Indeed, I drank the Dr. Leo koolaide a while back. After 5 years my management has changed much. I keep bees in different hives, preferring my custom Layens hive to manage. There is a lot of learning that can't be viewed but must be dooed. I learn a lot by weekly inspections and now I can tell a lot by observation. I still have lots to learn. Simple is good, but smart is better. Learn about your bees, do things to monitor your bees, integrated pest management is something to know about. There are ways to monitor your bees that are less invasive than others. Make informed decisions and consider the bees keepers within your bees fly zone. Bees are social organisms and so are we. Both must be considered. Thanks for posting and may you and your bees live as healthy and as free as you can be, peace, Brice
Thanks for your comment Brice, Dr. Leo certainly has some great information and I love his free plans he gives for constructing Layens hives. When I tell people to sit back and relax I really mean take a seat, watch the entrance of your hives, and learn about the health of your Bees. We know that if a colony is popping that the entrance will be an interstate of Bees coming and going. If we see that they are carrying pollen we know the inside is doing well and they are storing food. I can assess from this alone that my colony is doing well and going inside is not going to give me too much more information. If I do open my hive and I see some hive beetles, or I see a mite on my bee, it's not going to change what I'm doing anyway. I can find the queen and note that shes alive, but I already knew that if there was something wrong with her they would replace her from an existing egg. There's just not much I'm going to gain from visiting so often so I don't do it. We all have our styles and if that's the way you see it best then knock it out of the park. Best to you, - Wes
Believe me, if I don't have to bother the bees, I don't. I do like to check after adding new foundation less frames after a bit to make sure they are not building wonky comb... because one wonky comb leads to another...also, I love my enclosed screen bottom board with Dr. Leo's pest control trays. I totally agree with you on his generosity with information. I only wish he had more videos. Always wanted to take his class and see his apiaries. Keep putting out Layens content as there is not much out there. Peace, Brice
If the bees could leave a message I think it would read like this...Please do not disturb. We got this. Come back early winter or no honey for you!! 🐝🐝
I am so very happy to have found your channel. I had nearly made a decision to not start beekeeping this year with my Dr Leo swarm trap until I watched your videos. the logic and care and recognition and respect for the bees is so very important and seems to be why your methods are working. later today I will make my swarm trap and set it up and hope for the best. thank you for taking the time to make these videos
This is looking to be my second full season keeping bees. I felt before I ever got bees and still do now that most of the problems beekeepers face with their bees are man made.
Very interesting video, thanks so much for posting. I used to have a very relaxed method, but did end up having lots of swarms, whuch though good for the bees, was not good for my local neighbours, so now trying to minimise swarms, by doing splits. Thanks again, look forward to your updates.
Thanks for watching! For those living in Suburban a Urban areas I can see how swarms may be a little less ideal. You should always work within your means and if you need to keep your colonies down to a certain number due to outside sources then that's what you need to do.
I have heard a lot of farmers from the 50-60s talk about their experiences. Most of the old timers always talk about how all the problems that started with farming was when people began introducing chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, etc..What happened is this had begun a domino effect of problems for farmers.... It is quite concerning and your position to natural gardening is more important than most people are aware of.
You can forage for edible plants and berries in the woods instead of planting and maintaining a garden. It's easier, if you don't mind going hungry. But you do you.
More like Secure Acres Natural Varroa Mites.... This man is cares more about a healthy population of pests in his hives than good natural well MAINTAINED bee's. Today's Bee's absolutely need help from their beekeepers, from my treatments to DAILY checks, my bees know i care about them.
I can't agree more. This is the way to go.
Indeed, I drank the Dr. Leo koolaide a while back. After 5 years my management has changed much. I keep bees in different hives, preferring my custom Layens hive to manage. There is a lot of learning that can't be viewed but must be dooed. I learn a lot by weekly inspections and now I can tell a lot by observation. I still have lots to learn. Simple is good, but smart is better. Learn about your bees, do things to monitor your bees, integrated pest management is something to know about. There are ways to monitor your bees that are less invasive than others. Make informed decisions and consider the bees keepers within your bees fly zone. Bees are social organisms and so are we. Both must be considered. Thanks for posting and may you and your bees live as healthy and as free as you can be, peace, Brice
Thanks for your comment Brice,
Dr. Leo certainly has some great information and I love his free plans he gives for constructing Layens hives. When I tell people to sit back and relax I really mean take a seat, watch the entrance of your hives, and learn about the health of your Bees. We know that if a colony is popping that the entrance will be an interstate of Bees coming and going. If we see that they are carrying pollen we know the inside is doing well and they are storing food. I can assess from this alone that my colony is doing well and going inside is not going to give me too much more information.
If I do open my hive and I see some hive beetles, or I see a mite on my bee, it's not going to change what I'm doing anyway. I can find the queen and note that shes alive, but I already knew that if there was something wrong with her they would replace her from an existing egg. There's just not much I'm going to gain from visiting so often so I don't do it.
We all have our styles and if that's the way you see it best then knock it out of the park.
Best to you,
- Wes
Believe me, if I don't have to bother the bees, I don't. I do like to check after adding new foundation less frames after a bit to make sure they are not building wonky comb... because one wonky comb leads to another...also, I love my enclosed screen bottom board with Dr. Leo's pest control trays. I totally agree with you on his generosity with information. I only wish he had more videos. Always wanted to take his class and see his apiaries. Keep putting out Layens content as there is not much out there. Peace, Brice
If the bees could leave a message I think it would read like this...Please do not disturb. We got this. Come back early winter or no honey for you!! 🐝🐝
I am so very happy to have found your channel. I had nearly made a decision to not start beekeeping this year with my Dr Leo swarm trap until I watched your videos. the logic and care and recognition and respect for the bees is so very important and seems to be why your methods are working. later today I will make my swarm trap and set it up and hope for the best. thank you for taking the time to make these videos
Glad you enjoy the videos. It's nearly swarm season for most locations, so get out there and catch some Bees! 🐝🐝
I appreciate this video as a new beekeeper it seems as though everyone wants to over complicate and contradict each other
Don't complicate Beekeeping! Keep it simple and thrive.
This is looking to be my second full season keeping bees. I felt before I ever got bees and still do now that most of the problems beekeepers face with their bees are man made.
It's people trying to over complicate a simple creature. Too many steps can certainly make things more difficult.
LOL - Love that intro . So Very Funny :) really enjoying your discussions on these topics and thinking outside of the Bee Box :)
Thanks I try to keep it interesting with a good intro!
Very interesting video, thanks so much for posting. I used to have a very relaxed method, but did end up having lots of swarms, whuch though good for the bees, was not good for my local neighbours, so now trying to minimise swarms, by doing splits. Thanks again, look forward to your updates.
Thanks for watching! For those living in Suburban a Urban areas I can see how swarms may be a little less ideal. You should always work within your means and if you need to keep your colonies down to a certain number due to outside sources then that's what you need to do.
I have heard a lot of farmers from the 50-60s talk about their experiences. Most of the old timers always talk about how all the problems that started with farming was when people began introducing chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, etc..What happened is this had begun a domino effect of problems for farmers.... It is quite concerning and your position to natural gardening is more important than most people are aware of.
Thank you! It's good to be getting info out to new beekeepers that can help them be more sustainable.
You can forage for edible plants and berries in the woods instead of planting and maintaining a garden. It's easier, if you don't mind going hungry. But you do you.
We certainly don't go hungry, our hives still generate plenty of honey and it's some of the best stuff you can imagine.
Its all down to genetics
More like Secure Acres Natural Varroa Mites....
This man is cares more about a healthy population of pests in his hives than good natural well MAINTAINED bee's. Today's Bee's absolutely need help from their beekeepers, from my treatments to DAILY checks, my bees know i care about them.
I'm sure your Bees look forward to their daily picnics with you!
You don't know his bees have mites. Your just being a Nazis Keep your bees your way and let him do his thing.