Joe Barber

Tractor driver who’s an aspiring bee farmer

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ElmTreeBees Spoken to all the growers I go to there all still going ahead. Got all field information etc. But I do agree we could do with a rain or it will be a repeat of last season

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ElmTreeBees 🤣

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ApidaeHoney @ElmTreeBees Definitely agree. Dad had commercials for 35+ years. Got some nationals so he could sell some nucs. Does nothing but swear about the nationals 🤣

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

Bit of frame making

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

Good for another 25 years

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@BurroughesBees @britishbee @GwenynGruffydd @BeekeepersHour @beesinbrittany @BSHoneyBees Boiling water

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ApidaeHoney @Dinsdale_Honey @ElmTreeBees Another factor for me in the is it worth it debate. Is we are finding the people we sell to seem to nearly all want borage honey.

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ApidaeHoney @austincwb 🤣🤣👌

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ElmTreeBees @calluna4u That’s because it’s such a small industry. The pool of people is tiny.

500 colonies each should be achievable? Just be very busy 🤣

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@debates1989 Wouldn’t use pallet tines like that I’ve seen them snap before. I would get a digger in like @GwenynGruffydd says

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@debates1989 Yeah did put it on there. Yes has to be done from new. Dad had the idea as read online people were struggling with the issue you have. Plus we had to alter them to top bee space anyway. We must have over 100 of them now and not had any chewing issues (touch wood)

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@debates1989 @debates1989

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@debates1989 Yes difficult to repair/modify used hives. Dad modified ours with L shaped plastic strip from new so touch wood not had any problems.

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ApidaeHoney Good on Steve I say! Excellent article

It was reassuring to read it wasn’t just us experiencing this weird beekeeping year!

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

Well what do we say about this…. A fantastic article written by clearly an extremely gratuitous and self deprecating bee keeper!

I thought we had done well this season but I shall keep quite my numbers as @ApidaeHoney knock mine into a cocked hat!

Keep up the good work!

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ElmTreeBees Your petrol blower moves 10.1m3/min of air the battery one move 13.4m3/min.

We did start with an 18v makita one which other beekeepers recommended. Was useless. Always “go big or go home” 🤣

[Joe Barber @joebarber05]

@ElmTreeBees No this one. We find the last couple of sites of about 15 colonies.

Agreed the batteries are expensive but use them
With our two Instanvaps so not to bad.