Ep126 Propolis!

A couple things the bees do with propolis I forgot to mention in the episode: embalming hive intruders, fencing in hive beetles! Bee caulk is amazing. Links collected over at Patreon on the post:

• The first video I watched on the unexpected winter losses among commercial beekeepers in the US by Dr Humberto Boncristiani of Inside the Hive TV.
• More on the losses from The Bee Supply channel.
• GA Master Craftsman Beekeeper Cindy Hodges' excellent presentation on Propolis.
• Dr. Marla Spivak's presentation on her research on propolis. An interview with her on propolis in general.
• Ian Steppler on selecting for high propolis bees.

Do you have any favorite uses for propolis?

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About Beekeeping at Five Apple:

Leigh keeps bees in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina (gardening zone 6b). She cares for around a dozen hives in a rural Appalachian highland climate. Colonies are managed for bee health with active selection for vigor, genetic diversity and disease resistance, but without chemical treatments for over a decade. The apiary is self-sustaining (not needing to buy/catch replacement bees since 2010) and produces honey and nucs most every year.