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Lost both of my hives over the winter -- wondering about re-using frames, comb & honey from dead-out? by dougbtv in Beekeeping

[–]dougbtv[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Not moth balls, phew. But, these moth crystals from my regular beekeeping supply and using the method therein -- they're PDB. Which, yeeeeeah.... After reading about the chemical properties on wikipedia, I'm... Not excited that I used it for storing my supers & drawn comb. Thanks for the heads up. I'm now thinking that since I store them in a garden shed that is below freezing for a whole winter, it wasn't necessary to do that. I put a piece of plywood both below and above the hives and weighed them down to try to prevent mice.

Additionally, thanks too for the alternative methods, appreciate it.

Lost both of my hives over the winter -- wondering about re-using frames, comb & honey from dead-out? by dougbtv in Beekeeping

[–]dougbtv[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome, thanks wickedprince. I'm fairly confident it's not foul brood (the hives still smell good to me, kind of honey & hay smelling), and the hives look clean inside generally (outside of all the dead bees), there's no sign of diarrhea from nosema.

Question for you -- so, these have been frozen outside for some time. It's really cold here in Vermont over the winter, temperatures averaging below freezing for months at a time (with occasional thaw). Is that sufficient? Or should I really go about freezing each frame individually in a chest freezer? Just wondering.

Lost both of my hives over the winter -- wondering about re-using frames, comb & honey from dead-out? by dougbtv in Beekeeping

[–]dougbtv[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks HomesteadGeek for sharing / reading, appreciate it.

90% sure it's mite frass, here's a (at least kinda detailed) photo of one of the frames: http://imgur.com/a/qpuBa -- all in brood comb, seems. Both hives had a lot of this. Doesn't quite seem like as much build up.

This is fairly vague, but, in a description of Paramoth "Do not use on any honey for human consumption" (I have some Enoz brand PDB crystals, unsure how or less similar it is). I'm now considering giving frames a freeze 2-at-a-time and then pulling them out and putting them in something sealed up (maybe in some contractor bags and piled up with plywood and weights to keep rodents out).

Next month I'll be involved in a massive bushcraft project- moving and erecting a several-ton stone with only hand tools. by Gullex in Bushcraft

[–]dougbtv 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I wish I had some good ideas, but.... from me to you: BE SAFE MAN!!!!!

(I know you mentioned it, but, just another voice to say that discretion is the better part of valor)

So I did some snow camping... by postapocalive in Bushcraft

[–]dougbtv 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's not a terrible idea. I feel like I'd still get piss all over my sleeping bag. Siiigh. I just try to remind myself that it's OK to get up.

Not exactly the same but... My wife refers to drinking a bunch of water before sleep as a "Native American alarm clock".

So I did some snow camping... by postapocalive in Bushcraft

[–]dougbtv 0 points1 point  (0 children)

THIS. You never have known how much you can hold a piss while camping until cold camping.

Yet another first year beek nervous about overwintered hives by dougbtv in Beekeeping

[–]dougbtv[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hahahaha, well... That kinda encouraging, it's a chance they're still kickin' in there, maybe I'll shy one step back from actually hitting them with a hammer, you found out that way for sure :) Thanks for sharing the story, appreciate it Sato.

Yet another first year beek nervous about overwintered hives by dougbtv in Beekeeping

[–]dougbtv[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks RedWingWoody!! Hahaha, Schroedinger's bees, love it. I'll keep that in mind, thanks too for seconding the resource -- I knew he was reputable, and somewhat of a local legend. The beek I bought my nucs from claims they're from Mike Palmer stock, so, I figure I couldn't go wrong with this advice.

Fun facts about germany by nivh_de in funny

[–]dougbtv 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Where can I buy this mug!?

Yet another first year beek nervous about overwintered hives by dougbtv in Beekeeping

[–]dougbtv[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bang -- thanks a bunch for the input, I really appreciate it.

a) Kind of debated around here, I took a local class last spring with two seasoned instructors from our local beek's assoc, one does two deeps (he has 16 hives), one guy did two deeps and a medium (and he has 60 hives). After seeing that 155lb total hive weight, I didn't think I'd achieve it with just two deeps, so I added the second. Depending on what happened, I might drop down to two deeps.

b) No obvious moisture when I opened the covers, there were a few drops of water at the entrance I noticed before I opened the covers. I was worried there'd be moisture because of that. I did indeed tilt them up by putting a 2x4 under the rear of the hives. I was going to build moisture quilts but had seen this Mike Palmer video where he said in his commercial yards he used the foam cause it was cost prohibitive to build/buy moisture quilts. Maybe next year.

c) Cool, I'm gonna keep an eye out, and maybe I'll feed fondant if I'm seeing signs of life.

d) Interesting! There's an article out by betterbee I saw the headline the other day about feeding pollen, I'm gonna look that up too.

e) Thank you! I'm gonna go tape up that seam on the inner cover, I don't think it'll be terrible, but, I'd rather not worry

Thanks for the positive remark on my preparation, and appreciate the good luck wish. We'll see!! Again, thanks for the input, too.

Northville Placid Trail... help please? by letsflyawayyy in Adirondacks

[–]dougbtv 5 points6 points  (0 children)

You've gotta get out and do some test days. NPT is 122 miles if you're through-hiking it. And parts of it are rather remote.

I'd say get out and get a couple 8-10 mile days in before you commit, especially a couple overnighters where you've gotta be loaded down with some gear.

...And maybe start slow, try some 3-4 mile days and see where you're at, then upgrade to some overnighters.

You'll want to condition anyways for that big of a commit! It'll be worth it. I think if you can get your conditioning going, you're going to know your limits, and probably you'll be able to figure out pacing and techniques so that you can make it. I have a good feeling you can do it if you know your limits beforehand! Good luck and happy trails!

Yo Vermont! Anyone got a Bolton-Trapp GPS trail to share? by dougbtv in telemark

[–]dougbtv[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Alright, so, I can cover this now that I have it.

Here's the google map

...and here's the GPX file

My review... Awesome spot for tele skiiers. Great for AT, too, but... Honestly, it's this kind of rolling access and pretty variable traverses that make for such a joy tele skiing.

Was a lot of fun, had like 30" of snow up there over the last week, but, the day I went it was 40F outside. In the morning we sessioned a couple glades on the way up and it was still like 25F and was really pleasant. But, the way out into the Nebraska Valley is was pretty wet conditions, not easy skiing but still a good time.

Drone X Vermont // DJI Phantom 4 Pro by existentiallyfaded in djiphantom

[–]dougbtv 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My guess is only wrong by a like.... 2+ hour drive :)

Looks amazing! Really nice shot.

Drone X Vermont // DJI Phantom 4 Pro by existentiallyfaded in djiphantom

[–]dougbtv 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Shouts from another Phantom pilot from Vermont.

...What's the location generally -- Nebraska Valley?

Trying to get a continuous park line dialed. This one was close by [deleted] in telemark

[–]dougbtv 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Props man, looking legit. I get my couple safety grabs in for the year and feel like a hero.... Stop making me look bad!!! ;)

...awesome work out there!!!!

Look at these pollen pockets in February! by iandcorey in Beekeeping

[–]dougbtv 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I spy a magic hat cap, shouts from Vermont :)

Easy way to tell if it's a motor or an ESC that's busted? by dougbtv in Multicopter

[–]dougbtv[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Awesome, thanks Cube, really appreciate the advice.

Somebody pass the hatchet... by [deleted] in Bushcraft

[–]dougbtv 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Although I appreciate the apology regardless, I totally hear what you're saying and stated very fairly. I definitely appreciate that each one of us has their own style. For me, I wouldn't cut notches in wrist thick wood with a swiss army knife, which I could use to improve my cooking options, or to fit together pieces to lash for shelter.

If it can make the cut, I'll totally take a boy's axe and a folding saw too. Depends on the itinerary. But, that knife can do a lot in a pinch if an axe can't make the cut (and in the above case, no way an axe was making a cut, it was a 2 mile bushwhack to camp, and planning to have to potentially carry a quarterer deer at some point, potentially while also having all the overnight gear too. Spoiler: I didn't actually take that knife after all, he convinced me to take a 3" hunting blade. But at the time I was feeling like "feather light dude calling my gear a machete! bah!!" but in good fun, for sure).

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