The LESSONS I Learned From A Full Year Of Beekeeping! / Beekeeping 101  

Mite-resistant genetics last only until the colony decides to replace the queen -- unless you have extremely good control over mating (ie, there are no other sources of drones within a couple of miles). That said, there is no magic strain of bees (or hive design) that can compensate for inadequate mite management. I like to tell my classes that winter preparation begins in March by keeping mile counts under 2% ALL season long.

Love this.

Nice job, all around.

Watching your videos I realized how much I missed having bees, I’m getting back into it thank you !

All it takes to keep moving forward is a single step at a time. Keep up the great work Emily, Blessed Days...

Thanks for sharing and helping us learn. Here's to a happy and healthy 2023.

Great video as always, think spring

Emily put your mated Queens on top , between the frames closest to your feeder .. Helps alot and robbing bee will kill her on the bottom board. My opinion!!

Great video girl. Last I watched you were moving your hives✅️😁👍

You are an absolute inspiration. I love your videos. I love your personality. And I love your spirit. Keep making these videos and I will keep watching. Thank you for what you’re doing for the B community.

That's how we learn is by making mistakes! You definitely made quite a few of them. Thanks!

What a year, well done!

Like you, I learned a long time ago to not try to save a colony with laying workers. Cut your losses and merge it with a queen-right colony. In fact, that's what I do with any colony that has no evidence of a strong queen (eg, brood).

Really liked the year in review.Thanks for doing this.

Great summary of your season! Keep up the good work!

Love everything you do and try.

Good luck for 2023 😘🇬🇧

Good job keep um coming

Great end of year recap of 2022. I have been learning beside you on each step you have taken and which I have made in 2022 during my first year of beekeeping. You are my go to for answers and education. I have so much to learn!! May you have a better and more productive 2023!!

It was a good year of learning! Good luck this year!

good job! i only have 4 hives and its alot of work. I did also start a mason bee colony for polination of my orchard.

If you take a box and set it to the side the one without the queen will roar be crazy .

very good video thanks for sharing Have a Blessed 2023

Happy New Year! May our 2023 apiaries expand as well as our knowledge. We are starting to kick it off here in Florida!

Your awesome! Your doing a great Job. I find what you do is something I would love to learn.👍

Thank you!! Love your videos, we have a family project to start backyard beekeping here in White Plains, New York.

Grafting= cut a small slice in the end of your Chinese grafting tool and it works better. Always keep a damp cloth over your frame till you need to graft. Watch BoB Binine in Georgia about his Caucasian Honey bees, best kind i know of. They swarm less than all honey bees and mine very large 4 deep boxes made no Swarm queens 2022. I used double screen boards on some of them to force them to make me queens plus grafted from some as well. Mild smart bees.

thank you please keep showing queen less hives

I didnt know I had a hole in my sock hahaha sorry made me chuckle lol Make your entrances smaller to prevent robbing, I have had small weak 3 frames nukes and cast swarms survive and become strong with small entrances, Only takes a couple of bees to guard. Most commercial hives have entrances way to big. Mice robber bees hive beetles etc can easily get in even to a strong hive. 3rd generation bee keeper here and only lost 2 colonies in the last 20 years. One of them was due to flooding,

Congratulations on all your efforts, This was very encouraging. 😊 you almost had me at the end, my heart dropped

I’ve been researching to become a beekeeper and this was the best video I’ve seen yet! Thank you!

Idea for ya! Next time splitting a colony, if you don't have nucs, use a dummy or follower board to create smaller space. One side against deep side and the dummy board against the other side creating a two three frame nuc in a deep.

Glad you found a goal in life that fills your heart and mind. No one has found a solution to mites, so anyone with a drive to do so I capable. All the best to you!

Really love your channel. I’ve been thinking about starting beekeeping and you really just gave me the push I needed!

Alright let's go! 2023 will be bigger and better!

Emily, I’m so glad you feel like you’ve found your calling! I’m late watching your video because I was at the Hive Life Conference it was really big. I encourage you to attend in 2024. The networking possibilities are gigantic along with the deals on beekeeping supplies. Just don’t over buy so you can get it all in your car! I’m looking forward to your videos in spring!

Happy new year love watching your video... From Philippines...

Many vendors sell inadequately-waxed plastic foundation. If you don't add wax, you'll get that wonky comb. In the future, I suggest BRUSHING on melted wax instead of using a roller. (Use a natural fiber brush -- nylon and polyester brushes can curl in the heat of molten wax.) This way, you can limit the wax to the ridges instead of getting it into the bottom of the cells too. Doing it this way, I consistently get perfect combs.

That was an Amazing recap of 2022 my friend and what a Year it was!🤯One of the main things that has always impressed me about U is that Yes mistakes are made but instead of throwing in the towel and walking away u pick urself up, learn from said mistake and move On and thats a Lot harder to do than it sounds believe me! Regardless of whatever 2022 threw at you, and I know it was a lot, u took the punches and kept fighting back and I have So much respect for u for that, u Amaze me each day and I can't wait to see where ur journey goes from here, from the bee yard to the track to life in general, I choose to be here and I wouldn't be Amywhere else☺️👣🐝🍯Cheers to a Great year my Favorite Keeper☺️💛👏 #emilyisthebeesknees #beefitbeeyard #beefitbeekeeping #beekind #beestrong #queenbeeemily #cheersto2023

Another fantastic video Emily.. What do you do with all your honey ? Good luck for 2023 xx

Good luck this year! Hoping for more successes myself. Watch the hives inside the woods. Last year I started a yard inside the woods and they struggled compared to the ones 25 yards away on the field edge. Lack of heat/sun I suspect.

I always put the queen cage up on the frame around food, if no brood. When they are this weak then they need pollen patties and sugar water. Sometimes they will kill the queen when they are stressed. The comb away from the plastic means usually happens when there is not enough. I do not wax mine and the bees do this sometimes. Good information about the laying worker colony.

These mistakes videos are awesome. I wish more people would do them, as a lesson in "what not to do" for new beekeepers!

Young queens can lay more than one egg. Love your videos. Keep it up.

I like your your concrete block bases - nice :)

Your Close enough to Ohio to attend our annual massive Bee meeting the first Saturday in March at the Fisher Building in Wooster Ohio. Dealers come from all over America and tons of Amish bring bee boxes by the tons to outside in Carts and wagons. Their boxes are the cheapest in the USA because bee keepers come from many States to buy them including your State. Un-assembled Deep boxes at Arrow head supplies $ 11.75 Large deelers selling everything. Hoping to find Global pollen this year because its the best.

We are working to build a 50 acre habitat for pollinators including bees. Developing a Servant Beekeeping model that is a great deal similar to the Darwinian Black Box Beekeeping model. Would love to share. Hank

Big fan of your breeding approach to make more mite resistance bees. Will be interested in some good queens if you ever sell them. Do you think there are other genetics worth breeding for? Maybe overwintering or honey producers? Good work 👍

I have no problem with plastic frames. You can buy them prewaxed from the manufactures, I get the Premium wax or triple wax. They draw it out very easily. I have also been moving away from deeps which allows my equipment to be interchange able and easier to lift. Best of luck. I enjoy your channel.

Fyi suggest you make only full box strong splits w/ swarm cells as use to be taught. Weak single frame increases are a waste of time as youll learn.... Happy beekeeping

Just a comment that's off subject I've been watching your videos for awhile now and I just want to say you are a very beautiful woman.

You might want to try the Carniolan, I have been bee keeping for about 30 years and they are the calmest bee I have ever worked with. If you don't use smoke all you need is a veil and if you use a little smoke you don't even need a veil. They are prone to swarm so you have to stay on top with inspections. PS- You are doing a wonderful job.

I suspect plastic foundation that is too new also causes them to build off the plastic.

Emily you look beautiful, I love your channel. I plan on making some videos this year ill share the info once I begin doing so. Much love hun :)

I will have to differ in opinions about waxing your frames. From what I see, I would guess the wonky comb is from not enough wax. You really can't wax it too much. Heavy waxed frames are drawn out a good 2 weeks ahead of non waxed or lightly waxed. It is perfectly fine to have wax laying inside the cell. The bees will rework the extra wax where it is needed and don't have to manufacture it that way. I have seen people take the foundation and literally dip the whole thing in melted wax then put it in a frame after it cools. Try two frames side by side. One heavily waxed and another with wax from the factory. I bet the heavily waxed one will be drawn out way faster and nice and smoot across the foundation.

I've killed a lot bees learning why I stay away from them during the winter now.. your doing outstanding for first year.. are you related to Brent from B&K bees ?

I live in Michigan and was thinking, would you like to try doing queen exchange this year

Where did you find your dimension on your nuc boxes

a life time of hard knocks

How many hives do you have now? 😊

Always cut off wonky comb and just do a lite layer of wax .

Hey, just came across your channel and happened to hear Michigan. Where in the mitten are you? I'm in Berrien county.

Question, I heard that sunflowers could help bees lower varroa mites. Is this true?

Can you provide me a link to the lecture by Mike Palmer and Adrian Queenie?

Unless you're getting extra wax from the manufacturer on those plastic foundations, I'd HIGHLY recommend waxing them. I've NEVER had the same problem you had when waxing my frames. The opposite was true, I had wonky comb when I didn't wax them, and I've never had too much as the bees will remove what they don't want and use it for the side walls.

your car has the stearing on the lewft side?

hello dear queen where are you from

Your link to your discord is invalid. You need to make an invite link that has unlimited uses and no expiration date. :D

I kept bees in the 80s & 90s the plastic foundation was awful the bees didn't like them, I assume the foundation has improved since then, I’m getting my first colony today its been 25 years

Sounds like you are learning the hard way why worthy queens cost $40+. Queen rearers put a lot of effort into drone mother colonies. Queen breeders take it a step further and analyze genetics with assays. There is a difference. And walk away splits do neither. There is no silver bullet to combat varroa also. Best you can do is stay local with successful producers. You are doing well analyzing performance.

Hey, the discord link in the desc is invalid. Can I get a new one?

Removing the worker bees from the queen cage will help with queen acceptance greatly 👍🏻🐝

اسلام عليكم هلا بكي

Something about all the male comments leads me to 🐝 leave it’s more than the bees lmao

Poppycock : no one can introduce a new Queen into a honeybee hive by sliding her into the entrance of the colony . You obviously don’t know what you’re doing !! 👎🏻👎🏻

Please take the video down and edit out your shipping labels.