I love solitary bee houses! We have mason bees and leafcutter bees in the pacific northwest. So to my understanding, based on our local solitary bee experts, is to either have removeable trays, which you can entirely remove and thoroughly clean; or to use paper tube inserts in the holes. The reason being you want to let the queens lay her eggs and pack them into the tubes, then when the season it completely finished, remove the pupae-filled tubes and take the paper tubes apart. It's to check for paratitic wasps and other predators of solitary bees. It's also to check the health of the pupae, wash them clean, and store them in a humidified environment until the next season whereby you put the pupae in a sheltered cavity right above the holes. So when the queens finally hatch, they don't have to move too far to find a hole they like. Im not sure if germany has problems with parasites like we do in the PNW, but its something to take a look at.
Watched this, went to rewatch a Pottery Throwdown video by you and promptly came back because now I want to see this as a Throwdown challenge! Come on, BBC, I want some bug cathedrals!
I’m so happy I found your channel. Your videos are super interesting and informative motivating and inspiring. But the nicest thing is, they’re so calming. And not in an intentional asmr kinda way it’s just you and your Natural energy that really comes through. This in combination with the clarity in your explanations and steps makes them so soothing to watch. When I feel not so great I also find myself watching one of your videos and always feel better after. I started claying again because of your videos too. I’m very lucky to work at a place where we have a kiln and it’s free to use. You really deliver high quality content and I thank you for that :).
What a great idea! I love your studio. It’s so clean! I’d be interested in hearing how you ended up in Germany. My mother was from Berlin and we went many times to visit my grandparents. Always loved it there.
10:34 when you show the close-up of the front at the end of the video there is a lot of areas that are not smooth. Did you forget to smooth those off before firing?
Oh i love your project ❤ i just did a birdfeeder and waterstation but my insect still need a place in my balconygarden. So i was always thinking about ways to make a insekt hotel and got very inspired by you😊 thank you a lot also for rounding up the information of BUND. ❤🐝💜🌱
If the clay is still somewhat porous, wouldn't it be a good idea to coat the roof with something to keep rain from being absorbed? Possibly a low fire glaze? Might also use a paint or varnish after firing, though I'm not too sure about the weather resistance of non-toxic paints. Or maybe fire the roof piece separately like an ordinary piece of ceramic, bisque, glaze, glaze fire to maturity, then attach the roof to the main house using an adhesive with a bit of flexibility?
An "insectologist" is called an entomologist. I say this purely because it's a great word that more people should know. (Bonus - someone who eats insects is an entomophagist.)
Question, ive seen a bit about bug hotels spreading disease and being prone to parasites and predators. I wonder if this is something you’d make every season or yearly? Ill have to look into it more since its such a cool concept to be environmentally conscious at the local level. Awesome video once again! super entertaining
Cleaning (or - not possible here - changing out the tubes should be done after the insects have left the structure. In the Northern hemisphere this is happening from April to June for most. Having different sizes holes in one fixed structure therefore is making cleaning harder. There is a potential that some are still in their tubes, whilst other species re-occupied the space once again and the ones that re-occupied won't hatch until the next early- Summer. Also, be aware that the insect hotels that are "easy" to built (and sold in DIY centres) are only catering to certain species. In other words the more people build and buy just that one type, it has the potential to create an imbalance in the area they are placed in. If you have the space, it is better in my opinion to plant flowers that are a good food source for pollinators in general and talk to anyone around you about avoiding insecticides, herbicides etc. The range of species that will benefit from that is much bigger than a insect hotel, even more so, if the hotel only caters to one or two species.
Could you clarify what you said about why it can’t be left unfired? I’ve seen an article about bees digging the holes larger to suit them, which they could do only if unfired.
Tolle Idee! Dein nächstes Model sollte aber auf der Seite der Löcher einen größeren Dachüberstand haben, damit sie besser vor Regen geschützt sind. Das Dach vielleicht doch glasieren? Aber dafür braucht man hörere Temperaturen. Bin gespannt, ob da wer einziejt.
Ich bin auch neugierig! Das mit dem Dach habe ich auch schon gedacht... Es wäre möglich, es zu glasieren, wenn ich Niedrigtemperatur-Glasuren verwenden würde. Das ist eine gute Idee! 🙏
Hi Mia, that’s a good technique on pottery in the way to wedge the whole clay it’s going to be a bee hotel. I really loved your creative videos it’s you are very artistic. ❤
really cool ) how much electricity does a kiln need? like can i get one with a 1000w? sorry complete clay newbie here. just finished some pipes was going to try the ac system and clay fridge. have a nice day
I would love to see a later picture of the house inhabited. Such a wonderful idea❣️
Definitely will share about this on my instagram! I keep checking every day 🤭
@@PotterytothePeople Most of the wild bees will move in during spring next year ☺
I love solitary bee houses! We have mason bees and leafcutter bees in the pacific northwest. So to my understanding, based on our local solitary bee experts, is to either have removeable trays, which you can entirely remove and thoroughly clean; or to use paper tube inserts in the holes. The reason being you want to let the queens lay her eggs and pack them into the tubes, then when the season it completely finished, remove the pupae-filled tubes and take the paper tubes apart. It's to check for paratitic wasps and other predators of solitary bees. It's also to check the health of the pupae, wash them clean, and store them in a humidified environment until the next season whereby you put the pupae in a sheltered cavity right above the holes. So when the queens finally hatch, they don't have to move too far to find a hole they like.
Im not sure if germany has problems with parasites like we do in the PNW, but its something to take a look at.
oh wow! Thanks for sharing your knowledge! 🙏
To keep the inside of the holes smooth, why not do them in slab before building or before adding roof?
I love this! I can see making them would become addictive if they move in. A whole row of different bug hotels would be amazing!
Yess omg totally. Here is the experiment and if it works it will be a whole apartment complex 😂😂😂
I love that you combine your clay expertise with a love for the environment! This was a great video!
Thanks yo much! My two passions 🥰
I have 2 bee hotels, 2 bee watering stations ,a bat box and 4 hummingbird feeders here on our property .
Love your tomatillos ❤
That is awesome!
The term for study of insects is Entomology/Entomology. Agree with you on the creepy crawlies. Your videos are so fun.
Watched this, went to rewatch a Pottery Throwdown video by you and promptly came back because now I want to see this as a Throwdown challenge! Come on, BBC, I want some bug cathedrals!
yesss i want to see it too!!
I’m so happy I found your channel. Your videos are super interesting and informative motivating and inspiring. But the nicest thing is, they’re so calming. And not in an intentional asmr kinda way it’s just you and your Natural energy that really comes through. This in combination with the clarity in your explanations and steps makes them so soothing to watch. When I feel not so great I also find myself watching one of your videos and always feel better after. I started claying again because of your videos too. I’m very lucky to work at a place where we have a kiln and it’s free to use. You really deliver high quality content and I thank you for that :).
what a sweet message! Thank you so much, you made my day! 🥰🥰🥰
I would love a follow up video in a year!
Beautiful creation ever❤
How nice!
In time they will surely move into the little house ❤
I look forward to the update showing it full of bees. :)
You and me both!
I’m ready for a new large coil project! 🙏🏻
What a great idea! I love your studio. It’s so clean! I’d be interested in hearing how you ended up in Germany. My mother was from Berlin and we went many times to visit my grandparents. Always loved it there.
I talked about it in a q&a a while ago ☺️ look for the one im making xmas trees!
10:34 when you show the close-up of the front at the end of the video there is a lot of areas that are not smooth. Did you forget to smooth those off before firing?
Oh i love your project ❤ i just did a birdfeeder and waterstation but my insect still need a place in my balconygarden. So i was always thinking about ways to make a insekt hotel and got very inspired by you😊 thank you a lot also for rounding up the information of BUND. ❤🐝💜🌱
Need more roof overhang for Midwest rain.
Would love to see a video of how to build ceramic bookends!
It looks extremely cute like a cartoon
If the clay is still somewhat porous, wouldn't it be a good idea to coat the roof with something to keep rain from being absorbed? Possibly a low fire glaze? Might also use a paint or varnish after firing, though I'm not too sure about the weather resistance of non-toxic paints. Or maybe fire the roof piece separately like an ordinary piece of ceramic, bisque, glaze, glaze fire to maturity, then attach the roof to the main house using an adhesive with a bit of flexibility?
Also, have a much longer overhang. Rain seldom falls perfectly vertical.
@@izinyosib821 Totally agree.
An "insectologist" is called an entomologist. I say this purely because it's a great word that more people should know. (Bonus - someone who eats insects is an entomophagist.)
Super exciting, love this idea!
Thank you!
Super cute ~ I need to make him too 👍🏼
Do it! 💪
If your building is long enough, can you poke hole from both ends and essentially double your occupancy?
Where is your green/khaki overall from? I love it!
I gotta try this!😊😊
nice! and useful, thanks 🙂
Question, ive seen a bit about bug hotels spreading disease and being prone to parasites and predators. I wonder if this is something you’d make every season or yearly? Ill have to look into it more since its such a cool concept to be environmentally conscious at the local level. Awesome video once again! super entertaining
Cleaning (or - not possible here - changing out the tubes should be done after the insects have left the structure. In the Northern hemisphere this is happening from April to June for most. Having different sizes holes in one fixed structure therefore is making cleaning harder. There is a potential that some are still in their tubes, whilst other species re-occupied the space once again and the ones that re-occupied won't hatch until the next early- Summer. Also, be aware that the insect hotels that are "easy" to built (and sold in DIY centres) are only catering to certain species. In other words the more people build and buy just that one type, it has the potential to create an imbalance in the area they are placed in. If you have the space, it is better in my opinion to plant flowers that are a good food source for pollinators in general and talk to anyone around you about avoiding insecticides, herbicides etc. The range of species that will benefit from that is much bigger than a insect hotel, even more so, if the hotel only caters to one or two species.
@@izinyosib821 Excellent advice. Thank you.
wait, so the base is solid clay and not hollow? how will that fire?
Do you have an english explanation of the rotenburg-bund-red-crosses-over-insect hotel-pictures-page? :)
Hey if i get imto the potery with caly mor can i make a cup without glaze and can i do it in a fore pit
Could you clarify what you said about why it can’t be left unfired? I’ve seen an article about bees digging the holes larger to suit them, which they could do only if unfired.
If she didn’t fire at all, and only put dried unfired clay on a pole in her garden, it wouldn’t last through many rains, would it?
@@rnptenaflySome people enclose these clay bee ‘blocks’ in a little wooden house this not exposed to the rain.
Tolle Idee! Dein nächstes Model sollte aber auf der Seite der Löcher einen größeren Dachüberstand haben, damit sie besser vor Regen geschützt sind. Das Dach vielleicht doch glasieren? Aber dafür braucht man hörere Temperaturen. Bin gespannt, ob da wer einziejt.
Ich bin auch neugierig! Das mit dem Dach habe ich auch schon gedacht... Es wäre möglich, es zu glasieren, wenn ich Niedrigtemperatur-Glasuren verwenden würde. Das ist eine gute Idee! 🙏
Very nice. You could have made the house a little bit longer and made holes on both sides.
Schon noch cool 😉
Is it hollow inside?
Hi Mia, that’s a good technique on pottery in the way to wedge the whole clay it’s going to be a bee hotel. I really loved your creative videos it’s you are very artistic. ❤
Thanks so much 😊
Is this wasp friendly?
This must be why they’re called carpenter bees
😂gonna make one
Сделай кормушку для шмелей, весной кормить шмелей...
Они много погибают весной без цветов...
❤
Do it for the bees!!!
I have trypophobia, so i jumped when i say you turn the hotel around 😭😭😭
How did I know if someone would post about that?
Trypophobia anyone?
hahaha i was waiting for this comment 🙌
really cool ) how much electricity does a kiln need? like can i get one with a 1000w?
sorry complete clay newbie here. just finished some pipes was going to try the ac system and clay fridge.
have a nice day