What did you do in the garden today?

[OnlySympathy]

It’s not a ton but it is also not nothing, I will probably find more stuff when I am watering anyway

 

[TJAnonymous]

Varroa mites showed up in this country in the 80s. Before that, it was common to have 90% of hives make it through winter. Now there are years when 10% make it. The mites transmit many diseases. If there aren't enough bees in the hive by fall, there aren't enough bees to keep the hive alive through the winter. For beekeepers here in Michigan, winter prep starts in August.

Like all animals, bees need water! But they need shallow water. A shallow pan of water with some marbles/pebbles in it is a great water source.

Honestly, I was thinking about spinosad... A natural soil bacteria that is lethal to some insects but not others. I was wondering if there are similar bacteria which could be deadly to varroa mites but harmless to bees and their larva. Maybe this is one area where agentic AI could prove beneficial... However, from the reading I've been doing, I understand why treating for mites is so difficult. Once they are attached to a host, it's essentially too late and being able to infect the mites BEFORE they attach to a host is astronomically unlikely apparently.

I don't know why I'm so committed to trying to find a solution to this problem. I don't have bees and know very little about beekeeping but they are such a critical cog in the ecosystem of life that I can't help but try...

 

[Wee Farmer Sarah]

Finally got caught up. It took a couple of days but I got the backyard mowed before this near heat wave temperatures hit us. Today was the first day I picked less than a pound of green beans. I processed and froze 2 1/2 pounds today and gave another 1 1/2 to DD. I finally braided the last of the shallots. The black turtle beans are growing really well but I’m letting them dry on the vines this year. I have three SM tomato plants blooming on the hill but the inions I planted there are a total fail. I’m not sure if the acorn squash plants are growing fast enough to produce, hopefully they will improve after this morning’s feeding and watering. The summer squash are looking good and are getting to near production size. The tomatoes in the big garden are developing but not ripening yet. To those of you with a surplus of green tomatoes: green tomato salsa verde. Immensely better use than fried green tomatoes. The cucumbers are doing ok. I would love to be able to make some bread and butter pickles. We’re experiencing a bit of a drought, no rain for well over a week. Maybe at the end of next we’ll get lucky. So sorry for the damage from that storm @WthrLady and @Justagalwithchicks. I here you on the winds this year. Way too many super windy days. Time to go sit with the chickens and sweat for a bit.

 

[Rick589]

Golden Acre. The heads weren't dense and tight, but kind of loose and lightweight. I cut the cabbage around 1/4" thick for the kraut, and it's nice and crisp. I started some Brunswick cabbage seeds for my fall crop. Not sure what it'll be like, but it's supposed to keep well.

May I suggest trying Bravo, we’ve consistently harvested tight heads in the 5 lb. range. If I remember correctly 3 heads would, on average, give us about 5 quarts of kraut.

 

[Rick589]

It’s a family affair here.

This is where I thought we were heading, in fact I thought we were there……until psycho chicken unleashed.

 

[Ponypoor]

This is where I thought we were heading, in fact I thought we were there……until psycho chicken unleashed.

Some chooks, they be bat-crap crazy!

 

[Smokerbill]

May I suggest trying Bravo, we’ve consistently harvested tight heads in the 5 lb. range. If I remember correctly 3 heads would, on average, give us about 5 quarts of kraut.

Thanks for the tip. I'll look for it.

 

[Molpet]

Honestly, I was thinking about spinosad... A natural soil bacteria that is lethal to some insects but not others. I was wondering if there are similar bacteria which could be deadly to varroa mites but harmless to bees and their larva. Maybe this is one area where agentic AI could prove beneficial... However, from the reading I've been doing, I understand why treating for mites is so difficult. Once they are attached to a host, it's essentially too late and being able to infect the mites BEFORE they attach to a host is astronomically unlikely apparently.

I don't know why I'm so committed to trying to find a solution to this problem. I don't have bees and know very little about beekeeping but they are such a critical cog in the ecosystem of life that I can't help but try...

I read the viruses the mites carry are the biggest problem.
USDA Researchers Find Viruses from Miticide Resistant Parasitic Mites are Cause of Recent Honey Bee Colony Collapses : USDA ARS https://share.google/uNrRFSqrFo1gLpWEj

I guess we need vaccines for mites

 

[Rick589]

Some chooks, they be bat-crap crazy!

Yeah, she went totally skittish after the hatch for some reason and on top of this development my favorite hen that absolutely ‘loves’ me is at odds with the new peeps AND she squats for me as though she thinks I’m going to be doing some ‘roostering’ with her.