah, you will learn that it's, it's fun
to build the stuff, but when you have
all the other jobs that are required
to do, it's, it's, it's not feasible
and it's more economical just to buy
them and spend your time building it.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: So, for your
hives, are you running 10 frame hives,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
all 10 frame double deep broods and, and
even for our honey supers, I use deep.
for my honey supers because I, I,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
keeping your workout going?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
well, I, I cheat.
I, I used to, I used to do the workout
with, with just a two man lift, but
now we have, we have very nice equipment.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very
good.
Very good.
Have you always used deeps for your honey
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Always, ever since the beginning,
I've always used deeps.
I, and I, I learned that lesson
is that it's less equipment
that I have to move around.
They're interchangeable.
If, if I need to, what, at two years
ago, I wasn't even using excluders.
And so I would, if I had queen got
up into my honey box, I would just
transfer brood for honey frames.
You know, it, it worked very well for me.
I use excluders now, though.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah, yeah.
And are you, I'm assuming
they're not on pallets
because you're not
moving them, you just have
them
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
They're all, they're all individual hives.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: And
with 200 hives, are you, you
have multiple locations with
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
So the, one of the, things that
the flood taught me was you never
keep all your eggs in one nest.
So,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, good
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
they're in, they're in 10 different yards.
They're about a 30 mile
radius from the Abbey.
And so people asked if we would
keep our bees on their property.
So, the, the number of hives per yard
varies a lot and the, it ranges from.
I don't know, 60 to 4, you know,
it's, it's just a big big group of them.
So it but that's, that's just how I do it
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah.
Yeah.
On your products you're selling
through the gift shop, is
it just honey or do you have
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
right now.
I do, I do when I, when
I rendered the wax.
I supply wax to the,
the monk soap operation.
They will use that for balms for hand
lotion and some candle production.
So I, but most of the wax that I
get, I, I put right back into our B
operation for putting on the foundations.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yes.
So do you make your own foundations?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
plastic foundation
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
and, and I, and I dip them into my wax.
So then I coat.
I coat.
my foundation with wax, get
the bees to draw it out.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
Do you like, I'm guessing when
you started a few decades ago you
didn't use plastic foundation.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I've always used plastic,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
have you always
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
In fact, when I first started
out, I was using complete.
plastic frames.
They were all plastic frames, right?
And, and
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
for whatever reason back in
those days, the bees didn't care.
I never waxed them or anything.
I just bought them and I was buying
everything from Man Lake and I just
stuck them in and the bees drew it out.
But
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
And it just worked.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
don't work like that no more.
You better put wax on them
or they will not draw it out.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: I have not
used plastic frames for the most part.
There's a handful I've used.
Mess with, but but not intentionally,
because I've always heard, you
know, not great stories about
plastic frames, so it's interesting.
You started a long time ago with
plastic frames and continue to use them.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
And I stopped, I stopped using
them though, because right after
the flood is when I stopped using
them because I was having issues.
The ears on them would
get brittle and break.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah, yeah.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
But what was really nice about it is the
wax moth could never tear them up like
they did with a with a wooden frame.
That's a part I always did like.
But I, I had too much trouble with
breaking up the ears and, and then
it, it it just, I liked the plastic
foundation in a wooden frame.
I like that
configuration a lot better.
And I think it's just
a personal preference.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Yeah, I, I think so.
Once you get used to something or if,
especially if you get started with,
with plastic, you don't have this, well,
I've been doing this this other way.
Now, do I want to change?
Do I change half of them?
That's just the way you do
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Now I've, I've actually now cycled
out every bit of my plastic frames.
There's, there's none of it in there.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It, it makes sense.
Or, you know, It seems to me the
plastic ones I've been exposed to does
suffer from broken ears on them and
things which causes you a problem.
So I could see the
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Yeah.
And then also if they get
heated up, they can warp on you.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah.
Oh
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
that's not as big of an issue
as the ears breaking off, but
they, they do, they do warp.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: yeah.
Very good.
Mr.
Ed, let's go ahead and take
a little bit of a transition.
It's an interesting journey you have
for your bees, but let's go beyond
the buzz and talk about making
splits.
It's going to be coming up to that
time of year pretty soon for you.
So let's just talk about how you get ready
for making splits and what's your plan.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Believe it or not, here in Southeast
Louisiana because our winters are so
mild, our bees fly almost 365 days a year.
We, you know, I bet you, don't get,
don't know, 10, 15 days of
temperatures below 20 degrees.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
know, it's like, it's so, it's
so, it's almost tropical here.
And so consequently our bees
fly almost all, all year round.
I'm not saying that, you know, when
temperatures are, you know, in the low
40s or 30s, they, you know, completely
ball up and they're not breaking the ball.
But even, even when days are, are, are.
Upper thirties, you'll see bees flying
because it's just, that's what they
do also because we're so, so far south
and in that moderate temperature zone
our, our beginning trees that, that
start blooming, we have the maple,
the red maple, and our willow trees.
They, they begin blooming.
mid December.
And so this is, this is, the
start, really, of the beginning,
the bees beginning to come
out of winter and into spring.
And, and what a lot of, a lot of
particularly new beekeepers and old
beekeepers, they, they fail to make
the, the connection of, of, this
time So here for us in middle of
December, end of December, the winter
solstice, which is the shortest day
of the year, December 22nd, right?
And so after December 22nd, the number
of hours of daylight increase, while the
number of hours of darkness decrease.
So in this increase in daylight hours.
Then we have the beginning of the
photosynthesis and plants and trees.
And then, you know, the spring is
coming, coming about well, bees.
are very, very, very
good at reading nature.
And, and so they, they keep
pace with what nature is doing.
Now, I'm not saying that they don't
get thrown a curve ball, you know, and
you get temperatures that drop and, you
know, you're going to have problems,
but generally it's, it isn't based on
temperature, it's based on daylight.
And that, that's a fact that.
Few people really take into consideration.
It is daylight hours that matter.
And, and so sometimes the bees can get
caught with their pants down, you know,
the queen's laying good and you get hit
with a cold snap for two or three days
and you might get knocked back a little.
But for the most part,
our queens begin laying.
They begin laying by
second week in January.
She's laying, laying pretty good
at that point.
So, which is why I said, told you
earlier, we, we can catch, I've caught
swarms as early as February 3rd.
So it's, so that's only two weeks
after the middle of January.
So the hives will build
up relatively quick.
So what, what I'm doing
in, in, I I wait till.
Generally, it's generally
the second week in February.
I will then start visiting my yards.
and checking for hive growth.
I'm not worried about swarming.
I'm looking for the, the bees, the
number of bees in the hive to start
growing because by this time, by the
second week in, in February, I should
have bees in both, both my deep supers.
That I'm not saying we're going to have
a lot of them, but there's going to be
bees in both boxes for probably about
85 percent of all of our hives, you're
going to have bees in two boxes, and
this is why you have to constantly go out
because not all genetics are the same.
Not all the bees genetics are the same.
So some of them develop slower.
It's not to say they won't catch
up, but initially they're going
to they're not going to develop.
and all of, all of our bees all the
avid bees are, are mutt bees, Hans 57.
They're all from cutouts and splits.
So I don't have any kind of genetically
altered, you know, queen bees or anything.
All of our bees are mutts.
The one thing they have in common,
and that's really the one thing they
have in common, they're all mutts.
So I find that, that idea
of bees being able to,
genetically okay or superior.
That the, the bees that I keep in our
yards have these qualities in them.
Now, on top of that, I do
not treat and I do not feed.
I am the most hands off.
beekeeper that's out there.
And I attribute that to my
extremely wide lazy streak.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yes.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
plus I'm retired and I got other
things to do besides fool with bees.
But that being said, I am very, very
conscious of and aware of the fact
that at certain times of year, you
need to be doing certain things in
order for your bees to do what they
need to do If I want to get honey.
And that's the goal of my, my
operation is to create honey.
I'm not looking to sell bees, even
though I do sell bees, because.
I only need to keep 150 hives.
And so generally I'll sell
off anything over that.
And I, and I don't sell bees off
until after our honey season.
After I've got, for sure I
got my crop, then I'll sell
the bees off.
And so we, we in mid
February, I'm going out.
And looking at my hives I'm also
at that point setting swarm traps.
I set swarm traps.
I, I know fantastic locations where,
you know, every year I, every year, if I
wanted to spend the time catching swarms,
I could catch 40, 50 swarms every year.
I don't want to catch.
40, 50 swarms.
I've done it, but I don't want to do
it anymore because it takes too much
time to monitor these traps and but I
do have one location that's only three
miles away and I set traps there every
year and minimally I'm gonna get seven
to ten swarms off of this one So that's
enough for me and all my other ones.
I give those spots away to
other, other beekeepers, but
I'll keep that when it's close.
So I'm I'm monitoring my hives in
February to see the growth of them
and then by, by really the 2nd, 3rd
and 4th week of February, I'm looking
at the development in those hives.
If, if I have the minimal number six
frames of bees in both my bottom box
and my top box, if I, if that criteria
is met, then I can proceed forward to
putting a double screen dividing board
between them and then whichever box
does not have a queen, the queen in
it, they'll make emergency cells and
and then I can then Make a basically
a walk away split, but it's controlled
because now I have queen cells in it.
I also use swarm cells to do make splits.
So if I'm, when I go into the hive
and I've got swarm cells in it, I'll
cut the swarm cells out and make the
split right then and there and take
the swarm cells and apply them into
the box that doesn't have the queen
and make my split right then and there.
My, my whole focus of doing this so early
in the year is because by March 15th,
which is now you get, I have four weeks
really to do this splitting by March 15th.
I need to be finished my splits
and which somehow aren't even
going to be big enough to split.
So there's some of them that won't be, but
I mark all these, but the ones that are
split, the reason I need to split them.
is because our first major nectar
flow is going to be in May.
So if I'm in March, so that's eight weeks.
So in eight weeks, you have
basically have three brood cycles.
So in three brood cycles, now you're
able to build up the number of bees
in that box to then create, begin
to create that surplus of honey.
You're not going to get a surplus
honey if you don't have the bees.
To get the bees, you have to
build, get them to build up as
quickly as possible, which is why
I, Do it as early as, as I do.
And, and it's, it's one of the,
the aspects of, of producing
honey that many, many, many
beekeepers aren't, aren't aware of.
The, the idea of, it's all about timing
and the window to make that surplus honey.
Not, not honey for them to
survive through the year.
That surplus honey for you
to create a surplus of honey.
You have to have an army of bees
to create that, that surplus.
And so that's, that's what I do.
I, that's my reasoning behind splits,
early splits, getting the hives
ready and, and growing our apiaries
so that by, by beginning of May, I'm
already got my third honey super,
my, my honey super is on the box.
By May 1st, I got my honey supers out.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
And so I have all of May and all of June.
So it's eight weeks to
collect surplus honey.
And
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: And you're,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
go ahead.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: you're able
to collect surplus honey on those
splits you made?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Yeah.
Generally, generally the, the new
queen, no, but on the old queen, yes.
Because
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yeah.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: and
the reason for that, I'm not saying that
you don't get them off the new queen.
But genetics plays a big role in this
in that when, when I do my splits In
say, middle of February we'll just
say by March, I'm finished my splits.
So if I have an emergency cell or queen
cell in that box, from the time that
cell is laid to the time her first
eggs hatch out, it's 40 days, 40 days.
That's four or five weeks.
So five weeks is.
A big deal.
That's your honey season.
Five weeks.
So unless you get these new queens that
are really with genetics that can lay,
they can lay right from the get go,
they don't catch up with the old queens.
The old queens are laying at
2, 000 eggs every, every day.
And so they're by, by beginning of
May, you got 20, 000 bees in your box.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Do you ever
take any of that brood to level some
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Now, that's beekeeping.
That's beekeeping.
I don't do beekeeping.
interested in getting honey and that's it.
I don't, I don't manipulate hives.
I don't, if a hive is
struggling, that's their problem.
It's not my
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
And, and I just soon had those
genetics not in our field.
So it's all right.
It's, I'm okay with bees not making
it because I've always gotten more
and the genetics that, that wind
up being in our apiaries, those
are the genetics I want anyway.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: right.
Yeah.
Yeah, so I'm pretty sure You've answered
this question by your previous answer
Because it's probably gonna be too
much beekeeping and not propagating the
genetics you want But you're not going
into hives and replacing queens then.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: no.
If.
If, if something should happen to
that queen, the bees have got to
fix the problem, because I'm not.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I'm not going to fix the problem.
And, and so, you know, again,
it goes into mite control.
Well, you know, if the mites, if
the mites are there, well, the bees
better be able to handle it, or not.
And then the same thing with
beetles, you know, the beetles are
there, they can't handle it, okay.
But it's, I'm not, I'm, I
would not recommend my method
of keeping bees to anybody.
It works for me.
You know, I, I, I'm a big believer.
If, if you need to treat your bees in
order for them to survive, treat them.
But I'm not going to do that.
I'm not.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Right.
It's very interesting to me.
So, one thing beyond the splits, you
talk about putting out swarm traps.
So, that's increasing.
What kind of swarm traps are you using?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I generally use a 10 frame bee
box because yeah, it's yeah.
because then that way I don't,
I don't have to do anything.
I just go get the box,
bring it back, set it up.
I'm done.
I'm a very hands off guy.
I have lots and lots and lots of
old equipment, old brood comb.
So all this, I have the, the
right things to attract swarms.
And so I set it out and I don't have
any problems catching swarms because
I, and I also know where to set traps.
I've been doing it.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: are, are you
setting those traps with a full box of
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I sure am.
So, and So, there it's all
drawn out old brood cone.
I use they, they have to be, I
found you, you really need to
have a solid bottom on that box.
And then I, I, I use an attractant.
Mostly I use lemongrass oil.
To, to track it.
You know, they have lots
of swarm lures out there.
Swarm commanders, swarm there's,
there's a bunch of them out There
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: there
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
and but lemongrass arl has
always, always worked well for me.
And I've got a bunch of videos
showing me setting traps.
I got, I got plenty of videos
showing the stuff I do.
I got plenty of them.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
on, on those videos.
And just in real life, how high are
you setting them off the ground?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
set them just about chest high because I
don't want to work anything over my head.
it's,
it's, this, this is,
that's all I need to be.
And I, because they're heavy, by
the time I pull them out, those
boxes could weigh 40 pounds.
And, and I don't want to
be 40 pounds like this.
I'd rather, you know, I
don't want it up here.
I want it down here.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Right, exactly, yeah.
So one thing when I was prepping for the,
the episode and thinking about making
splits, I really was thinking, well, what
size hives are you using for those splits?
But it sounds like you're just,
everything is 10 frame deeps,
and you're doing a walkaway
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Well, it's, it's, it's, it's a
modified walkway because I use
a double screen dividing board.
And
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: using a double
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
right.
So what all that is, it's just a three
quarter inch piece of plywood with screen.
I use mosquito screen on both sides of it.
And then on one end of
it, there's an entrance.
So that entrance is placed
the opposite entrance of where
the box on the bottom is.
And you just take that
screen, you put it between.
I don't even look for the queen.
I don't, I just, all I
do is I open up that box.
If I've got six frames of bees, I'm
going to put that, that double board,
double screen dividing board in between
the box and set the top box on it.
90 percent of the time the queen
is going to be in the top box.
So,
She, she's at that, at that
time of year, February, March.
She's traveling between the top
box and the bottom box lay in.
So you have to have eggs young enough
in the box that doesn't have the queen
for them to make emergency cells.
And generally.
That's the case that, that you'll,
you'll, you'll find the queen cells.
Now, sometimes you guess wrong and the
queen was in the bottom, not in the top.
Well, all I do is I just
rotate the boxes again.
I just, cause I want to put my queen
up in the top because I want to move
her off of that original hive stand.
And the reason,
the reason I want to move her away.
is it's, it's future swarm prevention.
Every time I, I do anything with the
queen, the box with the queen in it,
is to rob her of her worker bees.
Because if, if I don't rob her from her
worker bees, she's going to grow so fast
I can't keep up and she's going to swarm.
So I steal from her as often as I can.
And so when I, When I put that dividing
board in there initially, whatever
worker bees were in that top box with
the queen, when they come out of that
rear of the box, they're going to
go around to the front of the box.
They're going to go to the bottom box.
So, you wind up with just hive
bees in the top box initially.
Well, pretty soon, those hive bees will
become worker bees, and by the, you know,
the two weeks time that the box with the
queen on the top is, is sitting there.
They become worker bees.
And then when I go and actually
make the split, and I move that top
box off, all those worker bees are
going to come back to that top box.
So I always throw another box when I
do the split, move the queen off, I
add another super to the bottom box,
put a stick in it, and all the high the
worker bees We'll come back to the back
of the entrance and then after two or
three days, I'll take that stick out
and now they have to go up to the front.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, okay.
Yeah, so I've never used a double
screen box board I've seen them.
So 3 quarter inch
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: So
I, you know, this is, this is one of the
only things I can say I really teach.
on
keys.
And, and I every year I make videos
on the double screen divine board.
In fact, when, when I went to Oklahoma,
I spoke on the double screen divide.
I talk about the double screen
divine board because It is by far
the simplest way to make a split
that a beginning beekeeper can do.
As long as the criteria of enough
bees in both boxes are there,
you can put this board in there.
And the chances are very good that
you're going to have the box, the bottom
box that doesn't have the queen in it.
They're going to develop
emergency queen cells in that box.
And then once you come back and find
them, then you can move your old
queen off and you've done your split.
And now you're moving forward.
It's the simplest way.
There's no going in your hive and
looking for your queen, looking
for brood, looking for pollen.
Look, you know, there's
nothing wrong with doing that.
If that's how you want
to do it, that's fine.
Me, I want to do it the
fastest, easiest way.
I have been using a double screen
dividing board since 2009, I think.
And
it, it, it, has been the most successful
way and easiest way of doing it.
I, I know last year I did over 90 splits.
And I had 100 percent success in making
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: it.
It is very, very, very efficient
at making queen, new queens.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: so you put
the board on you wait two weeks and
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: yet.
So you put the board in and then you
have to go back within seven to 10 days.
You have to go back.
to see if they have
emergency cells drawing out.
And if they have the emergency
cells drawn out at that point,
you can then take the old queen
and move her off because it's it's
pointless.
Keep her on there anymore.
And you move her off.
and add another box, and then those
bees, they're going to have a new queen.
And, and I always want to have
at least three emergency cells
in that box because not all of
them are going to be successful.
The first queen that comes out,
she's going to kill the other ones.
Now, I also, and I said before, when I,
when I crack those two boxes to do my
splits, if I have swarm cells in there
already, I cut those swarm cells out.
And, and I show on my
videos how I do that.
And, and I'll cut them out and I'll
go in that same box below and I'll
go through there and I'll scrape
off a little bit of comb and put
those swarm cells in there and they
look just like a superseding cell.
It's
like, and then I make the
split right then and there.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: So, oh,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
And it's like, again, I'll
put at least three of them.
They have to have three in each one.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh,
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: If
you have more than three, that's okay.
Minimally.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah,
but you gotta have that at
least three
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952: In
my opinion.
Yes.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Do,
is the only time, is spring
or really very early spring?
Is that the only time you
make splits?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Because otherwise they're, they're
they're getting ready to do the honey.
And then after the honey,
I'm not worried about it.
They, they, I've got, I go and
pull my honey supers generally
at the end of June and I harvest
around around the fourth of July.
And at that point most of our
boxes are back down to two boxes.
Some of them have three because the,
the cone wasn't drawn out or wasn't,
the honey wasn't kept, whatever reason,
but for whatever boxes are out in the
field by December I'll go and pull
those back, get them off of there.
And harvest whatever honey that is,
because by December, beginning of
December, I want all of our hives
back to two boxes, because I'm
already preparing for the next year.
The cycle is, is very, very predictable.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, yes.
Yeah.
Excellent conversation, Mr.
Ed, but we are going to
transition to our next speaker.
I don't know why I say transition.
I, I need to figure out a new word.
I'm going to have to buy a Thethoris.
We're going to move to our famous four
questions.
And famous four questions
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
And so who, who came up with
these famous four questions?
Well,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: I don't,
used to, I still, I listened
to the BiggerPockets podcast.
So, They had on one of their podcasts,
the famous four section, famous
four, same four questions they ask.
So when I started my other podcast,
the Grazing Grass Podcast, I was
like, I love that ending with the same
four questions or type of questions.
So, I, I came up with three
questions for the grazing grass.
I'm like, what's that fourth question?
I finally figured it out.
And so every episode of the Grazing
Grass, we wrap up with the famous four.
So I took those questions and modified
them for the Apiary Chronicles.
And it, it just, I, I really
enjoy the answers to them.
It, it introduces people to new resources.
The one that was the last one was
your tool and we'll go over them in
just a minute, but the tool it was
kind of a throwaway question for me.
I just, I just was
convinced I needed four.
It's actually one of my favorite
questions because you never know
what people's going to answer.
And, the answers run the gamut.
And it's very interesting and then advice
is always good in finding out from others.
finding where people can
find out more information.
So I really like that.
So we're continuing on here.
And I continue to call it the Famous Four.
It may not be famous outside this little
studio right here, but it's famous.
Mr.
Ed, our first question is
what's your favorite beekeeping
related book or resource?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I would have to say my favorite because
I've never, I've never read anything.
I'm a hands on kind of guy.
I never, my whole life has been
one not of learning from a book.
It's always been a hands on operation.
So, the biggest resource that,
that I can say that I've learned
from is actually doing hive
removals, going to people's houses
and, and removing hives.
That has by far shown me more about
bee behavior than any other thing.
And I, I, use what I have learned
in the field in my understanding
of how bees operate all the time.
So this, this is for me, that is
for sure the best tool that I have.
Now, there's other great tools, which
is, you know, I say YouTube is a
great tool because there's all of this
information out there, readily out there.
It's just, you know, you have to be
very cautious with what you're doing.
on, on the filtering of, of, of what you
watch because keeping bees in the north is
not the same as keeping bees in the south.
So,
it's very area or specific and you,
you, you need to be aware of that.
However I think that many, many,
many ideas can be tweaked to, to
fit the individual beekeepers.
And so YouTube is, is a
great resource as well.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh yeah.
Our second question, what's your
favorite tool for the apiary?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
I, I've, I've, our, our honey
house and the tools I use in
the honey house have to be my.
my favorite tools because you know,
every, everybody, well, I would
say that, that, every beekeeper
loves, you know, their hive tool.
And, you know, how many, you probably
got about 15, 20 of these things, right?
So it's like,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Yeah, but they don't
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
yeah, they, well, they disappear.
I don't know, I don't
know where they go.
And, and so, you know, that's
like, I don't go anywhere without
a hive tool and, and my bee suit.
But as far as a, a specific tool
I, I can't say I have a favorite
because I have so many favorites.
Our our honey processing equipment
we, we, we have a Dakota Gunness chain
uncap where I can uncap two deep frames
of, of honey in about four seconds in,
in the top bottom and it's beautiful.
The whole processing is, is.
We, we can, we can process about 2000
pounds of hunting in about three hours.
So it's, it's very quick.
And so these tools that, that I've
acquired over the, over the years make
that job so much easier and pleasant.
If I was to, if I was to recommend.
One tool every beekeeper should have that
would be a a I don't know what to say.
It's, it's a hive lift, but it's using
hydraulics, something that you can
grab your honey super with.
It's just like a, a, a a dolly,
but it's got forks on it and it
grabs your hive box, lifts it
up, and then you can move it.
You can move hives.
You can, it's just so
much more convenient.
Then using a two man lift or
has two people or doing, trying
to move a hive by yourself.
Now, if I have to move a hive, I'm going
to grab my hive lift and move a hive.
It is by far, and I
just got one this year.
And it, it, it has radically
changed the way I harvest honey.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh very good.
Our third question, what would you
tell someone just getting started
on their beekeeping journey?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
You know, if.
If there was that question,
what would I think would be the
best thing to, to, to recommend?
And, and is that what the question is?
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Yeah, what would
you tell someone just getting started?
What would you?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
You know, I, I always stand by the
fact that particularly for beginning
beekeepers, that they should find a
bee club in their area and join it.
That, that.
Local beekeepers being associated with
beekeepers in the area you live with is
going to help you out the most because
there's always a possible possibility
of Becoming you know, somebody mentoring
you finding a mentor and, and, then
you actually are learning to keep bees
in the exact area that you are in.
And so there's all kinds
of ways of tweaking.
And so these beekeepers that have
experience in these clubs, they, they
are very much exposed to these ideas
and they, they, they're invaluable.
Resource for beginning beekeepers.
So yes, find a bee club in
your area and, and join it.
And the, the one, the one other thing
that I, I, I would say to, to beginning
beekeepers is that you Never Never forget
the reason why you decide to become a
beekeeper and that the the first thing
that it may not be the very, very first
thing, but associated with the very first
thing is that you do it because it's fun.
It's important, it's, it's
paramount that the idea of
keeping bees be fun all the time.
'cause when it becomes not fun,
you're not gonna be a beekeeper.
So whatever whatever you need to do
to sustain that initial desire of what
you saw as, as a, a aspect of fun that
should be nurtured and, and developed
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Excellent advice there.
I love the groups.
I, I go to one that's about
an hour away and I say I go.
I haven't been in a year.
I just tell my wife, I
gotta get back going to it.
And but, In regen ag, or regenative ag, I
wish we had the same thing and we don't.
I was talking to some, some fellow
regenative farmers in my area, I'm like,
we need to meet once a month just to
talk.
I really love that aspect of beekeeping
and the groups all over the country.
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
it's, it's you know, we in, in our
area, we actually have two bee clubs
and, and I, I, I don't, I don't, I go
to bed early every night, so I don't
like staying up late, and, and so I try
to make these meetings occasionally.
But we have one in my neighborhood
and one 30 miles away, and I go to
both of them, but all the, all the,
the, the, the beekeepers in them,
you will find it's a very close
family, especially if you go to, if
you're very faithful to the Bee club.
You become it, it becomes
like an extended family.
It's, it's, it's, it's incredible.
And, and then the, the, the, the
friendships that develop from
it as well as the knowledge that
is gleaned from that friendship.
It's.
It is probably the best
advice that I can give.
Join a bee club.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Very good.
And lastly, Mr.
Ed, where can others
find out more about you?
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Well, anytime you come visit St.
Joseph Abbey, I'm here.
For those that aren't able to come
make a visit at the Abbey I have a
YouTube channel and that's all I have.
I don't do Facebook.
I don't do Instagram, Twitter.
I don't do any of that.
I'm very faithful to my YouTube channel.
And I answer all my comments.
So go to my YouTube channel,
Jeff Harchoff Bees, and sign
up, subscribe, hit the bell,
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Oh, very
good.
Very good.
We'll put a link
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Oh, great.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952:
in our show notes.
And, Mr.
Ed, we really appreciate you coming on and
squadcaster-73bc_1_11-15-2024_122952:
Oh, my pleasure.
My pleasure.
Thank you for, for the invite.
I'm, I'm looking forward to
seeing what this thing looks
like when you, when you post it.
cal_1_11-15-2024_122952: Wonderful.