Organically Managed Beekeeping Podcast and Forums

Podcast Episode 2012 – Revisiting my origins

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I’m baaaaaaaaaaaack!

2012 was a tough year for Craig but by the skin of my teeth I managed to get this content produced just under the wire before we roll in 2013.

In this episode I thought it would be fun to go back and listen to Episode 1 and update everyone on whether or not any of those opinions and tactics had changed knowing what I know now come into my 4th season. It was a fun process and I learned that I did indeed change my stance on quite a number of things. Its a good long podcast coming in at about 12o minutes. Hope you enjoy it. As always, feedback is welcome.

Cheers,

-=Craig

Happy Holidays One and All!

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to take a moment and wish everyone happy holidays. Also, I want to specifically thank all those of you who have taken the time to contact me and thank me for the Podcasts and the Forum community.

I get a lot of email, even now after not having produced new content in quite some time. You are telling me that you love the information and that it is helping you. Some people tell me that they have listened to every episode 3 and 4 times each which is amazing to me and I thank you. That means a lot to me, it really does.

I have put a great deal of time, effort and money into this humble project but it feels worth it because the material is resonating with a great number of you and I feel I have made an impact, however minor. It is something at least…  There are a lot of Honeybees out there now that are being taken care of BETTER than they would have had I not began this Podcast and Forum community.

This note is starting to sound like a lead-in for a message that I am shutting down the Podcast. Nope! In fact, I am preparing to RAMP IT UP!

I have had some issues in my personal life which have kept me essentially off the  map for the entire year of 2012 but I am telling you right now that I have no plans of shutting this site down. The Podcasts will continue and I look forward to many more years of bringing you great content.

Happy Holidays,

-=Craig

Meet Michael Bush in Virginia

”

Program Update for the Michael Bush Event  (  <<<—BANV Official Website Announcement)

The Beekeepers of Northern Virginia (BANV) with support from the Prince William Regional Beekeepers Association (PWRBA) will be hosting Michael Bush – author of “The Practical Beekeeper” and well known internet personality http://www.bushfarms.com/bees.htm

The event will be repeated on two days: July 30th and 31st, 2012.

Field Presentation – Venue T.B.D: this will be an outdoor event with limited attendance

Dinner – Restaurant T.B.D: a local restaurant will be selected for those who would like to meet before the main presentation – yes Michael will be at the dinner!

Main Presentation – Manassas Church of the Brethren (http://www.manassasbrethren.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=46)

Program: [This event is filled to capacity] Monday July 30th 5:30 – 6:45 Dinner and informal Q&A Monday July 30th 7pm – 9pm Main Presentation

[This event is filled to capacity] Tuesday July 31th 5:30 – 6:45 Dinner and informal Q&A Tuesday July 31th 7pm – 9pm Main Presentation

IMPORTANT – Attendance may be limited due to location size restrictions. All those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP – please e-mail beekeepersnova+rsvp@gmail.com to indicate your interest in attending the main presentation, field day, and/or dinner

Special Notes: Michael bush will be selling and singing his book “The Practical Beekeeper”

Session topics to include:

·        Organic/sustainable beekeeping

·        Queens – rearing, maintaining, selecting

·        Trends and thoughts on the evolution of beekeeping especially in the face of current challenge”

_________________

I will be in attendance on Tuesday! If you make it be sure to seek me out an dsay hello. I’d love to meet any and all podcast listeners!

Cheers,

-=Craig

Summer 2012

Hi all,

New podcasts are scheduled and I hope you enjoy the guest line-up that will be presented. I will be mixing things up pretty good. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it.

Also, I have a few “in-person” speaking engagements scheduled and I may grab the audio from those talks and release it here if there is interest.

Cheers-

-=Craig

PS – If you’ve stumbled across this page from anywhere else and you have not visited before please be sure to check out the Forums. There are a lot of great pragmatic beekeepers there and the discussion is excellent!

Spring 2012

Spring has sprung early around these parts. Well, it’s almost like winter never actually came, at least not in full force. In any case, the hives are alive with activity, a welcome relief.

I am about to make some splits and start some NUCs. By the end of the season I would like to have 10 NUCs ready to go into the winter, each 18″ high. The goal is to over-wintering them and offer them for sale next spring. (2013)

On another note, life just got a whole lot more interesting around here with the arrival of my daughter’s 5 baby chickens. We now have honey bees AND chickens. Good grief, put a straw hat on me and some over-alls and I’m officially a farmer!

Cheers,

-=Craig

Stop guessing and know for sure if chemicals are in your hive

Dr. Maryann Frazier at Penn State received funding from Project Apis mellifera (PAm) to run pesticide samples for interested beekeepers at a 50% discount of $80 for each samples for miticides or $142 per sample for the full screen of 171 pesticides, compared to $160 for miticides or $284 for the full 171 pesticide analysis without the cost-share. Beekeepers can send samples of wax, pollen, adult bees, brood, or nectar for analysis. In two to three weeks after the samples are sent in, the beekeeper will be provided with a report of the pesticides in samples, along with information about how those levels compare to the rest of the country. All the data generated will be stored in a large and confidential database at Penn State.

If you are interested in participating, contact Maryann.

(Courtesy of the Bee Informed Partnership)

-=Craig

Whats in a name?

A new year rings in change, always. With much thought and reflection I feel I have evolved in such a way that the original branding of this Podcast and this beekeeper no longer fit.

I had originally considered a few different monikers to which I am now re-visiting.

Hence, what’s in a name?

Prag·mat·ic

/pragˈmatik/Adjective:

-Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.

Perfect.

Stay tuned for a change…

-=Craig

PS – The FORUM got a face-lift and is now open registration enabled. Sign yourself up if you haven’t already!

Podcast Episode 23 – The Practical Beekeeper – Michael Bush!

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A very special guest, Michael Bush, is on the podcast this time around. I am a big fan of his and I am honored to bring this podcast to you. Michael has been instrumental in bringing the “Natural Beekeeping” movement to the forefront. His articulate speaking style is packed with great information, a treat to listen to.

-=Craig

Podcast Episode 22 – Top Bar Hive Style Beekeeping

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We cover different types of top bar hives and the management styles that go with them. Are you looking for information about alternative hive styles? Are you on the fence about using the “standard” Lang hive? Well, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for! This is all the information you need to get off the beaten path and pursue keeping bees more “naturally.” Heck, you may even save a few bucks in the process! Our guest is Matt Reed from BeeThinking.com in Portland, Oregon, USA.

Enjoy,
-=Craig
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Chemicals banned everywhere, but legal in the US? EPA knows but aren’t telling?

To some of you this is old news but for others it may be eye openning. The blog that I got this from had this quote from the author:

“Does it get more corrupt than this?
A corporation is allowed to rip the heart of America’s agricultural system (honeybees are ESSENTIAL for pollination) and not one of the scumbags in Congress or the empty suits in the White House are doing a thing about it. We don’t have a government in this country. We have a gang of self-serving thieves.”

Wow, those are strong words but isn’t that what we need to force action? Somebody do something, please…

It has been a reoccuring theme throughout my podcasts; “It’s all about money.” Big chemical companies spend a lot of money to protect their interests and unfortunately they are not interested in honeybees surviving. After all, honeybees are not their source of income…

I’ll get off my soapbox now

Cheers,
-=Craig