Suburban Sodbuster

08/28/2025

This weekend is my first-ever sale on some of my most popular items. It's a great time to prepare for catching swarms next spring, and I'm reducing the base price of swarm traps by $10. In addition, frames will be reduced by 50¢ each, but that's before any bundle or quantity discounts are applied.

In addition, I'm offering a $10 discount on the Hopkins hive stand, a lightweight, sturdy stand with adjustable feet and anchor points for tie-down straps. This stand is made especially for the 20-frame insulated Layens hive but can also be used for Langstroth hives.

No coupon is needed; these prices will be automatically updated on the website. In addition to these discounts, I'm still offering free shipping for orders over $50.

Orders from this sale will be processed and shipped after 9/7 in the order they're received.

This is where you can browse products in this store.

08/28/2025

One price for two days of great speakers, bountiful vendors, and useful demonstrations. Do you have your tickets yet? I hope to see you there!

We’ve had some folks say it looks like on the ticket page that the price is just for Friday, Sept 5 so we wanted to clarify that your ticket is good for both days, Sept 5-6 and there are no added costs, everything is included except food. And, we are excited to have more food trucks this year… and nice weather!
Two days of learning from some of the most popular homesteading skills experts in the country - two days of shopping and talking with more than 150 homesteading themed vendors - two days of being with like-minded people!
We hope to see you, grab a friend, they will thank you!
Get your tickets here:
https://ozarkshomesteading.com/2025-homesteading-expo

08/26/2025

This caught swarm continues to reduce the size of their entrance with propolis. It's like a recreation of "The Cask of Amontillado" but from the inside. I really don't know their reason. This is the only entrance or vent on this box so reducing this 7/8" opening will reduce their available ventilation. Maybe they're anticipating a cold winter and purposefully restricting airflow? Or maybe, as a small colony, they're restricting access to robbers during dearth? I don't know their purpose but it's interesting to watch the progress.

08/25/2025

Here's some of the ugliness of the garden in August. While these cucumber vines die back I have no regrets because they've given a bumper crop this year. As a laissez-faire gardener (or lazy, fair gardener if you prefer) I've left the vines alone through bacterial wilt, leaf spot and powdery mildew (which was surprisingly minor this year). Now the vines are finally on their last legs after a job well done.

08/24/2025

I spotted this green bee foraging on my cucumber blossoms. It's always nice to see the native bees working alongside the honeybees.

08/23/2025

Yesterday's rebrand idea didn't win over many people, so I went back to the drawing board and came up with this (completely original) old timey design. What do you think of this?

08/21/2025

The Ozarks Homesteading Expo will be here soon, on September 5-6 in Marshfield, MO! Don't miss out on great presentations, useful demonstrations and abundant vendors to help you live a more independent, sustainable life. Comment if you're going. I'll see you there!

08/20/2025

After all the work of getting a stubborn swarm to move into a box, did they actually stay? In this video I inspect that colony and share a surprise after the initial catch.

After all the work of getting the stubborn swarm to move into the box, did they actually stay? In this video I inspect that colony and share a surprise after...

08/16/2025

Is it possible to keep honeybees without the work of feeding sugar syrup or applying hive treatments? If bees are allowed to manage their hive, can we still reap a harvest of honey? This seminar will explain how we can keep honeybees in a more “bee-centric” way, reducing the keeper’s workload while benefiting the bees. It will be a great time - I hope to see you there!

Purchase seminar registration at https://suburbansodbuster.com/product/natural-beekeeping-1-day-seminar/