Shows / Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
The weekly podcast exploring the joys, challenges, and curiosities of keeping honey bees. Hosted by Dr. Jim Tew and produced by Jeff Ott, Honey Bee Obscura delivers short, focused conversations that dive into the details of beekeeping—from practical how-tos to quirky observations. Perfect for learning something new on the way to the apiary, at home, or wherever your bees take you.
Episodes
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Bee Personalities (187)
In this episode, Jim explores the fascinating concept of bee personalities and how they change throughout the seasons. On a scorching hot day, Jim reflects on…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: The Fallen Hive (186)
In this episode, Jim takes listeners on an adventurous journey to inspect a fallen hive. Accompanied by his friend Bob Romick, Jim travels through rural Ohio…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: How Not To Remove Bees (185)
In this episode, Jim Tew shares valuable lessons learned from his early days in beekeeping, focusing on the challenges of removing bees from old structures…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: A Small June Swarm
In this episode, Jim Tew delves into the fascinating world of swarming behavior. Jim shares his experiences with swarms moving into winter-killed colonies…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: The Survivor Hive
Join Jim Tew as he recounts the captivating story of the "Survivor Hive" — an incredible beehive that endured decades without human intervention. In this…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Not My Bees (182)
In this episode, Jim Tew dives into the humorous and often frustrating situations beekeepers face when neighbors expect them to handle all sorts of "bee"…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Smoke and Smokers (181)
In this episode, Jim Tew shares his tried-and-true methods for lighting and using a smoker, essential tools for any beekeeper. He delves into the evolution of…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Irate Bees! (180)
In this stinging episode, Jim recounts an unexpected encounter with unusually aggressive bees in his apiary. While mowing near his hives, Jim experienced an…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: It's Not Just Keeping Bees (179)
In this thoughtful episode, Jim dives into the often-overlooked aspects of beekeeping that extend beyond the bees themselves. He reflects on the countless…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastStarting Nucs with Will (178)
In this episode, Jim introduces listeners to the world of beekeeping through the experiences of a new beekeeper, his grandson Will. As a high school junior…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: A Spring Walk in the Bee Yard (177)
In this episode, Jim takes listeners on an auditory stroll through his bee yard during a recent vibrant spring day. As the bees buzz energetically around him…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Box Hives (176)
In this enlightening episode, Jim takes listeners on a historical journey through the evolution of beekeeping hives. Delving into the storied past of…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Leftover Honey (175)
In this episode, Jim explores the practical aspects of dealing with "less-than-pristine" honey, an inevitable challenge for many beekeepers. Throughout the…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastLost Queens (174)
In this episode, hosts Jim Tew and guest Anne Frey, delve into the intriguing and sometimes baffling phenomenon of beekeepers being unable to locate their…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Honey Bee Eggs (173)
In this episode, Jim Tew takes listeners on an intricate journey into the life of a honey bee egg, uncovering its quiet but highly active existence. Despite…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastObserving Queen Anomalies with Anne Frey (172)
In this intriguing episode, Jim Tew and Anne Frey delve into the unexpected and often perplexing world of queen bee behavior and physiology that diverges from…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk: Spring - Help, Don't Hurt Your Bees (171)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim takes beekeepers through the critical period of late winter and early spring, emphasizing the delicate balance…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastManaging Nucs with Anne Frey (170)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, we dive into the intricacies of nurturing nucleus colonies (nucs) with beekeeping expert Anne Frey from Better Bee. Jim…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPlain Talk About Division Board Feeders (169)
In this episode Jim discusses the obscure world of division board feeders, exploring their history, evolution, and practical use in beekeeping. These feeders…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastTalking With Kids About Bees (168)
In this enlightening episode, Jim invites American Bee Journal editor, Eugene Makovec, to the podcast to chat about their experiences and insights on how to…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastDealing With Heavy Hives with Anne Frey (167)
In this episode, Jim Tew and Anne Frey tackle a common yet often overlooked challenge in beekeeping: managing the heavy weight of hives. They delve into…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastSampling Varroa Mites (166)
Join Jim Tew and David Peck in a critical conversation about Varroa mite management in beekeeping. This episode demystifies the process of counting mites…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastEating Honey (165)
Diving into the sweet yet challenging world of honey consumption, this week's episode of Honey Bee Obscura delves into the nuances of enjoying honey—without…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastColony Collapse and Varroa, Plain Talk with Dr. David Peck (164)
In today's episode, Jim is joined by Dr. David Peck, an expert in varroa mites, to delve into the critical issue of honey bee colony collapse linked to varroa…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastIn Class with Jim: "Supering" (163)
In this episode we delve into the concept of "supering," a term unique to beekeeping that has emerged over the past century. To those outside the beekeeping…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastMentoring Young Beekeepers (162)
In today's episode, Jim and Becky Masterman (co-host of Beekeeping Today Podcast) delve into the challenges and joys of mentoring young beekeepers, with a…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastColony Confinement (161)
Beekeepers must often confine their bees to the hives for long or short periods of time, whether it be to move them from one yard to another, or if pesticides…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastHive Inspections: When, Why and How Often (160)
Hive inspections are essential in the beekeeping, serving as the cornerstone for effective colony management. Through these inspections, beekeepers gain…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastKeeping Small Colonies (159)
In this week's episode, Jim is delighted to welcome back David Peck from Betterbee. In this intriguing discussion, they explore what Jim calls, "Reverse…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastRepetition Beekeeping (158)
Practice makes perfect, as the old adage says. This really rings true in the bee yard and working with honey bees. This week, Jim invites Betterbee's EAS…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastDownsizing Your Bee Operation (157)
There comes a time for many beekeepers when they realize they have more colonies than time to properly work them - with "work" being the operative word. If…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastQueen Isolation Cages (156)
In today's episode, Jim and David Peck, PhD, delve into a fascinating topic that rarely gets any 'air time' unless you are interested specifically in raising…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastWinter Chores: Culling Combs (155)
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Kim and Jim delve into several important maintenance tasks that beekeepers can undertake during the winter season to…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastArchive Special - Preparing Your Hives for Winter! (154)
Happy Thanksgiving!! Join Kim and Jim in this special archive episode from late October 2021, where they delve into the critical task of preparing your hives…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastBrowsing Bee Books (153)
As the leaves fall and the bees nestle in for winter, many beekeepers find themselves next to a warm fire, a cup of tea in hand, flipping through the pages of…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastRothenbuhler's Legacy (152)
In today's episode Jim invites Becky Masterman to discuss the lasting impact of Dr. Walter Rothenbuhler's seminal research on honey bee hygienic behavior. His…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastTransfers and Cutouts (151)
Beekeeping is not always as straightforward as hive inspections and honey extraction. When bees decide to set up shop in places beyond the traditional hive…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastDealing With Quirky Queens (150)
In the intricate realm of beekeeping, the queen bee reigns supreme, yet she remains a mysterious figure for many beekeepers. Join Jim as he welcomes Anne Frey…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastHoney Bees and Native Bees (149)
In this episode, Jim, is joined by guest, Eugene Makovec, the editor of The American Bee Journal, to dissect the emotionally charged debate that's capturing…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastDealing With Fall Equipment (148)
After all of the nectar has flowed, the honey spun and you're just waiting to put the bees to bed for the winter, you might look around at the clutter of…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastBarrel Hives with Jerry Hayes (147)
This week, Jerry Hayes sits in with Jim while Kim is out. In this episode, Jerry talks about one of the most unusual hive designs he's ever built and worked…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastArchive Special: Dealing with Yellowjackets (146)
(This Archive Special first released, September 2, 2021.) Beekeepers are very often asked to help friends or neighbors that have "bee" problems…. honey bees…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastListener Emails: Cutting Down Supers and Dealing with Propolis (145)
In this episode, Jim invites Beekeeping Today Podcast's Jeff Ott, to sit in for Kim to help answer a couple of recent listener emails. In response to a recent…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastMoving Honey Supers in the Fall (144)
This week, we continue with the theme of Fall management. Kim is out so, Jim invites Jeff Ott, from Beekeeping Today Podcast to join him to talk about dealing…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastPrepping for Fall and Winter (143)
What do you do when the honey is all harvested, but it is still warm and not quite time to button up the colonies for Winter? On today's episode of Honey Bee…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastHow to Deal With Broken Frames (142)
This is honey harvest time of the year, for the majority of the beekeepers in the Northern Hemisphere. Undoubtedly, you will end your uncapping and extracting…
Honey Bee Obscura PodcastUncapping Honey (140)
After building your colonies up in the spring, managing them through the early summer, collecting them out of the trees and out of the bushes after they swarm…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
The Evolution of Beekeeping (141)
What's changed in the past 150 years or so? For some of us who have been around awhile, it seems like a lot. Most honey is still produced in the boxes…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
What To Do With Cappings (139)
It seems that everyone talks about managing bees and selling honey. There's also a lot of discussion about extracting honey - such as: removing bees from the…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Considering the Bee Yard Habitat (138)
Continuing their discussion on the micro and to some extent the macro environment of a beeyard, Kim and Jim take a long hard look at what do bees need to eat…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Dealing with Harvesting Headaches (137)
Every season, it seems, is different than the last, making it difficult or at least challenging. Honey harvesting is no different: what and when and how and…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Dealing With Summer Robbing (136)
It's the time of year when summer is nearly over, but the fall flow hasn't started. Colonies are big, there's lot of foragers, and not much to forage on, yet…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Beehive Life (135)
What else is in a beehive other than... honey bees? If you stop and look closer the next time you are in your beeyard, you will in all likelihood begin to…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Managing Mid-Summer Splits (133)
In this episode, Kim and Jim discuss the pros and cons of mid-summer splits. Are they good or are they bad? It can go both ways. Mid-summer splits are used to…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Dealing With Seasonal Bee Management Fluctuations (132)
How does a beekeeper deal with the seasonal population shifts, weather and resulting needs of the honey bees in their care. How does a beekeeper balance the…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Summer Replay - Hot Summers & Hot Bees (131)
Listeners, Kim and Jim are busy in the bee yard this week and have chosen this episode from the archive, for your listening pleasure. Thank you for listening!…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Getting Your Bees Through Droughts (130)
Summer is in full force in most of the country now. Nectar flows are on and the honey is starting to ripen in the supers. It is the time of year beekeepers…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Learning To Deal With Stings (129)
All beekeepers must one day, cross a threshold: dealing with bee stings. For some, it is a small, hardly seen threshold. For others, it is a major challenge…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Replacing The Queen (128)
Replacing a seemingly good queen can be a difficult decision to make. If her brood pattern is good, the colony temperment is nice, they've produced a good…
- Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Vanishing Swarms: Now You See Them, Now You Don't! (127)
If you've been a beekeeper for any length of time and especially, after your first year in your own bee yard, you've seen a swarm, looked away to pick up…