Plain Talk: Hive Tops and Winter Thoughts (268)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew records from his shop as a major winter storm approaches, using the moment to reflect on beekeeping, weather, and long-term planning. He shares a personal story about storms, preparation, and unpredictability before turning his attention to the coming season and what lies ahead for his apiary. Jim discusses plans to rebuild his colonies after winter losses, including ordering packages, establishing a single outyard, and returning to what he calls “traditional beekeeping,” with a renewed focus on insulation and colony comfort. He walks listeners through...
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Plain Talk: NAHBE Reflections (267)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew shares thoughtful reflections following his recent experience at the North American Honey Bee Expo. Walking the show floor, Jim was struck not only by the size and energy of the event, but by how dramatically beekeeping equipment, ideas, and approaches have evolved over the years. Jim revisits pivotal moments from his career—early encounters with Africanized bees, queen rearing efforts, international travel, and decades of teaching—and contrasts those experiences with the sheer volume of new hive designs, protective clothing, and...
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Plain Talk: NAHBE Walkabout (266)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this special, on-the-floor episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew records live from the bustling floor of the North American Honey Bee Expo in Louisville, Kentucky. It’s Jim’s first time attending NAHBE, and the scale of the event leaves a strong impression—thousands of beekeepers, hundreds of vendors, and an industry that has grown far beyond what many long-time beekeepers first experienced. As Jim walks the show floor, he reflects on how dramatically beekeeping equipment, protective gear, and technology have evolved. From queen grafting stations and instrumental insemination...
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Beekeeping Invasions with Anne Frey (265)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Beekeeping today looks very different than it did just a few decades ago, largely because of the steady arrival of invasive pests and pathogens. In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey for a thoughtful, experience-based discussion on how beekeepers have responded to these challenges over time. Jim and Anne reflect on the early days of tracheal mites, the arrival of Varroa, and the emergency treatments that once dominated management strategies. They discuss how research, regulation, and practical experience gradually replaced panic-driven responses, leading to more...
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Wintering with Anne Frey (264)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this New Year’s Day episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey for a timely and practical conversation about wintering honey bee colonies during extended cold spells. As winter settles in across much of North America, Jim and Anne focus on what beekeepers can—and cannot—do during deep winter to support colony survival. The discussion centers on insulation, emergency feeding, and realistic expectations when temperatures plunge. Anne explains why it’s not “too late” to add insulation, how minimal disturbance compares to the consequences of starvation, and why...
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Plain Talk: Christmas Day Stories (263)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this Christmas Day Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew offers listeners something intentionally different. Rather than focusing on hive management or seasonal techniques, Jim invites listeners into a reflective conversation shaped by memory, family, and the passage of time. Jim begins by acknowledging that Christmas has never been a strongly beekeeping-centered season for him. From there, he shares a formative story from early in his beekeeping life—one that begins with his passion for woodworking and building his own beekeeping equipment and ends with a Christmas Day...
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Plain Talk: Beekeeping Oddities (262)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew settles into his shop on a cold winter day to reflect on the many ways beekeeping appears odd to those outside the craft—and completely normal to those who practice it. Sparked by casual comments from friends asking whether he still “does that bee thing,” Jim explores how deeply beekeeping reshapes perspective. He begins with one of the most obvious oddities: beekeepers accept being stung as part of the deal. While that alone is a deal-breaker for many, beekeepers normalize pain, protective gear, and the inevitability that bees...
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Plain Talk: Apiary Winter Wonderland (261)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
In this week’s episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew invites listeners into an apiary winter wonderland, where a fresh blanket of snow becomes one of the beekeeper’s most revealing diagnostic tools. While the bee yard is silent on the surface, the snow tells its own story—tracks from deer and other wildlife, drifts shaped by wind, and the scattered bodies of a few dead bees shed light on how colonies are coping with single-digit temperatures. Jim reflects on the unmistakable signs of winter stress, including the loss of one colony and the resilience shown by others. With a characteristic...
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Plain Talk: Fishing for Beekeepers (260)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
This week on Honey Bee Obscura, Jim reflects on a familiar challenge in the beekeeping world: How do we find new beekeepers? A winter snowstorm derailed his plans to record with his grandson and two of his college friends, but the experience sparked a larger, thoughtful conversation about what draws people to bees—and why most people never pick up the craft. Jim revisits his own journey into beekeeping, remembering how early exposures didn’t quite “stick” until years later, when something finally clicked. This becomes the focus keyphrase fishing for beekeepers: the idea that only...
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Plain Talk: Slipshod Beekeeping (259)
Honey Bee Obscura Podcast
Sometimes beekeeping doesn’t look polished, tidy, or picture-perfect—and in this week’s episode, Jim leans right into that truth with a candid look at what he calls slipshod beekeeping. After visiting beekeepers and listeners at the Kentucky State Beekeepers Assn, he returns home to a bee yard that reflects the realities of taking several years off to care for family. With winter approaching and the colonies not quite where he wants them, Jim takes listeners along as he makes quick, imperfect, but meaningful adjustments to help his bees get through the cold season. Armed with nothing...
info_outlineIn this episode, Jim Tew takes a deep dive into the world of big colonies, posing the question: Are larger hives always better? With his signature blend of humor and beekeeping wisdom, Jim unpacks the complexities of managing booming colonies, reflecting on the pros, cons, and unintended consequences of letting colonies grow to massive sizes.
Jim discusses the labor-intensive demands of large hives, from the physical strain of handling heavy boxes to the increased challenges with swarm management, disease control, and even neighborly relations. Drawing from decades of experience, he shares personal anecdotes—including a memorable encounter with his grandson in an unexpectedly powerful hive—that highlight the sometimes-overwhelming nature of big colonies.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Jim acknowledges the undeniable benefits of strong hives, such as impressive honey production and robust pollination capabilities. However, he reminds us that bigger isn’t always better, especially when considering the beekeeper’s goals, physical limitations, and local environment.
Whether you prefer managing small, easy-to-handle colonies or love the challenge of bustling hives bursting with bees, this episode will give you plenty to think about. Tune in for candid reflections, practical advice, and a fresh perspective on what it really means to manage big colonies.
Thank you for listening! Be sure to subscribe and leave a review.
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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com
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Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.
Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott
Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)
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