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Honey Bee Zen
Canada
Приєднався 16 лип 2012
We are beekeepers who left behind big city life in Canada for a rural life in British Columbia's Kootenays, operating a regional honey business.
This channel is a lot about the art and craft of beekeeping, as we practice them through our two companies, Swan Valley Honey and Honey Bee Zen. It is also about the other things we do or experience that enrich our lives. We share not only tips and helpful lessons on how to keep bees and operate a honey business, but also some of our discoveries as we live renewed lives of purpose and joy.
This channel is a lot about the art and craft of beekeeping, as we practice them through our two companies, Swan Valley Honey and Honey Bee Zen. It is also about the other things we do or experience that enrich our lives. We share not only tips and helpful lessons on how to keep bees and operate a honey business, but also some of our discoveries as we live renewed lives of purpose and joy.
An Old Apple Tree's Reward
This old apple tree nearly bought the biscuit a few years ago when an adjacent maple tree fell on it. I carefully salvaged the tree, hoping against hope it might survive. This fall, it rewarded my efforts with a modest bounty of fruit. I didn't use sprays, other than dormant oil, and some of the apples are pock-marked. But that's just fine with me, given the alternative that it would have been firewood. I don't know the variety - possibly Spartan - but the tart crispness of the crunch when I bite in is reward enough.
I'll be the first to admit I don't know how to prune, and I am sure the tree needs some professional help. But what a nice outcome, so far.
I'll be the first to admit I don't know how to prune, and I am sure the tree needs some professional help. But what a nice outcome, so far.
Переглядів: 17
Відео
The power of a good electric fence charger against a Grizzly bear
Переглядів 154 тис.2 місяці тому
This is a short video of the outcome between a determined Grizzly bear trying to get into one of our bee yards, and an equally effective 12v solar fencer in keeping it out. He/She dug almost completely under the fence before being shocked and convinced to abandon its plan.
How To Make Beeswax Food Wraps
Переглядів 11 тис.3 роки тому
Making reusable food wraps from beeswax-impregnated cloth is super easy! In this video Amanda will show you how to do it in simple, easy steps We also make kits for doing your own wraps, complete with all the necessary ingredients.
Moving hives to honey yards
Переглядів 1,4 тис.4 роки тому
It's time to move our hives into our summer honey yards in Southeastern B.C. After pollination, equalization and nuc-production, we move our production colonies into a few dozen yards, where they are surrounded by diverse forage such as clover, alfalfa, snowberry, vetch and lots of other wildflowers. The hives will stay there until September. To make it easier we use an Ezy-Loader hive-lifting ...
Last queen imports during COVID-19
Переглядів 4024 роки тому
On the weekend we received what could be one of the last shipments of queens from outside of Canada. At least until the carriers like Air Canada revisit their decision to stop live transport of livestock. Sitting on our dining room table are 120 very important little bits of royalty, all of whom represent a promise of growth for our company this topsy-turvy year. At this time of the year commer...
From disaster to promise, the bees are alive!
Переглядів 3144 роки тому
How fast things can change in a single year! From disaster to fortune, from crying over rows of dead hives to laughing over whole yards of live ones. Last winter we were down on our knees, having lost 85 per cent of our colonies to diseases and having to spend a small fortune to start again in the spring. This year? We have a stunningly high overwintering success so far of 90 per cent. I shot t...
Choosing Roses for Honey Bees
Переглядів 9075 років тому
Internationally-acclaimed rose expert Brad Jalbert of Select Roses has some thoughts on what kind are best for honey bees and native pollinators. He's seeing more people wanting bee-friendly roses than the traditional tight double rose. And he also says select carefully for roses that don’t need pesticides.
Moving bees with an Ezy-Loader to Creston
Переглядів 47 тис.5 років тому
We moved the bees we started on the Coast to Creston with our new Ezy-Loader hive lifting system, complete with a night move and a full load on the new truck. The bees, replacement stock for a tough winter loss, are going to finish out getting ready for pollination.
Amanda’s New Beekeeping Hack For Moving Hives
Переглядів 8055 років тому
We were moving hives back to Creston and Amanda came up with a simple solution for closing the upper entrance and still leaving air for the bees. We also had screens across the bottom. Here’s her amazing little beekeeping tip.
Ol' One-eyed Sherman
Переглядів 1245 років тому
Just a fun little video while I was doing a test on a new microphone for my UA-cam videos and Ol' One-Eye, AKA our dog Sherman, blundered into my legs. We really thought we'd lost him at the end of last year when he got an ulcer on his eye. Instead . . . well, you judge for yourself.
Servicing a Honda WB20 XT Water Pump - Beekeeping Adventures
Переглядів 6 тис.5 років тому
As Amanda Goodman Lee and I continue our adventures as commercial beekeepers, I am, without really meaning to, filling an unintended bucket list. In this case, it's learning how to fix a balky water pump engine we use to dispense sugar syrup to our bees in spring and fall. I'd failed to properly winterize it, and it rewarded me with an opportunity to learn a little more about myself.
Starting and Growing New Package Bees
Переглядів 5225 років тому
Package bees to the rescue! Here's how we rebuilt by bringing in some package bees after suffering some significant winter losses.
Moving Honeybees From B.C. to Alberta
Переглядів 8 тис.9 років тому
Every year commercial beekeepers from Alberta bring thousands of colonies to British Columbia for blueberry pollination. When they're finished, they pack them up, bring them to staging yards, and assemble the loads for transport to Alberta's canola fields. Here's a short video on one such operation, Paradis Valley Honey.
Great conclusion. You don't want to hunt it down, other bears will be back. If it's still bear habitat/territory, leave it to them. BUT, if they don't retain enough territory, every beekeeper will hae problems.
Would a fence into the ground plus the electricity prevent that? Or a booby trap flash bang? Or 12 guage slug ?
200grains at 2500fps would fix it
Boo Boo will fit no problem.
He will be back with a JCB next time .
Bury chain link fencing around perimeter of bee hives right under electric fencing.
Have you checked your beehives, they could be all empty.. when I was little my dad was telling me a story about a bear, a fox, and honey, in which a bear was outsmarted by a fox taking all the honey..
Maybe he could be a decent republican president if Mr. T ends up in jail?
Just be careful with the fence. If it is too close to the hives, the hum and field can upset bees and they fly off. We did this by mistake on our farm one year. A bit further back would be recommended
Wow ‼️‼️
Maybe a 12 gua and a big pot for bear stew. And some freezer space.
Bears are stubborn little buggers
Well next time he will try to go on his back, it should work all the way to the point where he becomes Mrs. Bear.
I would constantly be looking over my back if I was standing there.
there are shops around that sell guns bud
This bare behind story is of little interst to me.
…….wow………?
Great video Amanda. I use the same ingredients and they turn out so great.
What will bee, will bee.
Don’t wiz on the electric fence!
can you put down a 3 to 4 foot wide mesh plate and connect it to the perimeter wire fence ,make it 6to 1 foot inside and the rest out side your perimeter..... and for extra protection, get some marine grade ply wood about half inch thick , and normal size, 4 X 8 ,the marine plywood is to be able to with stand being out side and on the ground, put nails through the plywood about 3inches wide and put that down around the perimeter as well, that way the bear will get shocked and will be stabbed with the nails through the board as well, bet the bear wont make it through that... just my 2 cents... electric fence and electric ground and nails in a 4 foot wide board would be hard to get through,, the area you look like your protecting should not be hard to protect, again just my 2 cents.....
We sometimes use nail boards to discourage skunks from getting near the hives - they scratch the front to irritate the bees and then eat any that come out. We'll try the grounded page wire trick this next season. For now the bees have been removed and the yard shut down for the season.
HAHA HE IS CHICKEN OF BEARS😂😂😂
The bear is home reading Popular Mechanic, figuring out how to short out your fence. Best of luck!
You made me laugh so hard.. I even pictured a bear doing it..
Laud sound also may stop bears. Use powerful laud speakers, that may turn on by motion detectors.
You said the fence delivers 9000 volts , but volts don't kill you, it's amps that kill.
That is the idea of the fence, he doesn't want to kill the bears.
Bears are crazy about honey. He might come back.
Works even better if you put steel plates down for even better ground, and can dig through them
how many people came here expecting to see a bear get zapped by an electric fence?
Wait for the next video. There's one there that caused a bear to stop getting into our boxes. Didn't hurt him but just dissuaded.
He paid his electric bill early
Grizzly meets Tesla ...
Moving the hives is best. Lots of time and money involved.
It’s the fact he is illiterate that gave him a shocking result 😂😂😂
Do you also get any certifications or tests on beeswax wrap solution for commercial applications?
Elevate the hives.
For those in a dryer climates having problems with grounding. Buy 2 bags of rock salt. Mix 1 in 5-gal bucket of water, and pour in with other bag around grounding pole! Then fill in with dirt...
He's building a fence and the bears are paying for it.
Have been surprised that with the increasing bear numbers WHY the bee keepers do not put the hives on raised platforms 15-18 feet up..
We had a black bear do this about 5 years ago. Once in he just grabbed a super and ran right off tearing down the fence.
Meanwhile, off in the fog...the bear says, "Humans taste better anyways."
Impressive how the electric fence discouraged the bear. I agree with the assessment that it was time to move the yard though.
You could cover ground near fence with sharp metal wierd, so bear doesnt dig.
My tortoise digs a similar looking hole under the fence.
id be more afraid of a pissed off bear knocking me into that fence from the fog
The bear should have read the sign...
You are far to kind, the charger for the fence needs a few more joules. A common cattle fence charger is 8 joules and there is a chager made just for predators that is 48 joules. Another enhancer is to alternate hot and ground, so that you are not facing the voltage drop due to bear's paws, contact with dirt, or low moisture. My dad had a dear problem that he solved by putting peanut butter on aluminum foil on the electric fence.
Holy smokes! 48 joules? I'm afraid that if I accidentally hit that, I'd be off like a rocket to the moon! (Actually, our chargers put out close to 3 joules under best circumstancers, but I tend to be conservative in my estimates. All I know is that when I accidentally come in contact, the bears on the other side of the river can probably hear me . . . Thanks for the terrific comment; what company makes these chargers?
@@honeybeezen Gallagher now makes a 58 joule but it is about 2500$. It would be good for starting fires if it comes in contact with anything dry. I don't have bears near me and black bears are all we have in NC. I am glad that we don't have grisly bears.
Me being me i would have filled that hole with water ..and installed a sprinkler to keep the entire area wet after dark..I personally know what its like to be belt buckle deep in water when the ground wire was accidentally lifted.
Need to set up a game cam for this so we can see it get zapped! :)
Or if you want to spend the extra money and add another ring of electric fence a couple feet out ?
Put 2 rows of fencing
sections of 4 foot rebar every foot or so, driven into the ground, just below the level of the lowest wire.