Beekeeping Buddies

"Beekeeping Buddies" is your go-to podcast for all things buzzing in the world of beekeeping! Join Steve and Luke, two seasoned hobbyist beekeepers with over a decade of experience each, as they take you on a journey through the captivating realm of beekeeping. Tune in as they share firsthand accounts of the latest buzz in their personal bee yards parked in picturesque Peoria, IL. From Midwest seasonal hive updates to intriguing anecdotes, Steve and Luke provide invaluable insights garnered from years of tending to their buzzing colonies. Stay informed with their segment on the latest buzzworthy news in the beekeeping community. Whether it's breakthroughs in bee research or tips on sustainable beekeeping practices, they've got you covered with the latest buzz. Have burning questions about beekeeping? Fear not! Dial into their "Honeybee Hotline" segment, where Steve and Luke lend their expertise to answer listener-submitted queries. Whether you're a novice beekeeper or a seasoned pro, their wealth of knowledge and friendly banter make for an enlightening and entertaining listen. So grab your beekeeping gear and buddy up with Steve and Luke as they explore the sweet world of beekeeping on "Beekeeping Buddies"!

Welcome to 2025! Breakdown of the North America Honeybee Expo, Preview of 2025 Podcasts 01/24/2025

Episode 20 - Christmas Holiday Shopping Special 12/20/2024

Episode 20 - Christmas Holiday Shopping Special Welcome to Episode 20 of Beekeeping Buddies. The podcast where Steve and Luke talk about beekeeping in the Central Illinois area. This Episode we are going to talk to our shopping special and ideas we have for beekeepers this holiday season! Please note there are Amazon Affiliate Links here that give us 3% of the overall purchase price if you do click on any of these links. 9 Frame Spacers Dadant - Amazon - Amazon Spacer Tool (not recommended) - Refractometer Amazon - Dadant - Ez Mite Check Amazon - Dadant - Mann Lake - Mouse Guard/Entrance Reducer Luke's Choice Amazon - Steve's Choice Amazon - Bee Veil Amazon - Dadant - Hive Tool Luke's Choice Amazon - Luke's Choice Hillco - Luke's Choice Mann Lake - Steve's Choice Amazon - Steve's Choice Hillco - Steve's Choice Dadant - Steve's Choice Mann Lake - Queen Rearing Kit Mann Lake - Amazon - Hillco - Dadant - Grafting Tool Master Grafting Tool (US version) Dadant - Mann Lake - Simple Grafting Tool Hillco - Dadant - Mann Lake - Amazon - German Grafting Tool Amazon - Dadant - Mann Lake - JZ BZ Kit Amazon - Candle Mold Mann Lake - Amazon - Lip Balm Kits Amazon - Luke's 50 Kit Amazon - Pyrex Measuring Cup - Double Boiler - Bee Suit Hillco Vented Suit (need baseball hat) - Hillco Vented Suit (round veil) - Dadant Vented Suit - Amazon Mann Lake - Car Year End Detail Favorite Local Detailer - Smoker Fuel Dadant - Hillco - Amazon - Smoker Fuel Bucket Screw On Lid Smoker Fuel Hillco - Dadant - Mann Lake - Amazon - Screw On Bucket Lids - Propant Torch Kit Menards - Home Depot - Bee Cozy - Help keep your hive warm this winter season. Helps keep the hive temperature consistent. Amazon Link -= Heated Honey Uncapping Knife Amazon - Dadant - Hillco - Mann Lake - Beekeeping Journal American Bee Journal - Bee Culture - Bee Book Ideas Honeybee Democracy - Piping Hot Bees and Boisterous Buzz-Runners - Following the Bees - Beekeeper Bible - Langstroth's Hive and the Honeybee - Paul Kelly's Bee Belt Leather Softener - Flir Camera We suggest the Flir One Edge Bluetooth - Nuc Riverview Road Apiary - Pro Nuc - Swarm Trap Hillco - Hillco Swarm Commander - Amazon Swarm Commander - Honey Harvest Consumables Bee Quick Amazon - Honey Robber (foul smelling but effective) - Hillco Escape Board - Amazon Escape Board - Beekeeping Classes HOIBA Class ($65) - CIBA Class - Riverview Road Apiary - Managed Hive Program Riverview Road Apiary Beefriend - Beekeeping Vacation Package Cuba Bee Tours - Beekeeping Buddies Email - /episode/index/show/4cf4352d-bd29-4861-a67e-90aca0cd7615/id/34543145

Episode 19 - Winter Sets In, Drones 101, and Holiday Markets 12/05/2024

Episode 18 Episode 18 - Winter Tasks, Queen Bee 101, and Nucs vs Packages, and News on Our New Offering 11/20/2024

Episode 17 - Honeybee Vaccines, Bee Biology, and Worker Bee 101 11/07/2024

Episode 16 - October Deep Dive into Cutouts in Central Illinois 10/24/2024

Episode 15 - Dry October, Fall Honey Stocks, Upcoming Cutouts, Bald Faced Hornets and a Legislative Update 10/16/2024

Episode 14 - Rainless in September, Fall Honey Stocks, To Insulate or Not, Starter Hive Setup, New Treatments and more! 09/27/2024

Episode 13 - Winter Feeding, Winterizing, Hive Beetles, Fall Honey, Queen Transfer, Bald Faced Hornets, Crystalized Honey, Wax Processing, and Propolis 09/12/2024

Episode 12 - Winter Feeding, Alaska Bees, Talking to Non-Beeks, Hot Honey, Fall Festivals 08/28/2024

Episode 11 - Fancy Queens, Honey Tastings, Hiveorama updates, Bananas and more! 08/07/2024

Episode 10 - End of July Bee Farm updates, hive-o-rama, and struggles with small hive beetle 07/25/2024

Episode 9 - Honey Harvest, Flow Hives, Grafting Queens, Beekeeping Tours and More 07/10/2024

Episode 9 - Honey Harvest, Flow Hives, Grafting Queens, Beekeeping Tours and More Welcome to Episode 9 of Beekeeping Buddies. The podcast where Steve and Luke talk about beekeeping in the Central Illinois area. Around the Yard: Harvesting Honey: We’ll discuss the best practices for harvesting honey in Central Illinois, including timing and techniques to ensure a successful yield, and how much we've gotten so far. Flow Hives: An exploration of the advantages and disadvantages of using Flow Hives in our region. Grafting Queens: Tips and tricks for grafting queens, a crucial skill for managing and expanding your apiary. Beekeeping Tours: Sharing our recent experiences and insights from our beekeeping tours. In the News: The Indoor Farmer Podcast: Luke recently guest-starred on The Indoor Farmer podcast, where he shared insights on urban beekeeping and his journey from engineering to beekeeping. Michigan State VSH Queens: Exciting developments from Michigan State University's research on Varroa Sensitive Hygiene (VSH) queens, which could revolutionize mite resistance in hives. UBeeO Test Kits: A look at the new UBeeO test kits designed to help beekeepers easily monitor hive health and detect issues early. Honeybee Hotline: Queenless Hives in July: We answer viewer questions on how to determine if a hive has gone queenless in July, including signs to look for and steps to take to address the issue. Droning On: Mite Checks: As we prepare for winter, we'll discuss the importance of mite checks and the methods we use to keep our hives healthy. Winter Treatments: An overview of the treatments we recommend to ensure your bees are well-protected against the cold months ahead. Feeding Hives: Strategies for feeding your hives to build up their strength and resources for the upcoming season. Tune in to Episode 9 for all this and more as we delve into the world of beekeeping in Central Illinois, providing you with practical advice, the latest news, and answers to your burning questions. Indoor Farmer Locals Channel - Indoor Farmer Facebook - Sustainable Beekeepers of Michigan - UBeeO - /episode/index/show/4cf4352d-bd29-4861-a67e-90aca0cd7615/id/32077342

Episode 8 - Moving Hives, Flow Hives, EFB, Queen Grafting and More 06/26/2024

Episode 7 - Visiting Beekeeping Buddy Valerie Ross! Looking back at what it is like to be a beginner beekeeper. 06/12/2024

Episode 6 - Queen Rearing, Nectar Flow, Hive Swarming, Honey Collection, Apitourism 05/31/2024

Episode 6 - Queen Rearing, Nectar Flow, Hive Swarming, Honey Collection, Apitourism In Episode 6 of Beekeeping Buddies, hosts Steven Schmidt and Luke Harvey take listeners on a comprehensive journey through several key aspects of beekeeping. The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion on Queen Rearing, where Steven and Luke share their expertise on raising healthy queens and the critical role these queens play in hive health and productivity. The duo then transitions into the topic of Nectar Flow, explaining its significance and offering strategies for beekeepers to maximize honey production during this crucial period as we transition to white clover. They also tackle Hive Swarming, providing valuable tips on managing and preventing swarms to maintain a stable and productive hive environment and what is going on in the midwest. Listeners will also learn about best practices in Honey Collection, from the ideal timing to effective techniques for harvesting honey. A common issue, Queens Laying in Mediums, is addressed, with Steven and Luke offering practical solutions to manage and resolve this challenge. The episode delves into Swarm Collection, where Steven and Luke share their experiences and methods for safely capturing swarms, turning potential problems into opportunities for hive expansion. They also evaluate Package Queen Quality, giving insights on how to assess and ensure the quality of queens received in bee packages. For those interested in advanced beekeeping techniques, the hosts introduce Queen Grafting, providing a beginner-friendly overview of this method for raising new queens. Finally, the episode wraps up with a fun segment on Apitourism, highlighting a local destination covered in the farm bureu magazine and how that might tie into your local small business. Join Steven and Luke in Episode 6 for an hour of engaging and informative beekeeping conversation, perfect for both novice and experienced beekeepers. Frame Queen Cells Removed From Cells Stitched into a Frame Final Cell Stitched into a Frame /episode/index/show/4cf4352d-bd29-4861-a67e-90aca0cd7615/id/31543212

Episode 5 - Package Installation, Swarm Season, Japan Beekeeping Trip, and Cutouts 05/15/2024

Episode 4 - Making New Beekeepers, EPA Legislation, Splitting Medium Frames 04/10/2024

Episode 3 - Losses, Traps, Queens, Bee Expos, Review Corner, and Swarm Traps 04/03/2024

Episode 1 - Strange Spring Temperatures, Virtual Beekeeping Conference, and New Equipment 03/04/2024

Episode 0 - Introductions and Aspirations 02/19/2024

Beekeeping Buddies

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