Hi Kamon, I can't believe you have the time to watch anything these days. Although, I'll say that you seemed far more relaxed this time around and that's a very good thing :) Thank you again.
thank you uncle fred!!!! you and your beautiful wife are just the best kind of people!!!!!! i could not get to you to say hello so saying it now!!!! never laughed so hard as when you were on that stage!!!!! spider!
Thank you for the kind words! It was a wonderful conference. It took me a moment to figure out what was going on during my talk. Thank you for being a long time viewer and frequent commenter :)
So good to see you and your lovely wife again. You are a part of making the Bee Expo a very special place. Have an outstanding year! or maybe that should be above average. 😊😊😊
Excellent video, Fred. We didn't make the trip this year but your video will hold us till next year. Great opportunity to see some innovations we may have otherwise missed. Sandra of Apiverte can give a master class on how to represent/ pitch a product. She was prepared, upbeat, informative and engaging.
I have to tell you that I'm very interested in that system for a new building I'm planning for this summer. Hives inside a space is just too appealing for someone in my climate. Thanks for watching :)
Thank you for the video! We enjoyed seeing the many innovative products we missed seeing when we were there. Very high quality and professional! It makes us glad we went and are looking forward to next year already!!
Just finished watching, thank you for these interviews. I found the interview with Natalie actually refreshing and candid. Very honest and I appreciated that. Also, I wish I had seen that queen marking system. I liked how the plunger didn’t seem to fall on its own when turned upside down.
Someone actually walked up to me and suggested that I go see the queen marking jig. I'm glad I did! People often to lose their queens when attempting to mark them, or when transferring into a smaller cage etc... I was impressed. :)
I just wanted to thank you for your videos on the expo. You are the only youtuber that shows all the products and new stuff that's what we want to see so THANK YOU
Yes! Kamon is already preparing and planning the 2026 Expo. It's taking up a huge amount of time for Kamon and his family. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
I was so glad that there was so much support for Hives for Heroes! I could not believe the bidding went so high. It's now the most expensive smoker I've ever seen :)
Thank you for the video. I was unable to attend this year, and this video really showed what I missed. I'll make it next yr. The models by aperture apiary are really cool. I am going to buy some to put in my master bee keeper teaching toolbox. Thanks
I was very impressed by the detail in those models, and the large scale of some. Definitely would make teaching much easier. When the dust settles around here, I plan to visit their website. Thanks for taking a moment to comment. :)
I was not able to attend NAHBE this year and I was waiting for your video! Thank you for editing and getting it out so fast! Soo looking forward to watching it! Thanks again! 👍👍
I'm so glad you liked this. I simply ran out of time to see all the vendors I wanted to. I hope to catch up next year for sure. Bearsville Bees had a Long Langstroth hive they wanted me to see, and they were just loaded with customers every time I walked by. Just too much to see in too little time :)
Thank You!!! I have searched high and low over multiple years for an unvented clear inner cover for winter observation of activity and emergency feed status. Only found vented from Betterbee that I had to modify to seal the vent slots on both ends…UNTIL your interview with HoneyHaven…ordered 10 immediately… thank you, thank you, thank you!
Always great, George! It's hard to wait for spring to arrive so we can get that two-queen system going! My grandson has already called me several times with his plans and suggestiong (';')... it's going to be interesting. Thank you for all the support you are giving to beekeepers, and saving backs one hive at a time :)
I'm so glad you like it, Michael :) I actually ran out of time before I had the chance to visit with everyone I wanted to! There was something interesting around every corner :)
Great interviews! Thanks for sharing. Family commitments over the holidays kept me from making the trip. Apiverte hive is most impressive. Hope it catches on and the price comes down.
Like the beesmart corners. Apiverte looks interesting. "Are we Dunn yet?" :) The bee heater looks good for a test for expert Dunn to look at also maybe for honey dehydrating if the water % is too high. Thank you Fred for sharing and taking the time to inetrview the vendors. Some great pics at the end.
There is a lot going on, and you're right, I'll be examining the HiveHeater unit this coming year. It's interesting to say the least. That art piece caught me completely off guard, how flattering :)
Thank you so much! Having the opportunity to meet in person is definitely one of the high-points of the Expo. I'm so glad we bumped into one another :)
@FrederickDunn it was a full circle moment for me! One day I'll have to tell you the full story of how I fully credit you for me ever even meeting Emily. Just know I'm truly thankful for the content you create!
1:02:06 Adaptive bee keeping. Love the ingenuity. New & improved. Will check for videos in action...removing horizontal frames & door. Would be willing to test in Southern California with our guilds.
I'm always very interested in methods that don't require lifting of supers... so glad I met her, and I wish them well as they try to expand into the U.S. Market.
That was a very last-minute interview, and I'm so glad I was able to meet with them and learn about their unit. I'll be testing that out for sure in the coming year. :) Once you see it, the thermal principle is obvious and I can see how that would benefit bees in winter as they try to access their stored resources.
I think they won me over just with the lack of freezing damage alone. I've lost many jars of Titebond just because I left it out in the cold. Thanks for commenting :)
It was wonderful meeting you in person Fred! Sorry if I sounded like a babbling fool, I was nervous and excited. Thank you for being so friendly! I just learned that you are or were a photographer, and hey! Me too! My main work is maternity and newborn. I think you’d maybe like my work, it looks similar to some of your work. Thank you again for all your videos! You’re one of my favorite UA-cam bee educator.
It was so nice to see you there! We can chat about photography anytime you'd like to :) and yes, I'm still a photographer :) Thank you for such a nice compliment :)
@ Would love that! My photography business is Kelly Dear Photography, I recently started hosting Luxury Maternity sessions in my studio, and that’s been a fun and creative learning experience. I shoot macro and landscape for fun though. You’re interview with Jose Madrigal and his bee photography inspired me to spend a pretty penny on an AK diffuser. Not much bugs and bees outside during the winter to practice, but I did do a nature walk the other day where I got to practice on some mushrooms. Through UA-cam university, I’m learning focus bracketing and stacking. I’m pretty proficient in photoshop, so it hasn’t been too difficult, I just don’t have a ton of subjects at the moment due to the cold. I did try it on some bees at the water station (bird bath), but it was definitely a challenge. Bees hardly ever stay still, the antenna are always moving. 😅
@@LuckyCrownHoney I will check out your work! I've done underwater maternity sessions :) Not much for studio work these days, I like to get out in the weather. One maternity shot ended up on a wine label last year... "The Unexpected by Arrowhead Winery" I'm so glad you are making it as a photographer! There is more work than talent out there :)
@@FrederickDunn Just looked it up, and wow!! You actually can’t tell it was for a maternity shoot, but it looks so ALIVE! Was it windy? Because I love the movement in her hair and gown. 😍
Great video. It was a great event with great speakers. It was good to meet you and talk and laugh with you several times over the weekend too. Jeff Murphy SE PA
1:49:29 #LorRobBees Oxalic Acid vaporizer improved small keeper use. Thx Rob for explaining your innovations based on need...bee counting/inspecting tray (like pharma tablet counter), portable frame scraper/planer & mite checker queen bee excluder. Good to have the engineers in the industry!
1:21:23 JL Apiary honey bucket alarm...cuz we never have any "squirrel moments" haha! I'm not alone! Wonder if there is a flow guage with auto shut-off?...in case I walked away, cuz that never happens. Great interviewing Fred!
Looks like a wonderful time was had, thank you for sharing. I'm not sure if titebond3 is sold in Canada, i went to home Depot looking for it, but they had no clue what i was talking about so they sent me to their glue aisle. I grabbed that gorilla glue and so far, so good, although this is its 1st winter but i liked that it was waterproof. Actually it was really good to find out that it doesn't matter if it freezes BC its out in the shop right now lol. There was some amazing ideas there, i like the idea of that hive heater if your hives have afternoon sun, it would probably work great. I also like the idea of the overflow alarm, it hasnt happened to me yet since i havent had a harvest yet, but ive hears a lot of stories from oldtymers lol thank you for sharing your experience and the wonderful atmosphere.
Thank you so much. I've always been a fan of Titebond III as it wins in overall strength of bond testing. BUT, I've lost a lot of it through the years just because my shop is not heated. I think they won me back to Gorilla Glue with that single interview. Oh, the wheels are turning after talking with the inventor of that Hive-Heater... no electricity, natural convection from warm to cold surfaces. The genius, and simplicity of that solar panel housed in glass is obvious once you've seen it. I'm glad you liked that. The honey bucket full alarm, if anyone has had to handle a bucket that's full to the top, or started to run over, it's worth its weight in gold. My overflow alarm used to be my dog licking honey off the floor (';')...
Another year another great time! Every year has gotten better, though the gift bag was a bit light ;) Nice to see you again. I plant the Caddie lilies 8-10" apart, 6" down. For winter I throw about 6" of mulch on them, never had a problem. The more sun the better, no maintenance, no bugs bother them (the best part). Split them like Bees every year or so ;)
Thank you so much, Craig! It was great to have a moment to chat and thank you for those interesting bulbs :) We'll get them out there when the ground is workable :) I wish you all the best as spring arrives :)
I am not the least bit jealous of Canada :) Thank you for having me again, Kamon! You are just THE MAN when it comes to bringing us all together :) I am seriously grateful.
OH, I really like those Bee Sheds Fred, thank you very much for your vendor walk and talk. I was waiting for yours, everyone that films for us is great but you take the time to talk to people and show us the cool stuff. Thanks much Fred.👍 😂She Practiced.👍 From a combo builder/beekeeper perspective they designed and built that shed system real well, looks solid. Fred isn't that divider kind of thick for bee space? I really like the idea but the space between the frame level looks like it would lead lot of bridge comb? That is a reasonable price a lot of wood work goes into that shed. That Frame scraper is interesting. I Do not like EZCheck, everyone I have leaks. Oh now the cup excluder is interesting, I like that. Hive Heat/Drier, That'll Fix WET bees. WET bees do not do well. That is so awesome that is what I am trying to do with my shelters. Very interesting, he is adjusting the micro climate the bees are living in through Winter. I may have to look it to that one, Thanks' much Fred.
I have to say that I'm with you on the cost of that shed! Around here, you pay that for an empty garden shed. If they were in our neck of the woods, I'd have my order in already! It aligns with my plan for a bee-rowbarn that I'll be constructing soon. The HiveHeater is also very interesting and conspicuously practical. I'll be catching up with him for an interview later on, I still have lots of questions. He's a very capable engineer, who has really thought that through. I could see using that same principle on a winter shed... so many ideas :) Thanks for commenting!
52:37 How fun! Educational 3D, handheld beelife stages @ApertureApiary #NeverGrowUp Love the magnetic usefulness. Lots of thought & development process is appreciated!! Go Matt!
Gr8 to virtually be there, Fred! Many thanks… stay warm 🍻 Johno How did Flow Hives go? I thought you might ask Keeper Hive people what they thought about adding one😊😉😉
I didn't ask George (the Keepers Hive) about a flow-super, I simply told him that's what I plan to do. We'll prove that out in the coming year :) It was a fantastic show, and I am sad that many of the vendors I promised to interview just didn't get in there. Too many vendors, too little time. I really wanted to talk with the BearsVille Bee Folks... but they were always busy when I walked by.
My first time grafting I did try grafting an egg. Because I didn't know any better. Fyi, you need a puddle of jelly in order to get underneath it. I couldn't scoop an egg with no royal jelly. So that's one good reason we don't graft eggs.
Thanks for sharing Fred looking forward to going next year 🎉. I went last year. How much bigger has it grown 😊. Also I would like to Thank you for taking the time at the show to do all the video you did 😊.
Hi Brian! Well, it was much larger, and somehow lower paced. I really enjoyed it. Having plenty of space around the vendor exhibits is a big bonus. I've been to conventions where you couldn't walk past each other in the aisles. I think they have it dialed in perfectly. At the back, hand-trucks were continuously rolling out with products on them. Products were moving out of that conference by the truckload. It's on a scale that's difficult to explain. Kamon and his team have really figured a lot out, and it showed. :)
39:55 This is something I recently realized when looking at insulated hives. Lyson just released an insulated inner cover though that adds another 1.25" of insulation to the tops.
Fred, I would have loved to have seen Kamon donate a booth for you to set up a unmanned table w/ a single piece of art featuring the chicken drawing (at the original size & on the same medium) to be on display for all to admire. It would have to be a reproduction of the original since it is kept in the safe deposit box at the bank vault.
Ok, THAT would be funny, but what was even better, I was walking with my wife and a guy walked by with her rendering on his shirt! :) That was just plain awesome! But yes, a dark booth with heavy tapestry and the original work with a spotlight on it, and two guards present at all times with a velvet rope across the front (Feel it without touching it).... :)
@@FrederickDunn What you described is exactly what I envisioned but I did not think of the spotlight. The idea popped in my head as you were panning through the encaustic artwork before her interview & I was expecting the chicken art to come into frame. If she doesn't read the comments.... there is always next year! Now if only Kamon would gift you a booth with high visibility. Perhaps one right as you enter the exhibit space. Keith / STL, MO
Thank you for doing the walk around again this year. Some interesting products. The solar hive heater was interesting not that it would work in my Layen’s set up but I did wonder about the placement since we are conditioned to face the hives south east and that needs to face south wouldn’t that mean you have reorient all your hive entrances? Maybe that isn’t that big of a deal since you’re adding more heat to the hive with the heater? As always enjoy your videos and appreciate the time and effort.
I actually think it would work well for a Long Langstroth or Layens... instead of the shim, just face mount it and have an opening at the far end from the entrance on the same side of the hive as the entrance. It's designed for a Langstroth verticle hive, but the principle applies... warm air in, pushing cold air out through the entrance. Horizontal hives do produce lots of moisture at the end opposite the entrance. I would try it.
Thanks for this. Ref. the Apis gloves? I went to feed my bees during a warm up, just lifting the lid and placing hive alive inside the feeders, wearing no protection but had simple, black cloth gloves on. My Italians stung my hand almost instantly. No black gloves for me. 🤣
I think it's the combination of color and texture. Furry gloves that are also dark will definitely get them going. We have some tests planned for the upcoming bee season. :) BUT, we do know that light colored gloves don't upset the bees. :)
I can't find any issues with them, and have been using them ever since he departed from Pierco. Heavy waxed, durable frames. A winning combination. Thanks :)
Maybe when a egg becomes larva,a pheremone triggers royal jelly feeding,..my guess is it scent that gets nurse bees to overfeed grafted larva,sad I missed natalee at the show,she did well in your interview
I have to say that I loved her face when I asked that question :) She's a fine example of what our young beekeepers should strive to be. I've teased her for many years, and she's always had hillarious come-backs. This is the first year she agreed to be interviewed and she did an excellent job :)
TY for the ride along,,,,,QUESTION, on the keepers hive how does or will that glass work in 0* temps winter moisture will tipping the box be enough to keep water from dripping down,,,, thanks again jim,,,,
No problems with that glass as that flip-open cover accomodates insulation that prevents that. No problem so far, I have the single brood box version at the moment and will be adding the double-queen system in spring.
I try not to say that either ;) but I'm in it for the bees, and observing the things they do. Honey is something that my grandson and wife are always requesting :)
@@FrederickDunn LOL seems we need to start some "true confessions from beekeepers"... we have beekeepers who don't care for honey and others (if you saw the Expo post) of being serious wax sniffers! Who knew?
Hey Fred, I was wondering, just how dark is the inside of a bee hive. I saw that Acorn frames come in different colors. Do bees see any color . I use to have a dark room for film printing with an enlarge, it had to be dark. For bees hives the opening of the hive let's in a lot of light, I would imagine in the brooder box there is a lot of light. Your thoughts😊. How far up in the hive does light reach? Just a thought.
Honey bees have terrible low-light vision. I don't think the color will have much bearing on their selection of a foundation to draw from or not draw from. The amount of wax used to prime the foundation definitely has a heavy influence, the color of the plastic not so much. It's really beekeeper preference. Think of honey supers, those are very dark, and only the outer edges would have light if the hive boxes weren't well fitted.
@FrederickDunn Thanks Fred, almost every time I listen to you I learn something new and it makes me think. I always look forward to any of your videos, you have a way of stering the mind and bring a new view. Thanks
Hey! Well, for now it's on the kitchen table. I'm thinking about photo-shopping myself into the chair :) It was fantastic to visit with you at the conference :)
She is absolutely hilarious. I really enjoyed interviewing her. She comes from a family of young women, so I think she's ready to fire back at any time :)
If the air warmed by the sun is warmer than the inside of the box it will create passive convection circulating the air pushing stale air out the entrance.
Yes! It's simple convection... the outside air is brought in through the bottom of the solar capture chamber. That heated air travels into the hive through the top screen/shim. This puts positive pressure into the top box and cold air travels out (only when warm air travels in) through the hive entrance on the landing board. If the outside thermal box is cold, then there is no transfer of air occuring at all. It's timple genius at work! After It was demonstrated to me, it all seemed so obvious. No electricity, no fans, no heater, it's completely on automatic during the winter months. I will definitely be testing some out in my apiary next fall. I also have some other ideas that I want to talk with the inventor about.
@FrederickDunn Hope you made it home safely through the winter storm. Aren't we being told that bees need moisture in the Hive during the winter, aka the condensing hive concept? Gis completely drying the hive out seems to run counter to that idea.
I really wish BeeSmart would sell replacement black caps for their lids. Drives me crazy that they don’t. Have you come up with anything to use as replacements by chance?
I never made it to Technically Beekeeping.... I think that was a vape-smoker? I just ran out of time. There were several others that I intended to visit, but just lost the day. Bearsville Bees was high on my list, but they were always busy with customers.
not sure if you could answer this fred with the keepers hive...since that bottom box has that split, could you just stack nuc size boxes on both sides or would that not work well? since it seems like once you start stacking with the normal supers , like you were mentioning the hives would end up getting mixed.
I'm going to add this to my Friday Q&A tomorrow! It's an interesting topic. Keeping them separate would defeat the purpose of the system... I think. :)
Sorry Cliff, your inner cover foam sucks. Yes, you have seen it as i sent you pictures for you to replaced it, ants and bees chew through it......they haven't done so on my polystyrene hives. You need to fix that foam insert before i ever buy another
I wanted him to talk about that issue. I put a thin layer of aluminum foil over the hole in the center riser, and wherever ants or bees can access it. I also had my bees chew right through the BeeMax outer cover and made a new opening. Aluminum tape, or foil will work for the insulation or poly materials you have. Thanks for sharing.
@ lol yes we do get taxed at the boarder sometimes you can hide things but there very sticky if I try to order it of a USA site they make me do the conversion so there is no way around it
I would be interested in a different color foundation simply so that I know at first glance if the frame is an old one or one of my new ones. If I were cycling in a lot of new frames that would be very helpful
There are no foundation manufacturers who currently do many colors, BUT, how interesting it would be if the foundation was on a 5-year cycle that matches queen colors. :)
@@FrederickDunnGood idea. Personally I prefer wood frames because I scrape bits of plastic into my wax with the completely plastic frames. So I just date the top bar with a marker.
They just say "it's bees wax" and that's the answer I received from other producers of waxed foundation as well. Dr. Leo claims to have the cleanest wax, but it's shipped in from Spain. Since it's the foundation wax just to start the comb building, it's probably not that big of a deal. If the bees avoid it, I'd be concerned.
Thanks for filming all this Fred! Great interviews! I am not sure I got to visit 20 booths and this is helping me get to see some of what I missed!
Hi Kamon, I can't believe you have the time to watch anything these days. Although, I'll say that you seemed far more relaxed this time around and that's a very good thing :) Thank you again.
thank you uncle fred!!!! you and your beautiful wife are just the best kind of people!!!!!! i could not get to you to say hello so saying it now!!!! never laughed so hard as when you were on that stage!!!!! spider!
Thank you for the kind words! It was a wonderful conference. It took me a moment to figure out what was going on during my talk. Thank you for being a long time viewer and frequent commenter :)
So good to see you and your lovely wife again. You are a part of making the Bee Expo a very special place. Have an outstanding year! or maybe that should be above average. 😊😊😊
Above average is my target zone :)
Excellent video, Fred. We didn't make the trip this year but your video will hold us till next year. Great opportunity to see some innovations we may have otherwise missed.
Sandra of Apiverte can give a master class on how to represent/ pitch a product. She was prepared, upbeat, informative and engaging.
I agree with your assessment of Sandra, we're following up with her. That's a very interesting system that matches some of my management wants :)
@FrederickDunn looking forward to the video of your new 🐝 shed, coming soon 🤣
Hands down my favorite was the Apiverte hive.
Beautiful craftsmanship!!
Thanks for the walk about Fred👍🏼
I have to tell you that I'm very interested in that system for a new building I'm planning for this summer. Hives inside a space is just too appealing for someone in my climate. Thanks for watching :)
Thank you for the video! We enjoyed seeing the many innovative products we missed seeing when we were there. Very high quality and professional! It makes us glad we went and are looking forward to next year already!!
Thank you so much, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I missed a lot of displays myself. Thanks for such a nice compliment :)
Just finished watching, thank you for these interviews. I found the interview with Natalie actually refreshing and candid. Very honest and I appreciated that. Also, I wish I had seen that queen marking system. I liked how the plunger didn’t seem to fall on its own when turned upside down.
Someone actually walked up to me and suggested that I go see the queen marking jig. I'm glad I did! People often to lose their queens when attempting to mark them, or when transferring into a smaller cage etc... I was impressed. :)
I just wanted to thank you for your videos on the expo. You are the only youtuber that shows all the products and new stuff that's what we want to see so THANK YOU
Thank you so much, I'm glad you found what you're looking for :)
Thank you for the great overview of NAHBE2025 and interview of our new product Atria! It was pleasure giving you a demo!
I was VERY impressed, and will be reaching out to you soon :) It aligns very well with something I'd like to do here. Thank you.
It was a fantastic experience! First time going to NAHBE and I can’t wait until 2026! Thank you Fred for all the content, interviews, and education! 🐝
Yes! Kamon is already preparing and planning the 2026 Expo. It's taking up a huge amount of time for Kamon and his family. Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed the video.
Ah yes!! The annual video where I learn about all the things I did not know I needed 😂😂
Glad you could see them here, Craig! Thanks for watching and commenting. :)
Fantastic job on the smoker that you dontated for hives for heros! Raised $1000 for them.
Awesome!
I was so glad that there was so much support for Hives for Heroes! I could not believe the bidding went so high. It's now the most expensive smoker I've ever seen :)
Great video of great products not to mention great memories. Look forward to seeing you guys in the future.
Thank you so much. We always have such a great time, now we can just watch the snow fall and wait for spring again :)
Thank you for the video. I was unable to attend this year, and this video really showed what I missed. I'll make it next yr. The models by aperture apiary are really cool. I am going to buy some to put in my master bee keeper teaching toolbox. Thanks
I was very impressed by the detail in those models, and the large scale of some. Definitely would make teaching much easier. When the dust settles around here, I plan to visit their website. Thanks for taking a moment to comment. :)
I was not able to attend NAHBE this year and I was waiting for your video! Thank you for editing and getting it out so fast! Soo looking forward to watching it! Thanks again! 👍👍
I'm so glad you liked this. I simply ran out of time to see all the vendors I wanted to. I hope to catch up next year for sure. Bearsville Bees had a Long Langstroth hive they wanted me to see, and they were just loaded with customers every time I walked by. Just too much to see in too little time :)
Dziękujemy.
You are always too generous :)
Thank You!!! I have searched high and low over multiple years for an unvented clear inner cover for winter observation of activity and emergency feed status. Only found vented from Betterbee that I had to modify to seal the vent slots on both ends…UNTIL your interview with HoneyHaven…ordered 10 immediately… thank you, thank you, thank you!
So glad that helped you out. Yes, those slots come in most inner covers, I cut wood segments and glue them in.
Fred, many thanks for the opportunity to chat with you. Look forward to future discussions about how we are helping keepers.
Always great, George! It's hard to wait for spring to arrive so we can get that two-queen system going! My grandson has already called me several times with his plans and suggestiong (';')... it's going to be interesting. Thank you for all the support you are giving to beekeepers, and saving backs one hive at a time :)
Congratulations, participation in such an event.Greetings from Poland and thank you 😍
Thank you VERY MUCH! :)
I’ve been waiting for your video to drop. Always great on the new gadgets and tech.
I'm so glad you like it, Michael :) I actually ran out of time before I had the chance to visit with everyone I wanted to! There was something interesting around every corner :)
Thanks Fred for this video. For those of us that could not make it to NAHBE . Have a great day
Thank you very much for watching, and for taking a moment to comment. Sorry you couldn't make it.
Great interviews! Thanks for sharing. Family commitments over the holidays kept me from making the trip. Apiverte hive is most impressive. Hope it catches on and the price comes down.
I agree with you, that hive system is very appealing to me these days. We'll see if it makes its way to the United States.
1:25:03 Oooo, wow. #EncausticArt I appreciate Neranza's Tennessee right-brained creations! Thank you for explaining the processes, techniques & challenges. #LocalWax ❤
I really like that there are traditional artists still making it in the digital world. :)
Thank you Fred so much better than beeing in the cold thanks for sharing
You're very welcome, Rick! Thanks for watching and taking a moment to comment :)
It was fun sharing ghost stories. I hope you had an amazing expo.
I enjoyed it too! The Expo was great!
Like the beesmart corners. Apiverte looks interesting. "Are we Dunn yet?" :) The bee heater looks good for a test for expert Dunn to look at also maybe for honey dehydrating if the water % is too high. Thank you Fred for sharing and taking the time to inetrview the vendors. Some great pics at the end.
There is a lot going on, and you're right, I'll be examining the HiveHeater unit this coming year. It's interesting to say the least. That art piece caught me completely off guard, how flattering :)
Natalee is AWESOME!!! She just tells it like it is!!! Speaking of awesome….You crush it doing interviews!!!
Thank you so much! :) I've enjoyed watching Natalee grow as a beekeeper through the years. She has definitely arrived. :)
It was amazing to have an opportunity to meet you at the expo, You seemed to be a very genuine person with a great personality to match.
Thank you so much! Having the opportunity to meet in person is definitely one of the high-points of the Expo. I'm so glad we bumped into one another :)
@FrederickDunn it was a full circle moment for me! One day I'll have to tell you the full story of how I fully credit you for me ever even meeting Emily. Just know I'm truly thankful for the content you create!
Great to see you at NAHBE, thanks for keeping beekeepers “dialed in”
I had it with me at Cracker Barrel, as you already know! :) Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!
1:02:06 Adaptive bee keeping. Love the ingenuity. New & improved. Will check for videos in action...removing horizontal frames & door.
Would be willing to test in Southern California with our guilds.
I'm always very interested in methods that don't require lifting of supers... so glad I met her, and I wish them well as they try to expand into the U.S. Market.
Enjoyed the video and appreciate that you feature a variety of vendors that are not the same ones we see over and over again on social media.
Thank you :) I always try to look for significant updates, or new items :)
Natalee!!! I really love her interview. Thnx Fred!
She was a pure joy to talk to, and she's got some wonderful comebacks to my questions. Thank you :)
What amazing interviews and awesome follow up questions. Thank you!! Very informative and inspiring. Hopefully bee able to make next year’s expo.
Thank you so much, I do my best to learn the most I can in a short amount of time :)
“I’m being creative guys!?!”
😂😂😂
:) It takes concentration :)
Looks like y’all had a good time!! Thanks for sharing Fred!! Gonna make sure to watch the whole thing 😁
Hi Grayson! I was looking around for you, I hope all is well and that 2025 is a great beekeeping year for you :)
@ Wasn’t able to make it those year but hope to make a trip up in the near future:) Same to you Fred!
I looked forward to your video again this year! Thank you.
I wondered how the hive heater worked. Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
That was a very last-minute interview, and I'm so glad I was able to meet with them and learn about their unit. I'll be testing that out for sure in the coming year. :) Once you see it, the thermal principle is obvious and I can see how that would benefit bees in winter as they try to access their stored resources.
@@FrederickDunnwhen the sun is not on the panel at night, would the screen just be like an upper entrance and let stored heat out?
Sure looks creative though
some really interesting new products this year. thanks fred and everyone there!
Definitely, and many more that I missed out on. Thanks for watching.
1:14:07 Gorilla Glue & O'Keefe's skincare, great educational on both product lines. Very practical!
I think they won me over just with the lack of freezing damage alone. I've lost many jars of Titebond just because I left it out in the cold. Thanks for commenting :)
It was wonderful meeting you in person Fred! Sorry if I sounded like a babbling fool, I was nervous and excited. Thank you for being so friendly! I just learned that you are or were a photographer, and hey! Me too! My main work is maternity and newborn. I think you’d maybe like my work, it looks similar to some of your work. Thank you again for all your videos! You’re one of my favorite UA-cam bee educator.
It was so nice to see you there! We can chat about photography anytime you'd like to :) and yes, I'm still a photographer :) Thank you for such a nice compliment :)
@ Would love that! My photography business is Kelly Dear Photography, I recently started hosting Luxury Maternity sessions in my studio, and that’s been a fun and creative learning experience. I shoot macro and landscape for fun though. You’re interview with Jose Madrigal and his bee photography inspired me to spend a pretty penny on an AK diffuser. Not much bugs and bees outside during the winter to practice, but I did do a nature walk the other day where I got to practice on some mushrooms. Through UA-cam university, I’m learning focus bracketing and stacking. I’m pretty proficient in photoshop, so it hasn’t been too difficult, I just don’t have a ton of subjects at the moment due to the cold. I did try it on some bees at the water station (bird bath), but it was definitely a challenge. Bees hardly ever stay still, the antenna are always moving. 😅
@@LuckyCrownHoney I will check out your work! I've done underwater maternity sessions :) Not much for studio work these days, I like to get out in the weather. One maternity shot ended up on a wine label last year... "The Unexpected by Arrowhead Winery" I'm so glad you are making it as a photographer! There is more work than talent out there :)
@@FrederickDunn Just looked it up, and wow!! You actually can’t tell it was for a maternity shoot, but it looks so ALIVE! Was it windy? Because I love the movement in her hair and gown. 😍
Great job 👏
I'm glad you enjoyed it! :)
Great video. It was a great event with great speakers. It was good to meet you and talk and laugh with you several times over the weekend too. Jeff Murphy SE PA
Absolutely! Thanks Jeff! :)
1:49:29 #LorRobBees Oxalic Acid vaporizer improved small keeper use. Thx Rob for explaining your innovations based on need...bee counting/inspecting tray (like pharma tablet counter), portable frame scraper/planer & mite checker queen bee excluder. Good to have the engineers in the industry!
1:21:23 JL Apiary honey bucket alarm...cuz we never have any "squirrel moments" haha! I'm not alone!
Wonder if there is a flow guage with auto shut-off?...in case I walked away, cuz that never happens. Great interviewing Fred!
Never want to deal with a full-to-the-top bucket... I didn't know I needed one of those until I learned about it at the Expo :)
Looks like a wonderful time was had, thank you for sharing. I'm not sure if titebond3 is sold in Canada, i went to home Depot looking for it, but they had no clue what i was talking about so they sent me to their glue aisle. I grabbed that gorilla glue and so far, so good, although this is its 1st winter but i liked that it was waterproof. Actually it was really good to find out that it doesn't matter if it freezes BC its out in the shop right now lol. There was some amazing ideas there, i like the idea of that hive heater if your hives have afternoon sun, it would probably work great. I also like the idea of the overflow alarm, it hasnt happened to me yet since i havent had a harvest yet, but ive hears a lot of stories from oldtymers lol thank you for sharing your experience and the wonderful atmosphere.
Thank you so much. I've always been a fan of Titebond III as it wins in overall strength of bond testing. BUT, I've lost a lot of it through the years just because my shop is not heated. I think they won me back to Gorilla Glue with that single interview. Oh, the wheels are turning after talking with the inventor of that Hive-Heater... no electricity, natural convection from warm to cold surfaces. The genius, and simplicity of that solar panel housed in glass is obvious once you've seen it. I'm glad you liked that. The honey bucket full alarm, if anyone has had to handle a bucket that's full to the top, or started to run over, it's worth its weight in gold. My overflow alarm used to be my dog licking honey off the floor (';')...
Thank you Fred, it was amazing. I just was thinking that you will not make a video this year and it came. Happy beekeeping during 2025.
I am so glad you enjoyed it :) Happy 2025 to you also :)
Another year another great time! Every year has gotten better, though the gift bag was a bit light ;) Nice to see you again. I plant the Caddie lilies 8-10" apart, 6" down. For winter I throw about 6" of mulch on them, never had a problem. The more sun the better, no maintenance, no bugs bother them (the best part). Split them like Bees every year or so ;)
Thank you so much, Craig! It was great to have a moment to chat and thank you for those interesting bulbs :) We'll get them out there when the ground is workable :) I wish you all the best as spring arrives :)
Thanks Fred for the video! I couldn't attend so it's great to see NAHBE thru your video.
You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed the video.
Only a Canadian would say a Pennsylvanian like Fred gets a little bit of winter! LOL I love it. All about perspective!
I am not the least bit jealous of Canada :) Thank you for having me again, Kamon! You are just THE MAN when it comes to bringing us all together :) I am seriously grateful.
Thanks for sharing and safe return. Weather is getting nasty.
Thank you, we made it home in fine shape. Some were still waiting for flights as recent as today! Not Fun for many.
Thanks Fred! I’m about halfway through. I really want to buy some of Neranza’s encaustic artwork!!
I love that you are going to support traditional arts. She was a pure pleasure to talk with. :)
thank you for sharing
Thank you for taking the time to watch :)
Nice ending with the three.❤️❤️❤️❤️👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
:)
OH, I really like those Bee Sheds Fred, thank you very much for your vendor walk and talk.
I was waiting for yours, everyone that films for us is great but you take the time to talk to people and show us the cool stuff. Thanks much Fred.👍
😂She Practiced.👍 From a combo builder/beekeeper perspective they designed and built that shed system real well, looks solid. Fred isn't that divider kind of thick for bee space? I really like the idea but the space between the frame level looks like it would lead lot of bridge comb? That is a reasonable price a lot of wood work goes into that shed.
That Frame scraper is interesting. I Do not like EZCheck, everyone I have leaks. Oh now the cup excluder is interesting, I like that.
Hive Heat/Drier, That'll Fix WET bees. WET bees do not do well. That is so awesome that is what I am trying to do with my shelters. Very interesting, he is adjusting the micro climate the bees are living in through Winter. I may have to look it to that one, Thanks' much Fred.
I have to say that I'm with you on the cost of that shed! Around here, you pay that for an empty garden shed. If they were in our neck of the woods, I'd have my order in already! It aligns with my plan for a bee-rowbarn that I'll be constructing soon. The HiveHeater is also very interesting and conspicuously practical. I'll be catching up with him for an interview later on, I still have lots of questions. He's a very capable engineer, who has really thought that through. I could see using that same principle on a winter shed... so many ideas :) Thanks for commenting!
52:37 How fun! Educational 3D, handheld beelife stages @ApertureApiary #NeverGrowUp Love the magnetic usefulness. Lots of thought & development process is appreciated!! Go Matt!
Gr8 to virtually be there, Fred!
Many thanks… stay warm
🍻 Johno
How did Flow Hives go? I thought you might ask Keeper Hive people what they thought about adding one😊😉😉
I didn't ask George (the Keepers Hive) about a flow-super, I simply told him that's what I plan to do. We'll prove that out in the coming year :) It was a fantastic show, and I am sad that many of the vendors I promised to interview just didn't get in there. Too many vendors, too little time. I really wanted to talk with the BearsVille Bee Folks... but they were always busy when I walked by.
My first time grafting I did try grafting an egg. Because I didn't know any better. Fyi, you need a puddle of jelly in order to get underneath it. I couldn't scoop an egg with no royal jelly. So that's one good reason we don't graft eggs.
You can dip your grafter in royal jelly to prime the cup, but you're right, a freshly hatched larva is best and easiest :)
It was nice meeting you for a moment, (just so you can put a face to the name, lol). I learned a lot this past weekend.
Hi GiGi! :) I'm so glad! I think we all learned a lot during that convention :)
Thanks for sharing Fred looking forward to going next year 🎉. I went last year. How much bigger has it grown 😊. Also I would like to Thank you for taking the time at the show to do all the video you did 😊.
Hi Brian! Well, it was much larger, and somehow lower paced. I really enjoyed it. Having plenty of space around the vendor exhibits is a big bonus. I've been to conventions where you couldn't walk past each other in the aisles. I think they have it dialed in perfectly. At the back, hand-trucks were continuously rolling out with products on them. Products were moving out of that conference by the truckload. It's on a scale that's difficult to explain. Kamon and his team have really figured a lot out, and it showed. :)
Fred- I’ve been waiting fir this🎉🎉🎉🎉
Hi Lynne, I hope you enjoy it :)
39:55 This is something I recently realized when looking at insulated hives. Lyson just released an insulated inner cover though that adds another 1.25" of insulation to the tops.
Lyson has a thicker cover? Innnteresssstinnng.... :) I've used beemax as an outer cover for years, I'm always looking for insulated outer covers :)
Fred, I would have loved to have seen Kamon donate a booth for you to set up a unmanned table w/ a single piece of art featuring the chicken drawing (at the original size & on the same medium) to be on display for all to admire. It would have to be a reproduction of the original since it is kept in the safe deposit box at the bank vault.
Ok, THAT would be funny, but what was even better, I was walking with my wife and a guy walked by with her rendering on his shirt! :) That was just plain awesome! But yes, a dark booth with heavy tapestry and the original work with a spotlight on it, and two guards present at all times with a velvet rope across the front (Feel it without touching it).... :)
@@FrederickDunn What you described is exactly what I envisioned but I did not think of the spotlight. The idea popped in my head as you were panning through the encaustic artwork before her interview & I was expecting the chicken art to come into frame. If she doesn't read the comments.... there is always next year! Now if only Kamon would gift you a booth with high visibility. Perhaps one right as you enter the exhibit space. Keith / STL, MO
Thank you for doing the walk around again this year.
Some interesting products. The solar hive heater was interesting not that it would work in my Layen’s set up but I did wonder about the placement since we are conditioned to face the hives south east and that needs to face south wouldn’t that mean you have reorient all your hive entrances? Maybe that isn’t that big of a deal since you’re adding more heat to the hive with the heater?
As always enjoy your videos and appreciate the time and effort.
I actually think it would work well for a Long Langstroth or Layens... instead of the shim, just face mount it and have an opening at the far end from the entrance on the same side of the hive as the entrance. It's designed for a Langstroth verticle hive, but the principle applies... warm air in, pushing cold air out through the entrance. Horizontal hives do produce lots of moisture at the end opposite the entrance. I would try it.
@ Excellent point. I’ll have to think about that in the future as it will require a lid redesign.
Thanks for this. Ref. the Apis gloves? I went to feed my bees during a warm up, just lifting the lid and placing hive alive inside the feeders, wearing no protection but had simple, black cloth gloves on. My Italians stung my hand almost instantly. No black gloves for me. 🤣
I think it's the combination of color and texture. Furry gloves that are also dark will definitely get them going. We have some tests planned for the upcoming bee season. :) BUT, we do know that light colored gloves don't upset the bees. :)
Hope you're not snowed in at home. Thanks Fred!
3 feet deep, with more on the way. But, now that I'm here, I don't mind :)
@ You were dumped on!!!!
Interviewers: There’s a new sheriff in town and his name is Dunn, Fred Dunn. Thanks Fred Happy New Year!
:) It was nothing but fun :) Happy New Year to you also :)
acorn plastic frames are simply the best.
I can't find any issues with them, and have been using them ever since he departed from Pierco. Heavy waxed, durable frames. A winning combination. Thanks :)
❤❤❤
Maybe when a egg becomes larva,a pheremone triggers royal jelly feeding,..my guess is it scent that gets nurse bees to overfeed grafted larva,sad I missed natalee at the show,she did well in your interview
I have to say that I loved her face when I asked that question :) She's a fine example of what our young beekeepers should strive to be. I've teased her for many years, and she's always had hillarious come-backs. This is the first year she agreed to be interviewed and she did an excellent job :)
TY for the ride along,,,,,QUESTION, on the keepers hive how does or will that glass work in 0* temps winter moisture will tipping the box be enough to keep water from dripping down,,,, thanks again jim,,,,
No problems with that glass as that flip-open cover accomodates insulation that prevents that. No problem so far, I have the single brood box version at the moment and will be adding the double-queen system in spring.
@@FrederickDunn ty
I would LOVE to have brought a hot wax system home from Thorne, but it doesn’t easily fit in my luggage, lol.
We all have limits :)
I have to confess I'm not that fond of honey either - like making more bees and queens a lot more!
I try not to say that either ;) but I'm in it for the bees, and observing the things they do. Honey is something that my grandson and wife are always requesting :)
@@FrederickDunn LOL seems we need to start some "true confessions from beekeepers"... we have beekeepers who don't care for honey and others (if you saw the Expo post) of being serious wax sniffers! Who knew?
Hey Fred, I was wondering, just how dark is the inside of a bee hive. I saw that Acorn frames come in different colors. Do bees see any color . I use to have a dark room for film printing with an enlarge, it had to be dark. For bees hives the opening of the hive let's in a lot of light, I would imagine in the brooder box there is a lot of light. Your thoughts😊. How far up in the hive does light reach? Just a thought.
Honey bees have terrible low-light vision. I don't think the color will have much bearing on their selection of a foundation to draw from or not draw from. The amount of wax used to prime the foundation definitely has a heavy influence, the color of the plastic not so much. It's really beekeeper preference. Think of honey supers, those are very dark, and only the outer edges would have light if the hive boxes weren't well fitted.
@FrederickDunn Thanks Fred, almost every time I listen to you I learn something new and it makes me think. I always look forward to any of your videos, you have a way of stering the mind and bring a new view. Thanks
So did you figure out where you’re putting the diorama?!
Hey! Well, for now it's on the kitchen table. I'm thinking about photo-shopping myself into the chair :) It was fantastic to visit with you at the conference :)
man Natalee got a little sassy as of late. lol
She is absolutely hilarious. I really enjoyed interviewing her. She comes from a family of young women, so I think she's ready to fire back at any time :)
Bob Binnie at 2:05!!!
Bob is a great guy, we had a short conversation at the Hotel :)
Fred, I didn't understand how the hot wet air escaped with the hive heater. Did you?
If the air warmed by the sun is warmer than the inside of the box it will create passive convection circulating the air pushing stale air out the entrance.
Yes! It's simple convection... the outside air is brought in through the bottom of the solar capture chamber. That heated air travels into the hive through the top screen/shim. This puts positive pressure into the top box and cold air travels out (only when warm air travels in) through the hive entrance on the landing board. If the outside thermal box is cold, then there is no transfer of air occuring at all. It's timple genius at work! After It was demonstrated to me, it all seemed so obvious. No electricity, no fans, no heater, it's completely on automatic during the winter months. I will definitely be testing some out in my apiary next fall. I also have some other ideas that I want to talk with the inventor about.
@FrederickDunn Hope you made it home safely through the winter storm. Aren't we being told that bees need moisture in the Hive during the winter, aka the condensing hive concept? Gis completely drying the hive out seems to run counter to that idea.
I really wish BeeSmart would sell replacement black caps for their lids. Drives me crazy that they don’t. Have you come up with anything to use as replacements by chance?
Cork! I am with you on that frustration! I somehow manage to misplace those even though there is room inside the shim! Muth Jar Corks work for me. :)
@@FrederickDunn Oooo that's a great idea!
Do you have another vidoe coming out featuring more vedors like Technically Beekeeping?
I never made it to Technically Beekeeping.... I think that was a vape-smoker? I just ran out of time. There were several others that I intended to visit, but just lost the day. Bearsville Bees was high on my list, but they were always busy with customers.
I like that keepers hive he is gonna sell
Me one and send it to Canada for me
That's great news!
not sure if you could answer this fred with the keepers hive...since that bottom box has that split, could you just stack nuc size boxes on both sides or would that not work well? since it seems like once you start stacking with the normal supers , like you were mentioning the hives would end up getting mixed.
I'm going to add this to my Friday Q&A tomorrow! It's an interesting topic. Keeping them separate would defeat the purpose of the system... I think. :)
@@FrederickDunn appreciate it!
Sorry Cliff, your inner cover foam sucks. Yes, you have seen it as i sent you pictures for you to replaced it, ants and bees chew through it......they haven't done so on my polystyrene hives. You need to fix that foam insert before i ever buy another
I wanted him to talk about that issue. I put a thin layer of aluminum foil over the hole in the center riser, and wherever ants or bees can access it. I also had my bees chew right through the BeeMax outer cover and made a new opening. Aluminum tape, or foil will work for the insulation or poly materials you have. Thanks for sharing.
I wish we could get them insta vapes at a fair price I see you guys getting them for 350 they want 800 plus tax in Canada for one it sucks
Holy cow.. that is expensive! Maybe that's why a lot of Canadians made the drive down? Do you get taxed at the border?
@ lol yes we do get taxed at the boarder sometimes you can hide things but there very sticky if I try to order it of a USA site they make me do the conversion so there is no way around it
One word. Spider😂
Ok, THAT was challenging :)
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
🦅🤵💫🐝🐝🐝⚘⚘⚘🍯🍯🍯😊
I would be interested in a different color foundation simply so that I know at first glance if the frame is an old one or one of my new ones. If I were cycling in a lot of new frames that would be very helpful
There are no foundation manufacturers who currently do many colors, BUT, how interesting it would be if the foundation was on a 5-year cycle that matches queen colors. :)
@@FrederickDunnGood idea. Personally I prefer wood frames because I scrape bits of plastic into my wax with the completely plastic frames. So I just date the top bar with a marker.
I just write the two digit year on the frame ear in marker and I don’t need to pull a frame to know older frames.
Spider
... Quit it.... (';')( ';')... ok then.... :) that was definitely a new one on me :)
Acorn not knowing their source for wax was disappointing and surprising.
They just say "it's bees wax" and that's the answer I received from other producers of waxed foundation as well. Dr. Leo claims to have the cleanest wax, but it's shipped in from Spain. Since it's the foundation wax just to start the comb building, it's probably not that big of a deal. If the bees avoid it, I'd be concerned.
@@FrederickDunn By FAR my favorite video from the 2025 NAHBE. You're such a good advocate for consumers who are bee enthusiasts. Keep it up!
Dziękujemy.
Thank you, again, for your frequent generosity and support of my channel. Very much appreciated :)