2 years of beekeeping - honey production, queen breeding, splitting honeybee colonies and stings!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2023
- I've been a beekeeper for 2 years and this video documents all the tasks involved in beekeeping.
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personal opinion, but about 19 and a half minutes in, you mentioned that you feel like we are getting bored, but the 'boring stuff' is what I find most intriguing! The longer the videos, the better, in my opinion. Every little piece of information you provide enriches your videos all the more. Best of luck with your bees, absolutely love watching your journey, and keep on making our lives brighter with your journeys!
Agreed
Totally agree, love the longer videos and the content in general!
i agree with this
Thought the same thing.
I agree with this as well. I've been thinking how nice it would be to be a beekeeper for years (I love watching honey extractions a little too much). But you're the reason why I'm giving it a go next year! So thank you for showing us what the struggles are of being a new beekeeper!
Ive loved watching your beekeeping journey, but I just can't stop giggling over "We need 300ml of bees"
I wouldn't have guessed bees were measured like a liquid lmao
Same 😂
I love that bees behave like a non-Newtonian fluid and that they're measured in cups and milliliters. 🐝 BEES!
same
Im not "getting bored" at all Alex. I am so fascinated by all of the beekeeping videos you make.
for real like he doesn’t realize his youtube channel is my favorite (respectfully) i get so happy when i see him post :)
this is so kind, thank you!
You have become a confident bee keeper in a very short time, congratulations!
Enjoying your journey
Hope you keep enjoy watching the beekeeping series!
This ain't TikTok. I love the long videos! 40m+ is great, the occasional 3h awesome! Especially about bees, bushcraft, homesteading and campbuilding/cooking.
Alex, you motivate me to garden and plant native flora for the bees despite finding it hard to continue moving! You’ve helped me garden better with your gardening videos too! Please take breaks if you need to, but otherwise, please don’t stop! I love watching your videos!
Thank you so much. I'll keep posting videos over the next year.
@@just_alexI’m so glad! Your videos are great to listen to for motivation in the garden, especially since you keep going even when the going gets tough!
Really interesting to see! I actually commented at the 1 Year of beekeeping video, that i´d love to get into beekeeping. Guess what, you inspired me and my dad to finally start beekeeping. We´ve learned so much over the past months and have two offshoots now. Thank you very much for that!
-I´ve seen a few things I wanted to mention that I´ve learned over the past few months, not meaning what you do is wrong, just might help you or others:
When dissolving sugar in water, do not heat the water up. Theres a chance of HMF developing which kills your entire hive within a super short period of time. Happened to our first offschoot unfortunately. They started vomiting and pooping all over the place, the entire boxes were full of it.
- when splitting hives, we put the new hive 3+km away because the chances are pretty high, that the bees just fly back into their old hive and there are not enough bees letf to take care of the queen.
- when making the dot on the queen, first dip the tip of the posca pen into some paper to get rid of overflowing color. A fellow beelkeeper killed a queen with too much color once. after that, let the queen chill for some time after you can´t or barely can smell the acryl. Otherwise the bees might not be able to smell the pheromones immediately and kill the queen
- Eggs dont always mean that there´s a queen in there. Sometimes, when there´s no queen present, a worker bee decides to lay eggs but because she´s not mated, she just layes drones so male bees. However, chances are usually high there´s a queen.
- A queen apparently is only fully accepted by the hive once they cover up the first brute layed by her. Because of that, we wait until the first eggs are covered up until we mark her
. When waiting for a queen bee to hatch, theres a specific time towards the end of her time in her cell if i remember correctly, where you have to be especially careful. The Queen can easilly drop into the gelee royale and drown in it. We learned to not touch the hoive during that time at all.
Bee´s are such great animals and I really enjoy watching your journey. I am very happy that I found this channel and you´re a great role model for veryone wanting to start beekeeping. Thank you for sharing all your experiences!
You are compltlely right expect for one thing. The laying worker. Workers only lay when one, there is no queen, and two, there are no brood, speficlaly worker brood. So if you have worker brood and eggs you have a queen!!
Hab dich abonniert, vielleicht lönnen wir ja mal videos von eurem neuen Hobby sehen :) viel Erfolg!
@@samwhite7308 that's exactly what I meant. I just wanted to point out, that eggs don't necessarily mean there's a queen.
Little reminder that "apis mielifera" or honey bees are not in danger, actually they are the most proliific type of bees thanks to agriculture and beekeeping. The ones that we should be worried about are the native species or endemic bees (theese depend on the land or contry that you live on), a quick way to help them is having native plants and flowers and research the type of bees that are native to your contry.
On another note thanks Alex you inspired my grandpa to start beekeeping it has been a hell of a ride to him but he's enyoing it and I started to keep more native plants at my home and at my grandpas place. Felicidades y saludos desde México.
I have no interest in beekeeping myself, and yet I find this fascinating. Keep it up Alex!
You said we were getting bored. I just wanted to say I discovered your videos a couple of weeks ago and I have never had any sort of interest in beekeeping or camping on a mountain. Yet I sat through the whole 2 hour beekeeping video you did. So please keep up the good work and keep those videos long, as it provides so much insight and keeps people like me immersed!
I feel the same way 💖
My third year in bee keeping. Now with 10 colonies in home made hives from splits and swarm catching. I think your explanations are really clear, accurate and engaging.
I have never watched a video of yours and been bored.
This channel is one of my favorites. Top 3 even. I love how calming and peaceful it is to watch you learn and grow.
Especially love the bee videos. I want to maybe one day have a house where I can own a bee box, so living through you is wonderful lol
Thanks!!! :)
I LOOOVE HEARING YOU IN DETAIL! these videos could be an hour long and id still watch them
but editing and everything can be tough so I'm okay with this format but you have to know that i am NOT bored!! hahshs
Ooh hell yeah, a continuation of the bee keeping series!
Worth mentioning I love everything about this series, nothing about it is boring :P.
Love to see this still going
Your beekeeping video are so interesting 👍 Please keep on doing them 😄
Thank you Alex, you have gotten me into the hobby of beekeeping and I love following your adventure!
I never thought I would see the day where someone would measure out bees with a measuring cup😂 Keep up the great videos Alex. I for some reason really liked your mushroom growing video for some reason. But I love the beekeeping ones too.
I became a beekeeper because of you. In one of your earlier videos you mentioned your beekeeping club which got me curious on if there was one in my area. Within a month of discovering the Central Baltimore Beekeeping Association, I had signed up for their Beekeeping 101 course and had my first hive in the backyard. Still working on becoming a confident beekeeper but these videos and the help of my local association have been a huge help. Love these long videos, the more info the better. Keep it up!!
I’ve been keeping bees for five years now, and it’s fun to relive all the moments of discovery and amazement with you as you start your beekeeping journey. It’s a very rewarding hobby but like you said time consuming. Videos are great keep them coming.
Great to hear! Thanks for watching!
Love watching all of your progress! 😊
I knew nothing about bees, Alex, but you're such a great communicator and storyteller and you know your subject, so I was captivated.
So happy to read this :)
It’s amazing how far you have come along on your Beekeeping journey. Watching you learn as you go is just fantastic. Always a pleasure to watch Alex, keep up the good work 😊🐝
As someone who has a fear of bees and lives all the way across the world from you, I have never been bored watching any of your videos. In fact I think I've watched a couple of your videos 2 or more times already because I wanted to show them to my family. And even when I fear bees, I've learned a lot from you that made me understand such little creatures even more. As fascinating as they may already be, you talking about your journey with them makes it even more interesting. Please keep making more and more videos for us to watch! Praying your channel gains more and more followers everyday. God bless you!
Sending love all the way from the Philippines!
Thanks so much! :)
@@just_alex You are most welcome, Alex! 🥰🥰
Yeah dude your not boring us. For some of us your tempting us more and more to get into this hobby. Keep the videos up dude please❤
Edit: afterthought could you do a timelapse of the bees moving the grass out of the way next time, I'd love to see it for some strange reason
Thanks for taking the time to document and upload your videos Alex. They are very interesting and entertaining. We’re really lucky to have you in our local bee keeping association! Thank you, Sam
I'm 33 days and 100's of hours of TH-cam) into bee keeping and I was glued to your video. One little tip I've picked up from watching videos, when placing the queen cage in your hive, there is a small loop at the top you can pass a cocktail stick through and hand it between frames from the stick so it doesn't drop to the bottom of your hive.
Also point the cage down at a 45 degree angle, to make it easier for queen to exit and be in middle of frames at exit
I subscribed a while ago and this channel may be one of the most interesting I have ever encountered. I have ADHD and I have been struggling more and more to focus on any type of content but there is something special about Alex’s videos that keep me curious and entertained. I am very grateful for that and I cant wait to see how all of these beautiful projects go in the future.
So happy to read this!!! 😊😊😊
Awesome video, Alex! You've truly come a long way. It’s nice to see you getting so knowledgeable and confident with your bees. To my delight, I noticed a small cameo from myself in the footage - well, if you count my thumb, that is. 😁
Haha, yes one of your queens and your thumb 😂 Thanks Kalle.
I'm on about the same timeline as a beekeeper, Alex, and I find your videos very informative and entertaining! We're in pretty different climates (SE USA vs UK) but so many of the basics remain the same. I'm up to 7 colonies, including an observation hive that has taught me more than anything else I've done so far. Hopefully you can try one in the future?
Bro trust, your videos aren’t boring. I’ve learned everything I know from you
The sound of the bee trying to sting the mic made me so happy. [ANGRY BEE NOISES!]
Hi Alex, greetings from Canada. ☺ I have been preparing to have bees for a couple years by watching videos and reading reading reading. I have to say that your videos have been super helpful. I think I am ready now. Just having you share your journey in this format has been really inspiring. This latest video really helps us see how having bees has changed your life and it is such a raw look at the work, the ups and downs and the growth. Seeing this evolution is so helpful for people taking the plunge, so we can see what we are potentially getting into over our future couple of years. Obviously the experiences with differ slightly, but in essence you have shared the journey very effectively. I look forward to your 2023 season. Thank you for all your hard work.
Thanks so so much!
I just started bingeing your bee videos and I appreciate that you repeat a lot of the bee info. I feel it’s sticking to my brain and it’s helping me realllyyyy learn new things I didn’t know. So thank you!
I enjoy your bee videos :)
So happy when you checked that little foam hive and found eggs, bravo!
Brilliant stuff Alex, a really accelerated journey into beekeeping. You've done more than many experienced beekeepers in just two years.
Thanks!
Great to see an update from you Alex! Your videos are the reason i took an interest in Beekeeping and i am going to give it a try with a local keeper i've been in contact with! Thanks!
What an amazing journey you have participated in to learn everything you can about bee keeping. It seems you have a huge desire to learn just about everything. I would be honored to purchase your honey Alex. Thanks for keeping your videos real!
Thanks so much!
I liked the bit where you said we'd probably get bored, and continued anyway :D
Much appreciated.
2 years of watching your bee keeping series xD I live vicariously through you. Hubby wont let me get bees.
Been here from the start man probably the most entartaining videos i've ever seen, always soo happy when you post!
We are not getting bored at all, Alex! Your videos are full of informations and they are very interesting. I would love an even longer video, that's how much I like them. Keep up the great work, thank you for your amazing videos!
This channel is by far my favorite to watch. I subscribed once Alex started beekeeping, and this is so entertaining in interesting that I am wanting to learn how to become a beekeeper. My recommended is now about half beekeeping videos. Thank you for that Alex!
Im not bored with you at all. As a matter of fact i was hoping the 2 year recap was going to be another 2 hour episode. You have opened my eyes to bee keeping lol.
I'll make full length episode from the whole year which will be mega long!
@@just_alex Its so exciting to see how far youve came. I feel like you're becoming an actual bee expert. In one of you future videos could you explain what royal honey is and what it taste like?
Really cool that ur featuring planet wild. im a member of that and its nice to see that ur in touch! :3
Fantastic video Alex! This is such an amazing thing to watch and lean about. Cheers
hi Alex, my granddad (96) used to be a beekeeper, when i watch your journey, i imagine my grandad going through the same learning process and so it is a little bit emotional watching these video's. he suffers from dimetia but his bee's is something he does remember a little bit, when i see him again i plan to show your video, i think he'll like it.
thank you for making these amazing video's 🐝
You’re the only beekeeper that I have subscribed to that I actually watch. I love your style and your voice is really calming. Can’t wait for the next instalment of the bees.
Thanks so much!
Nothing was boring here ! I could watch you doing beekeeping for 2h and enjoy every second of it !
My personal opinion, but the longer your bee videos the better! If you made one go for 2 hours I would watch to the end, I would love to hear about other peoples opinions to though
I love watching your videos as im in a really similar situation. I was gifted a hive last year and expanded to 3 hives last year and im now up to over 20 hives this year! Its gone beyond a hobby and now trying to work out how it can make an income , which is a bit daunting, aiming for 50+ next year. I love watching your videos as your thinking is really simular. A little thing that helped me is posting on facebook groups that you are willing to collect wild swarms in peoples gardens, collected over 10 wild swarms in the spring. Looking foward to seeing your honey crop for the sesion, good luck!
Wow, you have expanded you bee colonies so quick! Best of luck with it!
Alex, you moved the old queen to the new location. This will help retain the new hatch and nurse bees. However the older worker bees oriented to the old location will return there. We could talk about the new hatch and the time it takes to have them begin to forage. However, you are providing the bees with food and that will tide them over. Just give both boxes some 50/50 and you will have done everything for good chances of success. You are a good beekeeper! Alex, lemon grass oil is a very concentrated. Just a little is a LOT. Too much becomes noxious! Have you tasted royal jelly? It has the faintest taste of lemon. This is the ideal pheromone condition.
Thanks for all the info! Will bear this in mind for next time!
Lol I never expected to be invested in this beekeeping series!
I have been spending the last 3 weeks watching all kinds of beekeeping videos from all kinds of content creators in different locations around the world. Your videos are enjoyable to me because you are still learning, still educating, and I am enjoying watching you enjoy your beekeeping experiences. This channel is helping me feel more confident going into my own beekeeping experiences.
So happy to hear this!
Wow! I can't get over how much you have learned in two years. You do such a wonderful job sharing information to. Thank you!
Hey Alex! I’m really enjoying your beekeeping journey! It’s almost like a soap opera, so much drama and suspense! I really enjoy learning about beekeeping along with you! Thanks!
Glad you enjoy it!
Can listen for hours, never think you are boring. Really interesting and normally I don't care about beex. More please
Bees can never be boring! Thanks to a beekeeping video like yours 10 years ago I went and bought my first hives and ever since I never looked back. I love them so much
Hey Alex!
I only know a little about bees but one thing I know is even an unmated queen lays eggs-- if she is unmated, they will develop into drones. So keep a close eye on her little hive and see if they turn into drone cells or worker cells!
Fantastic and totally NOT boring video!
This and your gardening videos are keeping me alive
My wife and I really enjoy your videos Alex, please keep up the great work with your bees... I'm in the north east USA, would love to keep bees and you inspire me! Two huge thumbs up from me
Love this series! Have been looking forward to this update and can't wait to see where this adventure takes you next!
This is such a solid video well filmed, well explained. Keep up the good work man. I'm still trying to decide if I want to keep bees and knowing such detailed videos exist give me some comfort that I can come back to this channel and others for reference 👍 proud to be part of a generation that want to get back to the roots of self sufficiency and learning. 🎉
You man , you are my favorite youtuber currently. Love the clarity in your videos . Best video skills .
Thanks so much!
Love to see you progress and grow and hope your curious and excited attitude is paid off with a healthy summer! thank you for teaching us all about bees as you learn
I love watching you getting into Beekeeping!
These videos are so inspiring and so much better than popular documentaries.
YAYYYY!!!!!!! Ah, I used to be so terrified of bees, but your videos have made me so intrigued and inspired. Have been looking forward to this update for so long!! Keep up the good work, Alex!
Every time Alex gets excited about something going right, I get excited! Such great videos, keep up the good work.
I just found your content yesterday and I’m obsessed. I hope everything goes well with your bees this year!!
Alex is measuring bees like it’s a baking tutorial😂
Watching Alex and other Beekeepers I went on my own quest to learn as much about bees as possible I DMed some of my local beekeepers and here is a summary of what they had to say,
Ensure a Safe Location: It's important to choose the right spot for your beehive. Look for an area that offers protection from strong winds and receives plenty of sunlight. Also, consider the proximity to neighbors and ensure there's a water source nearby for the bees.
Gather the Right Equipment: As a new beekeeper, you'll need a few essential tools. Make sure you have a beekeeping suit or protective clothing to shield yourself from stings. You'll also need a smoker, hive tool, and a bee brush for managing the bees and inspecting the hive.
Learn about Bee Behavior: Understanding the behavior of honey bees is crucial. Read up on their life cycle, communication methods, and how they function as a superorganism. This knowledge will help you anticipate their needs and respond accordingly.
Start with Gentle Bee Strains: Some bee strains are known to be more docile and easier to manage for beginners. Consider starting with breeds like Italian or Carniolan bees, known for their gentle temperament and adaptability.
Obtain Bees from a Reliable Source: When acquiring your bees, it's best to purchase them from a reputable bee breeder or supplier. This ensures that you receive healthy bees that have been raised in a proper environment, reducing the risk of disease or aggression.
Provide a Nectar and Pollen Source: Bees require adequate food sources, so plant a diverse range of flowering plants in your vicinity. Aim for a mix of nectar-rich flowers that bloom throughout the seasons to ensure a consistent supply of food for your bees.
Regular Hive Inspections: Schedule regular inspections to monitor the health and progress of your colony. Look for signs of disease, pests, or swarming tendencies. Regular inspections also allow you to take necessary actions to prevent problems or address them promptly.
Educate Yourself: Beekeeping is a continuous learning process. Join local beekeeping associations or attend workshops to gain practical knowledge from experienced beekeepers. They can provide valuable insights, tips, and guidance specific to your area.
Practice Patience and Observation: Bees have their own rhythm and timetable. Patience and observation are key as you learn to understand their behavior and needs. Avoid rushing or disrupting the hive unnecessarily.
Document Your Journey: Keep a record of your beekeeping activities. This will help you track progress, identify patterns, and learn from your experiences. Note important observations, such as honey production, changes in behavior, or any issues you encounter.
Remember, beekeeping is a wonderful and fulfilling hobby that requires dedication, attention to detail, and a genuine love for these incredible creatures. Enjoy the journey and the sweet rewards of honey and the conservation of these vital pollinators.
I'm new too so thanks for sharing everything ❤❤
Fascinating Alex! Thank you for taking us along on this years journey, it has been quite a ride for you. Well done.
I seriously love these beekeeping videos!! There's so fascinating, I love your explanations
I’m not “bored” of your bee keeping videos, these are-the only videos I watch
Just started my adventure in April, and yesterday I harvested my first honey of the year! I totally know now how you felt last year!
Good luck, I hope you enjoy and have fun.
Looking forward for the harvest video of all theese colonies. Your doing great Alex!
It's coming soon!
I was thinking if you can "harvest" the royal jelly instead of smashing it :D Great work on the bees! This video is so relaxing to watch. Keep it up!
Alex we watch because we're also interested in what you're doing, it's never boring. You have a fantastic way of explaining. If you're worried maybe mention your patreon that you'll go into deeper detail if anyone is interested.
definitely not boring, i could watch you tend bees and harvest honey for hours. you have such a wonderful personality and you are a joy to listen to
I really love seeing how you've grown in your craft and kept going. I think you're a great bee dad!
I love how at the end of the video you recommended another awesome TH-cam channel for us to watch. Not many TH-camrs would advertise another TH-cam channel. That makes me respect you so much more than I already did.
Thanks so much for making this, about to start my adventure in bee keeping and learned alot. Good to see that others are doing the same and learning more as they go.
I don't think it's possible to be bored watching your videos.
Your videos surely are not boring, they're very interesting and inspiring, as I started gardening because your videos make me get really into it.
Very excited to start this video!
Hi Alex! I'm Bea from Romania. I really like the video, I also started beekeeping last year, I also use buckfast bees. I look forward to similar uploads. I wish you good luck! 🐝🍯
Farthest thing from bored here and longer the video, the better! Can’t get enough long form content
your channel has the most educational/fun videos i've ever seen, don't think we are "bored" by more information, you're doing fine! love from brazil
Not one boring second Alex - a really fascinating insight many thanks, pleasure to watch!
You’re amazing, man! The amount of knowledge and information learned because of the detailed teaching snd story telling - just amazing.
I’ve started beekeeping this year with two hives and during I’ve read that book you’d recommended. It’s nice to see you doing things which are explained in the book that actually work. Soon I’ll be harvesting my first limetree honey, exciting times!
Hope the harvest goes well!
@@just_alex of course 😁 I can borrow a honey extractor from my local bee club. What’s also a cool thing to do is make your own waffle foundations with a wafflepan with your own wax collected throughout the year.
If you leave the bees enough honey to live off of through the winter instead of feeding them sugar, their honey will taste much better and purer. We always buy from beekeepers that do this and the honey looks different too. It's fair for the bees as well.
Not entirely true. Yes, it's good to leave food for the bees, but if they need feeding, then this has to be done. This in no way affects the honey in taste or colour. It is illegal and can be tested for having sugar in honey. Otherwise, bee keepers would just buy honey and get the bees to convert it to honey for profits. On the taste of honey, all hives taste different, even in the same apiary. One hive will find say apple blossom, the hive next door to it maybe working dandelion, two completely different honeys. Hope this helps
I love you're videos alex! You hace inspired me to start my own beekeeping project! Thanks for you're channel
Glued to the screen - not boring at all! Thank you! xx
I’ve been waiting for what feels like years for this update. The last thing I am his bored. Really enjoy your videos Alex! Thank you! I cannot wait until I can grow my own hive
That was so fascinating. Anything you do is interesting and love coming along for the ride!
Wonderful video Alex! Thank you I enjoyed the long form and informational style it really was a treat. Thank you for making&Sharing. Top effort congratulations 👏🏻
duuude I actually like when your videos are slow and "boring", it's intriguing and relaxing to watch the whole process. (I was actually a tiny bit disappointed to find that this video is only about 30min long instead of 2 hours) please don't ever change, and keep up the good work!
My absolute favourite channel! And funnily enough, I don't keep bees but this is my favourite topic you cover!
Your 1 year journey video, made me by a chore for myself.. love the beekeeping videos I’ve been doing it for about 4 months now because of you. :)