Candle Shrinkage Trick

Tue, 09 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

If you’re making large candles you will experience shrinkage as the wax cools. There’s an easy trick to fixing it without making a mess or a blobby bottom.

Candle Give-away

Sun, 14 Dec 2014 00:00:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who participated and shared their favorite Christmas/family tradition. I had a great time reading them. I hope you did too. Now it’s time to draw names to see who gets a candle…

Didn’t win? You can buy candles in my shop!

Viewer Q&A

Sun, 11 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Got any questions or video suggestions? Comment below and I’ll answer your questions in a future video.

Books & websites mentioned in this video:

Portable Bench

Sat, 24 Jan 2015 00:00:00 +0000

A few years ago, very early in the history of this vlog, I showed my portable bench made from the plans found in the Jan 2012 issue of Bee Culture magazine. I’ve been using the bench consistently since then, I just never really talked about it again. To make up for that, here’s a video showing more about the bench designed by Katharina Davitt.

Checking on Winter Survivors

Sat, 14 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Is spring here already? Not quite, but the bees are doing great and bringing in lots of pollen. I had a good winter, with a 64% survivor rate. In this video I take a look at the survivors and deadouts and report on the results.

What type of bees?

Mon, 16 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Beginner beekeepers can often feel overwhelmed with choices when it comes to buying bees. In this Q&A I attempt to answer the question about the differences between the variety of bees on the market in the US and which ones a beginner should buy.

Honey On Tap?

Fri, 20 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Have you been seeing this advertisement for the Flow Hive all over the internet like I have? I’ll give you my thoughts on the product in this video.

Check it out for yourself:

Foundationless Frames

Sat, 28 Feb 2015 00:00:00 +0000

In this video I show 2 methods I use to create a comb guide to help the bees build straight comb. I also give the reasons I choose not to use foundation and show what is meant by “bee space.”

Hive Placement

Sun, 08 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Where are you going to put your hives? Do you need sunlight or shade? What about access? Water?

Balance

Sat, 14 Mar 2015 00:00:00 +0000

“The major work of the world is not done by geniuses. It is done by ordinary people, with balance in their lives, who have learned to work in an extraordinary manner.”

~Gordon B. Hinckley

“Be moderate in order to taste the joys of life in abundance.”

~Epicurus

“Even nectar is poison if taken to excess.”

~Hindu Proverb

“My God, give me neither poverty nor riches; but whatsoever it may be Thy will to give, give me with it a heart which knows humbly to acquiesce in what is Thy will.”

~Gotthold

Honey Bee Dissection

Sat, 04 Apr 2015 00:00:00 +0000

As part of the Journey program offered by the Oregon State University Master Beekeeping course, I got to spend some time with their instructors dissecting bees under a microscope. This was an excellent opportunity to see, first hand, some of the organs and anatomy of the honey bee.

Washboarding

Sat, 18 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever watched bees do this bizarre and fascinating behavior? What do you think they’re doing?

Disneyland Edition

Sat, 25 Jul 2015 00:00:00 +0000

Went to VidCon in Anaheim, CA and had a fun time. We also visited Disneyland, because I’m a Disney Freak, and I tried to find as many bee references as I could.

The YouTube creators shown in this video:

Michael Aranda
Chris & Jessica Ballinger
Felicia Day
Convos With My 2-Year-Old (Matt, Leila, Coco & Shephard)
V Sauce (Michael Stevens, Kevin Lieber, Jake Roper)

Honey Extraction

Thu, 20 Aug 2015 00:00:00 +0000

One of the criticisms and downsides of not using foundation is the difficulty in extracting the honey without destroying the comb. I decided to see how well my comb holds up in a radial extractor. Will it explode?

I was also interviewed on the Kiwimana Buzz show. I had a great time talking about beekeeping in Portland and how I create my videos. You can listen to the show here