Mike Barkley

This is the proper link to that shower BB.

A stated minimum requirement is that a bucket be placed in the shower to collect the water. However, since this is an outdoors shower I think having a collection bucket outside the actual shower would be acceptable. I think the point is to reuse shower water, not so much about how it is collected.

I don't think the shells are edible. They probably aren't poisonous but just tough with little nutritional value. Earthworms seem to happily devour them.

When I grow them they are intended for fresh eating only. Dried beans are very cheap & easy to buy. Ever seen fresh pintos in any store?

Once they are close to maturity the pods develop purple blotches or streaks. That is when I pick them & remove the individual beans. If you intend to dry them I'd wait until the pods turn completely brown.

If you like dried pinto beans try growing some to enjoy them fresh. A totally different experience!!!

I never add salt until towards the end because they don't get as soft if the salt is added too early.

I usually cook them in a crock pot. Either as borracho beans (drunken beans ... cooked in beer) or as charro beans. Plenty of recipes online for those. Cumino, jalapeno or chili petins, onions, & garlic are always in mine & usually some sort of meat such as bacon or chorizo. Sometimes dried cilantro too. I almost always eat them over cornbread for a day or two then turn the remainder into refritos (refried beans) & freeze it for later.

Awesome!!! It's so cool to see a swarm in action.

Welcome everyone. I had a feeling we'd be seeing your names here soon. Congratulations!

I have used some cedar in small hugel pits with poor results. I won't try that again.

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Memorial Day is the most important American holiday to me. The grilled steaks & burgers are great but it's about so much more. Please take some time to remember the true meaning. Too many people have sacrificed all so that others can have a better life.

I've lived in Texas most of my life & it seems as though it always floods on Memorial Day. The flood shown in the last video did not happen on this particular day but it is special to me because I helped build all the Purgatory trails & helped the photographer access this flood safely. Purgatory was my happy place. We're expecting hard rain all week for this year's holiday. A flash flood warning has been issued for tonight & tomorrow. Right on schedule. I'm still having a great meal & still remembering my fallen buddies. Peace to all!!!

Something else that supposedly helps is screened hive bottoms with the hive body sitting on black rocks or asphalt. It is said the varro fall through & lay eggs on the black material which cooks them because it is too hot. I have never actually tried it but it does seem plausible.

Some people use insect foggers filled with mineral oil instead of insecticide. I think all that does is make the bees slippery & has minimal effect on the varroa mites since most of the varroa are inside capped cells. It's also a good way to start an unintentional fire.

Slow release gels seem to work the best. this is a popluar example

Unfortunately that is something almost all beekeepers do ever since the colony collapse disorder became so common. I have done it once or twice but ultimately stopped. I decided the survival of the fittest method was best for all concerned. However I had many colonies in several different locations & could afford to lose some once in a while. It is easy enough to make splits to replace any that are lost.

That being said ... I think with a single swarm of unknown origin it might be best to treat them the first year. I'd suggest waiting a few weeks until they accept their new hive & start building it out & developing brood. Otherwise they might abscond because that stuff smells truly awful. If you do treat be sure to wear appropriate nose, mouth, & eye protection.