Recent Posts

31

GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE / Re: This Is Stump Grinding 101

« Last post by BeeMaster2 on March 19, 2023, 11:35:37 pm »

Iddee,
None of those stumps have roots as big as these Slash Yellow Pin roots that we are removing.
That ripper looks pretty good. I?m going to see if they make one for my 580C. We have to dig at least 6? to release these roots. Pretty sure you cannot do that with just that ripper on the backhoe.
Jim Altmiller

32

CRAFTING CORNER / Re: Beeswax Deodorant/Antiperspirant

« Last post by BeeMaster2 on March 19, 2023, 11:12:43 pm »

Thanks Reagan.
It?s very difficult to reply right now. Hopefully this will get through.
Jim Altmiller

33

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Allow bees in and out whilst excluding butterflies?

« Last post by Ben Framed on March 19, 2023, 10:05:00 pm »

I think there has been a slight bit of miscommunication.
Heres what I an thinking, you have no Honeybees? But you appreciate honeybees visiting your garden? At the same time, you wish to keep butterflies out from you garden, while letting honeybees visit and pollinate? I do not thinks Acebird meant any offense. I am thinking he just assumed you had, or wished to have honeybees, and when he realized you did not,  he switched gears and went on with answers that he though might befit your program. 

Phillip

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Allow bees in and out whilst excluding butterflies?

« Last post by The15thMember on March 19, 2023, 08:52:10 pm »

But how to do that without harming the bees? Where's the best place to ask? A bee forum.

ABSOLUTELY.  We are more than willing to answer any questions about bees from anyone who has questions, regardless of whether they have bees or ever intend to.  And not only questions about honey bees, but all the other bees too.  Anyone out there who may be perusing this forum, whether you are having a problem concerning bees or you are simply here out of curiosity alone, PLEASE don't hesitate to ask us anything that may be on your mind.  If you have an ID request for a pollinator, if you want information about purchasing real quality local honey, if you would like to know how to help the bees that live in your area, if you are interested in working with beeswax, if you have questions about pollinator-friendly gardening and lawn care, A-NY-THING.  There is no such thing as a dumb question.  We love to talk about anything relating to our little buzzy friends. 

35

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Allow bees in and out whilst excluding butterflies?

« Last post by Buk on March 19, 2023, 07:45:16 pm »

Sorry, I made an assumption that you came to a honeybee forum with the intention of having bees.

My system works. It excludes  pretty much every critter that can damage my crops. Bar a few tiny flies (blackfly etc.).

The downside is I have to manually pollinate those crops -- beans, peas, courgettes, tomatoes -- that require it.

If I can find a way -- which I think I may have -- of allowing the bees in (and out) without letting the lepidopteras in,
I benefit not needing to do the time consuming process manual pollination;
and the bees benefit from having additional sources of nectar that would otherwise go to waste.

But how to do that without harming the bees? Where's the best place to ask? A bee forum.

36

CRAFTING CORNER / Re: Beeswax Deodorant/Antiperspirant

« Last post by The15thMember on March 19, 2023, 05:13:21 pm »

That looks great. I didn?t even know that you could make it. I?m allergic to most deodorants.
Can you share your recipe.
What is in it?
Jim Altmiller rd

Sure.  Like I said, it may need some more tweaking, since I haven't tested it on a hot summer day yet, but it's pretty warm in the living room this afternoon with the fire, and it's performing well.  And I sweat a TON.  That thing where people say "women don't sweat, they glisten", yeah, I sweat.   

I adapted the recipe from one I found on the Joybilee Farm blog called "Lemongrass Deodorant for Sensitive Skin".

Ingredients
2 tbsp. shea butter
2 tbsp. coconut oil
12g beeswax
6 tsp. tapioca flour (Some brands have this labeled tapioca starch.  You could also use potato or arrowroot starch/flour according to the original recipe.)
50 drops lemongrass essential oil
Plastic deodorant sticks (For me the recipe made 1 stick, but my sticks aren't labeled with how much they hold, so I'm not sure how much the recipe makes.)

Directions
Melt shea butter, coconut oil, and beeswax in double boiler or microwave until beeswax is fully melted.  If using a double boiler, remove from heat.  Stir in the flour until it is fully incorporated.  Once the mixture is unified, add the lemongrass essential oil.  Pour into deodorant stick(s) and allow to solidify.  The deodorant should last 12 months if kept sealed, cool, and dry. 

37

GARDENING AROUND THE HOUSE / Re: This Is Stump Grinding 101

« Last post by Acebird on March 19, 2023, 04:32:46 pm »

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XdQ3pQ6DhBCzGFLE6
Obviously this is a lot slower but there were no hydraulic hoses blown here.  I built this specifically for removing stumps and clearing roots to make a garden.  After you dig around the tree to get the surface roots you use two tractors wrapping chains around the trunk and pulling in opposite directions at the same time.  It cork screws the stump out of the ground.  If the roots are very large you have to get further out away from the stump.  Tie the chains on two apposing roots and do the same thing with the two tractors.  You can generate a whole lot of torque tying out away from the trunk.
The only one I couldn't get was 4 ft in dia. box elder.  They rot quick though if you keep after the suckers.

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GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: Allow bees in and out whilst excluding butterflies?

« Last post by Buk on March 19, 2023, 04:31:45 pm »

Butterflies lay their eggs on specific plants. 

Not if they cannot get to them. The cage stays.

39

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / My new hives and the fun

« Last post by Acebird on March 19, 2023, 04:08:44 pm »

For Reference
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LJfmmLzycDWjKtP96

Moving the hives to my place went pretty smoothly thanks to my tractor and utility trailer.  Getting the bees out of the long box and into my medium Langstroth equipment was not so easy.  The hive was a mess, which I expected.  First of all the craftsmanship of the box was sub par.  Doesn't matter to the bees but it sure makes it hard on the beekeeper.  The frames were spaced anywhere between 1/4 and 1/2 inch apart and it was packed with bees.  The frames were a mixture of capped brood and honey on the same frame and with the poor spacing, honey was way out past the bearers.
I have all medium equipment so that meant I had to make a 3 in shim to accommodate the deep frames.  That was easy.  The problem was the long box was made 2 in deeper than the frames so I had to shave the comb off the bottom of the frames before I could put them in the Lang hive.  I am hoping I can get the bees to go up and abandon the deep frames in the future.  I don't know how well that will work in southern FL.
So far I have one hive transferred taking on five stings to the hands.  We won't have good weather until Thursday to take on the other hive. Maybe my hands will be back to normal by then.   Wish me luck.

40

GENERAL BEEKEEPING - MAIN POSTING FORUM. / Re: How many hives do you plan to keep for honey this season?

« Last post by Ben Framed on March 19, 2023, 03:53:19 pm »

I have my two hives from last year and built my two horizontal langs so hoping to fill one with a split and catch a swarm for the other. If I happen to catch multiple swarms or do a cutout anywhere I have a couple extra boxes I can put them in.

Thats a good idea Occam. Its a good idea to have 'plenty' of extra supplies on hand. More supplies than I would have thought when I first begun beekeeping.

 Phillip