Beekeeping For Newbees
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Beekeeping For Newbees
Here we will discuss everything needed for new beekeepers to learn to keep honeybees including: Beekeeping tools, hive components, what to do and when, and every trick of the trade that we can think of. If you are new to beekeeping, this podcast is for you.
Episodi recenti
177 episodi
Episode 175 – Winter Hive Survival: Science, Insulation, and the Condensing Hive 🧊🐝
In this episode I talk with Minnesota beekeeper Peg DeSanto about one of the biggest challenges in beekeeping, getting colonies through winter. Peg ex...
Episode 174 - Bees In The News (28): Parasites, Organics & Alaska Hive Beetles 🐝🗞️
Bees In The News is back with a fresh format and more commentary. Instead of just reading headlines, I dive into what these stories really mean for be...
Episode 173 – Building a Hive Monitoring System: Sensors, Heat Maps, and Real Data 🖥️🐝
Every beekeeper wonders how their colonies are doing in the middle of winter. Are they clustered? Do they have enough food? Is it safe to open the hiv...
Episode 172 – The Bee Buzz (28): Winter Hive Questions, Feeding, and Moisture Boards ❄️🐝
It is Bee Buzz time again, and in this Q&A session I answer listener questions on winter prep, feeding, and hive management. We talk about whether to...
Episode 171 – Inside the Winter Cluster: How Bees Heat and Survive the Cold ❄️🐝
When temperatures drop, bees form the winter cluster to stay alive. In this episode, we dig into what triggers clustering, how bees rotate between the...
Episode 170 – Tree Cavities vs. Langstroth Hives: How Bees Really Survive Winter ❄️🐝
When bees overwinter in a tree cavity, they enjoy thick insulation, controlled airflow, and condensation that actually helps them survive. In a Langst...
Episode 169 – Winter Prep for Your Hives: Feeding, Merging, and Insulating ❄️🐝
Winter is coming, and the way you prepare your hives now will determine how strong your colonies are in the spring. In this episode, we go step by ste...
Episode 168 – Spring vs Fall Pollen: What Bees Really Need (And When) 🐝🌼🍂
This episode focuses on the difference between spring and fall pollen and how seasonal shifts impact bee nutrition. We look at what bees need to raise...
Episode 167 – The Beltsville Bee Lab Shutdown: What’s Really Going On 🏛️🐝
News of the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab closing has sparked controversy, but what’s fact and what’s fearmongering? In this episode, we dig into the propos...
Episode 166 – Oxalic Acid and Mite Madness: What’s Changing, What’s Not 🧪🐝
Oxalic acid has long been a trusted treatment for Varroa mites, but recent label updates are causing confusion about dosage, legality, and safety. In...
Episode 165 – Fall Swarming: Why You Still Need to Watch Closely 🍂🐝
Fall swarms aren’t just a myth, and in some areas, they’re happening right now. While most beekeepers associate swarming with spring, certain late-sea...
Episode 164 – Fall Flow and Winter Bees: How Nature Prepares the Colony for the Cold 🐝🍂
As the summer bees finish their work and the fall flow begins, the colony shifts gears. In this episode, we explore how the biology of the honey bee c...
Episode 163 – Bearding, Fanning, and Heat Shields: How Bees Actually Cool the Hive 🔥🐝
Record-breaking heatwaves aren’t just hard on humans — they challenge your colonies too. In this episode, we talk through ways to support your bees du...
Episode 162 – What to Expect When You’re Expecting… Bees 🐝🍼
Thinking about starting beekeeping next spring? This lighthearted but information-packed episode walks you through the full “gestation” process, from...
Episode 161 – Beekeeping Myths, Course Updates, and 2026 Experiments 🧪🐝
What’s the real deal with summer ventilation hacks? Should you remove entrance reducers? In this episode, I break down some bad advice floating around...
Episode 160 – Alternative Hive Types: Top Bar, Horizontal, and Warre Explained 🐝📦
In this episode, we take a closer look at some of the most common alternatives to the Langstroth hive, including Top Bar, Horizontal (Long Langstroth...
Episode 159 – Honey Extraction Methods: What to Know Before You Harvest 🍯🐝
In this episode, we walk through practical honey extraction methods for beekeepers of all levels. If you're new to harvesting or just looking to impro...
Episode 158 – Used Gear, Swarm Trap Timing & What to Ask When Buying Bees 🐝📦
In this episode, we cover a few important topics to help you avoid major headaches in your beekeeping journey.
🌐 Website: beekeep...
Episode 157 – The Hazards of the Walkaway Split: Timing, Risks & Real Talk 🐝⏳
Thinking of doing a walkaway split? Before you divide that colony, hit play. In this episode, we break down why timing is everything — especially as t...
Episode 156 – Comb Control: Who Builds It, When They Do, and What to Watch For 🐝🧱
In this episode, we dive into the what, who, when, where, why, and how of honeycomb production. You'll learn how wax gets made, when bees choose to bu...
Episode 155 – From Egg to Emergence: Understanding Bee Development Timelines 🐣🐝
Ever wonder how long it takes for a queen to emerge? Or why drones take longer to develop than workers? In this deep-dive episode, we break down the f...
Episode 154 – Memorial Day & The Healing Hive Project: Honoring Sacrifice, Building Purpose 🇺🇸🐝
On this Memorial Day, we pause to reflect on the meaning of service, sacrifice, and the families who carry that burden. In this special episode, Jeff...
Episode 153 – Surviving the Dearth: Feeding, Fighting Robbers, and Managing Mites
The nectar flow doesn't last forever, and when it ends, things can get tough. In this episode, we talk about how to recognize the start of a summer de...
Episode 152 – The Bee Buzz (27): Spring Beekeeping Q&A 🐝
We wrap up our three-part Bee Buzz Q&A series with a big one — covering everything from screen bottom boards and queen excluders to robbing behavior,...
Episode 151 – The Bee Buzz (26): Spring Splits, Queen Cells, and What Went Wrong in Kentucky 🐝🚗
We’re back with The Bee Buzz! In this episode, I recap a wild cross-country trip that ended in a busted transmission, a used car purchase, and the wor...
Episode 150 – The Bee Buzz (25): Spring Feeding, Hive Health, & Q&A 🐝📬
The Bee Buzz is back! After a long break, we’re reviving this listener-favorite format where we answer your questions directly. From feeding bees in s...
Episode 149 – Feeding Bees: When, What, and How Much 🍯🐝
Feeding bees is one of the most misunderstood topics in beekeeping. In this episode, we talk about when you should feed, what you should feed (syrup,...
Episode 148 – Smooth Moves: Relocating Bee Colonies the Right Way 🌸🐝
In this episode, we talk about the right (and wrong) ways to move bees to a new location. Whether you’re relocating a hive two miles or two hundred, l...
Episode 147 – Understanding Bee Roles and Behavior 🧠🐝
In this episode, we dive deep into how honey bee colonies are structured and why understanding bee behavior can make you a calmer, more effective beek...
Episode 146 – Bees in the News (27): Swarms, Rooftop Honey & Bee Yoga?! 🐝🗞️
From pub patio swarms in England to rooftop hives in Chicago—and even yoga sessions with bees—this Bees in the News installment covers the weird, the...
Episode 145 – Is My Colony Queenless? How to Tell & What to Do 👑🐝
So… you open the hive and don’t see any eggs. Panic sets in. Did she die? Did they swarm? Did you crush her?! In this episode, we walk through how to...
Episode 144 – Requeening Your Colony: A Practical Guide 👑🐝
Requeening a hive is one of the most important, and sometimes most confusing, tasks beekeepers face. Whether your queen is failing, gone, or just not...
Episode 143 - The Demaree Method: Swarm Control Without Splitting 🐝🔧
Ever hear beekeepers talk about the "Demaree split" and wonder what it actually is? Spoiler alert: it's not a real split. In this episode, we walk thr...
Episode 142 – Swarm Prevention: Keeping Your Bees from Leaving 🏃🐝
Swarming is a natural part of honey bee biology—but that doesn’t mean it has to happen in your apiary. In this episode, we break down the triggers tha...
Episode 141 – How to Inspect a Hive Like a Pro (Without Overdoing It!) 🔍🐝
In this episode, we break down the fundamentals of hive inspections—from timing and tools to what to look for and what to leave alone. Whether you’re...
Episode 140 – Packages and Nucs: What to Expect the First 30 Days 📦🐝
If you’re about to install bees — or just did — this episode walks you through what to expect during the first 30 days of a new colony. From queen acc...
Episode 139 – How to Keep Records: The Beekeeper’s Notebook 📖🐝
Over half a million downloads, a top 1.5% global ranking, and Feedspot’s Top 10 Beekeeping Podcast award — we’re celebrating some milestones and divin...
Episode 138 - Beginner Beekeeping Mistakes: What NOT to Do 🚨🐝
New beekeepers make a lot of mistakes, but many of them are easily avoidable if you know what to look out for. In this episode, I go through some of t...
Episode 137 - Single vs. Double Deep Brood Boxes: Which One is Better? 🏠🐝
Should you use a single deep or double deep for your brood chamber? 🏠🐝 In this episode, I break down the pros and cons of each setup, when to use th...
Episode 136 - How to Start a Beekeeping Business: Legal & Profitable Steps 🏛️🐝
Want to turn beekeeping into a profitable business? 🏛️🐝 In this episode, I break down everything you need to knowabout starting a beekeeping business...