The Hive Jive - Beekeeping Podcast: Recent Episodes
John Swan
What happens when you take a professional Fishing Guide, pair him with a Master Beekeeper, and throw in some Texas Red Headed Mutt Honeybees? Well, we are about to find out!
Ken Milam, host of The Great Outdoors & Sunday Sportsman radio shows, and professional fishing guide, has decided that he thinks he’d like to start keeping bees. Problem is, he has absolutely no idea where to start. Enter John Swan, owner of Wicked Bee, and a Texas Master Beekeeper. Together they are going to embark on a beekeeping journey as Ken learns all there is to know about honeybees and the art of beekeeping.
Tune in to the podcast and join them on their journey, and see what all trouble they manage to get themselves into along the way. New episodes are released every Monday!
John and Nathalie sit down with The Girl Next door herself, Hilary Kearney, to talk about her new book “The Heart of the Hive,” as well as what it has been like building her bee business and unique brand. Tune in now to learn more…
John and Nathalie take a jaunt across the pond to talk with Steve Riley and discuss his new book “The Honey Bee Solution to Varroa.” Steve, along with the Westerham Beekeepers in the UK, have done a lot of research into how Varroa was affecting their bees, and how the bees responded when they were not treated. They have combined their observations along with research from respected sources all over the world to come up with a more comprehensive overview of the traits that better indicate when bees truly are displaying varroa sensitive hygienic behaviors. This information could greatly improve your own beekeeping and quest for better genetic qualities in our own bees. Tune in now to learn more…
Nathalie and John sit down with Niki Backes, Supporter Manager for Bees Abroad, to discuss what got her interested in Beekeeping, and how she came to be involved with Bees Abroad. Plus, what is Bees Abroad, how are they making a difference in other countries, and what can you do to help? Tune in now to learn more…
Link:
https://www.beesabroad.org/
Nathalie and John sit down with long-time friend of the show, Tara Chapman, to discuss her new book "For the Bees: A Handbook for Happy Beekeeping." Plus, the gang catch up on life changes that have caused Tara to have to re-evaluate how she runs aspects of her day-to-day business. Tune in now to learn more...
To purchase a copy of Tara's new book, you can visit:
https://www.twohiveshoney.com/book/
*And be sure to use the code "JIVE" to save 15%
And if you are interested in joining one of her classes, you can see all the details and fill out an application by clicking Here!
This week John and Nathalie sit down with Randy McCaffrey of 628 Dirt Rooster YouTube Fame to discuss how he got started in bees, and what all it took to build his YouTube channel up to nearly 40 Million Views! Tune in now to learn more…
This week John finally got to fulfill a podcast-long goal of sitting down with the creator of Bella Beek and host of Beekeeper Confidential… the one and only… Mandy Shaw! Join us as John and Nathalie catch up with Mandy and learn what her journey has been like thus far, as well as what she has planned for the future. Tune in now to learn more…
Nathalie and John recap a few topics from the recent interviews with Tracy, Tucka, Gemma, and Peggy. Are mites really the line in the sand that beekeepers make it out to be today? Plus, it’s time for another Ken’s Cooking Corner where he continues his Sourdough addiction with some Sourdough Oatmeal Cookies made with Honey.
This week John and Nathalie sat down with Peggy DeSanto, co-founder of Bee the Change and The Hive Hugger. The group discusses how Peggy got started in Beekeeping, what inspired her to create the Hive Hugger, and how important it is to make sure your hives are properly insulated. Plus, how does Peggy feel about the current state of beekeeping? Tune in now to learn more…
This week John and Nathalie sit down with Gemma Astley from Homestead Hens and Honey to catch up on all things Homesteading, Chicken Keeping, and Bees! The group covers a wide range of topics including if Gemma has changed her opinions on Hive Styles, a discussion on queen mysteries, and how Gemma feels about the current state of beekeeping. Tune in now to learn more…
This week John and Nathalie sit down with the one and only Tucka Saville to learn what it was like keeping bees between New York and Florida, as well as catching up on the latest changes in the world of Tucka Bee as she dips her toes into the commercial world of contracted beekeeping in Florida.
This week John sits down with Tracy Pielemeir to discuss how she got into beekeeping, started the North Central Beekeepers Club, came up with the concept for The Hive Butler, and to find out what she thinks about the current state of beekeeping. Tune in now to learn more…
John and Nathalie discuss a few takeaways from their recent interview with Angela Tollerson, plus the pair go a bit more in-depth with a few of the concepts that were mentioned. Tune in now to learn more…
John and Nathalie sit down with Angela Tollerson, a fellow Master Beekeeper, to have an engaging conversation about how she sees the world of beekeeping today. Hear her perspective on some common issues, what challenges she faces in her own beekeeping, and what is she doing to help overcome them. Tune in now to learn more…
For the first interview episode of the season, we sit down with none other than Ken Milam to discuss his views on the current state of beekeeping. Tune in now to learn more...
It's time to address that big fuzzy striped elephant in the room that is Season 4. John sits down with us for a personal one-on-one and explains what has kept the show on hiatus for so long, and what it means for the future of The Hive Jive. Tune in now to learn more...
This week Nathalie and John discuss topics from a recent Bee Informed Partnership panel discussion on queen genetics and queen health/viability. Tune in now to hear their thoughts on a few key topics regarding Queens and how it relates to recent topics...
BIP Queen Panel Video Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-4ndh02r9Ac
In today's Beekeeper Chat, we get an update from Nathalie about her recent swarm captures, some things they both would like to try now that swarm session is under way, and John give a few updates about his new bees and also lets us in on his recent hive building misadventures. Tune now to learn more...
Today John and Nathalie discuss how recent studies have revealed that a beehive can help identify the nuances of a cities unique biome by collecting and storing the microscopic bacteria, yeast, spores, and other fungal matter that reside in that specific city. Tune in now to learn more...
Article Link:
https://theweek.com/environmental-news/1022253/honeybees-help-gather-data-about-a-citys-health
Breaking News! John's bees arrive TOMORROW morning and he hasn't even started building his hives yet!! How exactly does one forget something so important and exciting as the arrival of new bees? Well, John and Nathalie discuss this out of sight, out of mind scenario in today's beekeeper chat. Tune in now to hear all about it...
Today Nathalie and John revisit a topic that was originally discussed back in 2021 on the possible effects of EMF on bees. With new research being presented, and new definitions of RF-EMR (Radio Frequency Electro Magnetic Radiation), the pair have decided that it is time to take another look at the possible effects that our electronics are having on our bees. Tune in now to learn more...
Today Nathalie and John discuss new research that suggests younger bees learn the finer details of a precision Waggle Dance from older more experienced bees. What implications could this have on how we view our colonies, and the decisions we make on their behalf? Tune in now to learn more...
In today's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John discuss the topic of Queen Excluders. What were they designed for? How do you use them? When should they be used? And, are they even really required? Tune in now to find out what the pair think about this often touchy subject...
Today John and Nathalie discuss a comb guide that was recently brought to John's attention from a listener. This comb guide is meant to be placed on the bottom of Topbar hive bars in order to help encourage the bees to draw out their comb in a straight line. However, this specific comb guide claims several other advantages that make it stand out from all others... including nature itself. Is this latest hive invention all it is cracked up to be? Tune in now to hear John and Nathalie's initial impressions for the prospects of the Safe Passage Comb Guide...
Today John breaks the news to Nathalie that he is now back down to zero colonies. Despite everything looking great for the "Oh Bee One Colony" going into winter, things took a drastic turn somewhere along the way. This has left John with more questions than answers. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Feb 28th, 2023)
Recently, a listener brought up the subject of Re-Wilding honey bees in the comments after discussing Honey Bees as the Poster Child for the Save the Bees movement. So, in today's beekeeper chat, John and Nathalie attempt to tackle the concept of "Re-Wilding" and whether this is a good idea or not. Turns out, it is not an easy subject and there are a lot of variables that can make the concept go either way. Tune in now to learn more!
(Original Air Date: Feb 22nd, 2023)
Today Nathalie and John discuss whether the fact that the Honey Bee has become the Poster Child of the "Save the Bees" movement is a good thing, or if it could have it's own unintended consequences. There are pros and cons to both sides of this, and of course it all depends on how you look at it. Tune in now, and let us know what you think about this scenario...
(Original Air Date: Feb 15th, 2023)
This week, John and Nathalie discuss their preferred queen rearing methods. What strategies have they tried, what has worked well and what hasn't, and do they agree on the best practices? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Feb 8th, 2023)
your own beekeeping operation without stepping on the toes of those who might have mentored you along the way. Are there ways to avoid these types of situations from the start, and what if you find yourself in the middle of this type of situation unintentionally? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Feb 1st, 2023)
In today's Beekeeper Chat, Nathalie and John discuss some new research that shows the potential side effects of OA (Oxalic Acid) treatments and the impacts it has on developing larvae. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Jan 25th, 2023)
In today's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John tackle a couple of listener questions regarding the use of plywood or OSB boards when building hives, as well as the effects on newly drawn wax when feeding sugar. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Jan 18th, 2023)
The USDA has recently approved the 1st vaccination for Honey Bees! This specific vaccination is to help colonies guard against AFB infections, also know as American Foulbrood disease. Tune in now to hear Nathalie and John's take on this new concept for beekeeping!
(Original Air Date: Jan 11th, 2023)
John and Nathalie are back to kick off the new year with a bang! But, unfortunately John has experienced another setback in his beekeeping journey... as have a few others out there in Bee Land. Plus, the pair tackle a listener question about whether a hive population is too big to be condensed down. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Jan 4th, 2023)
Just in time for Christmas, the gang is all back together to bring you the 2023 year in review! Catch up with John, Nathalie and Ken as they recap the stats from the podcast over the last year.
Just in time for the Holiday weekend, Nathalie and John are up early and decked out in their holiday PJs to bring you one final Beekeeper Chat for 2022. The pair recap some of the past episodes from this year, as well as theorizing what the new year might hold for each of them. Tune in now and help us wrap up 2022!
P.S. From all of us here at The Hive Jive, we wish you and yours a very happy, warm, and safe holiday season!
P.S.S. John apologizes in advance, again, for not having the correct mic turned on... yet again... Soooo Sorry!
(Original Air Date: Dec 24th, 2022)
Today John and Nathalie discuss a hot button issue on the pros and cons of Honey Queen/Princess programs at the various levels of local clubs to national associations. While there are many benefits to such programs, could some aspects be a bit outdated... and potentially undermine the whole point of the program? Tune in now to hear some honest opinions from two people who have been in the middle of such programs...
*And John apologizes in advance for not having the correct mic turned on...
(Original Air Date: Dec 21st, 2022)
This week Nathalie and John discuss the touchy subject of volunteering at the different levels of various bee associations and clubs. From the local town club, to county clubs, and state associations, there can be a very drastic range of options, commitments, and personalities to deal with. Have you ever volunteered to help out your favorite bee club? Do you want to? Should you? Tune in now to learn more, but brace yourself as this could be a sticky subject!
(Original Air Date: Dec 14th, 2022)
Today Nathalie and John discuss some of the ways you can rekindle the spark you originally felt that can help you reconnect and remind you why you love beekeeping so much. We all have frustrations from time to time, and we can feel at a loss, or defeated. So how does one pull themselves back up from that? Tune in now to hear our favorite things about beekeeping, and methods we use to help reignite that spark!
(Original Air Date: Dec 7th, 2022)
John and Nathalie take a stroll down memory lane and share a few stories from their past experiences that are both humorous, as well as great examples of why we always need to be aware of our surroundings when doing beekeeping. We tend to become very focused on the bees themselves and can often forget that there are other things lurking that could cause us some unexpected issues. Tune in now to learn more..
(Original Air Date: 11/30/22)
For today's Beekeeper Chat, Nathalie and John go back and revisit a topic that John and Ken originally covered on a bonus episode back in September of 2020 regarding a Thymol Entrance Portal. It has been a couple of years, and this product, now called HiveGuard, is nearing the end of it's testing trials and is said to be releasing to the public in the coming months. Has John's opinion of this device and its treatment method changed over the years? And, how does Nathalie feel about the concept of constantly treating your hives with Thymol? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: 11/23/22)
The first cold snap of winter for 2022 has finally arrived and it has John questioning what has really changed with beekeeping over the last century. Join us as Nathalie and John discuss whether or not he core concept is really any different today than it was way back when. Plus, get some updates about recent changes, and some insights into John's recent Hive Insulation video.
(Original Air Date: 11/16/22)
For this week's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John discuss different ways that they have improvised various aspects of their beekeeping practices. This type of 'out of the box' thinking can come in handy in a pinch, and just might save the day. Tune in now to learn more, and let us know some of your own improvised tricks!
(Original Air Date: 11/9/22)
In today's Beekeeper Chat, Nathalie and John discuss some new and exciting research revolving around honey bee swarms. Plus, a few other odd occurrences in beekeeping news from around the world. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Nov 2nd, 2022)
We should always strive to keep learning, putting ourselves out there, and gaining new experiences. So, for this week's Beekeeper Chat, Nathalie details some details about her recent trip to Missouri for a beekeeping seminar, and her takeaways from the experience. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Oct 26th, 2022)
We all have those moments, some more than others, when we have the best of intentions to get something accomplished... but it can wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow becomes next week, or even next month. In beekeeping we often have these moments as other distractions seem to take precedence. However, there are times when things really can't be put off. And, in those instances, if we ignore our responsibility and things go awry... we can only blame ourselves. Tune in now to hear more and have a laugh at our expense...
(Original Air Date: Oct 19th, 2022)
In this episode of our Beekeeper Chat series, Nathalie and John discuss how unpredictable nature can be, from weather and climate change, to natural disasters, this all has an effect on your beekeeping. How can you guard against these unexpected events and ensure your colony has what it needs to ride the waves and come out healthy on the other side? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Oct 12th, 2022)
Do imported Honey Bees actually outcompete our Native Bees? This week Nathalie and John approach this evolving question first from a rational standpoint, and then start digging in deeper with a little bit of scientific backing. Could we be unknowingly be doing a disservice to our local environment? Are there ways we can help to offset the issue if there truly is a problem? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Oct 5th, 2022)
Clearly there was no clear path for this week's Beekeeper Chat as the pair jump from topic to topic with their only goal being to try and stay focused on Bees! John gives an update on his two hives, and the status of the colony from the bear attack. They also discuss the initial plans on how to help overwinter this colony with a modification of the topbar conversion hive, and John points out that the bees agree with him on some of the flaws with the molded plastic nuc boxes. Plus, a new article in Bee Culture creates a stir... Tune in now to learn more!
(Original Air Date: Sept 21st, 2022)
Today Nathalie and John discuss the pros and cons of both being a mentor, and being an apprentice. As with anything, you get out of it what you put into it, and it all starts with choosing wisely. Have you ever considered apprenticing along with someone, or do you have what it takes to be a mentor to someone else? Tune in now to learn more about how to make the best of these experiences regardless which role you find yourself in...
(Original Air Date: Sept 14th, 2022)
For today's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John discuss new research into h. saltator ant queens which is helping to reveal how queens in a superorganism are able to sustain such long lifespans. With ants, termites, and honey bees being so closely related, could this also help to shed light on why our own queen bees are able to live for so long despite the great energy demand of constantly reproducing offspring? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Sept 7th, 2022)
In today's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John discuss the pros and cons of attempting to give a hive more ventilation during a heatwave, and John gives us an update on the Bear situation. Plus, the pair discuss a "What If" scenario where someday there might be a mite treatment that has zero negative effects on the bees themselves. Would that change things, and would it actually be beneficial to the bees?
(Original Air Date: Aug 31st, 2022)
John gives us a recap on what has transpired over the last 12 days. He and Nathalie discuss what beekeeping would be like without your sense of smell. Also, the Black Bear!
(Original Air Date: Aug 24th, 2022)
We all have our challenges as we first start our beekeeping journey, but it might surprise you to know that even long seasoned and experienced beekeepers still have challenges that we face on a regular basis. This can change from year to year and person to person, but there is always something new to learn or a challenge to overcome. Tune in now to learn what current challenges face John and Nathalie in their own practices...
(Original Air Date: Aug 10th, 2022)
Can you use a Tangential Extractor to get honey from a Topbar Comb without destroying the comb? This week, Nathalie and John discuss the tricks and patience that would be needed to pull off such a feat. Plus, is extracting the honey to save the comb for the bees really worth all the effort? Tune in now to find out...
(Original Air Date: Aug 3rd, 2022)
For this week's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John discuss a research paper written by Emily Nordic and James Ellis on the efficacy of pollen substitutes in honey bee colonies. You can read the article yourself prior to listening, or tune in now to hear their thoughts on this pollen sub-ject.
(Original Air Date: July 27th, 2022)
For this week's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John talk about the far futuristic technology that has been conceptualized over the last few years. From Robotic Bees to Robotic Bee Vehicles, and even fully autonomous AI powered mega bee buildings, the possibilities seem endless. But, are these future concepts really solving a problem, or perhaps creating their own unintended consequences? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: July 20,2022)
In today's Beekeeper Chat, John and Nathalie continue their discussion about the unfolding situation in Australia with the introduction of the Varroa Mite. This time the pair take a look at a recent article (link below) that implies the mites could be used as a biological weapon against feral honey bee colonies since the bees themselves could be considered an invasive species. What would the repercussions be for such an action? Tune in now to hear our beekeeper's opinions on the matter...
(Original Air Date: July 6th, 2022)
In June of 2022 the unthinkable happened... Varroa Mites were detected in New South Whales, Australia. Nathalie and John talk about what this could mean for our friends down-under, and the impacts it has already had for a few local beekeepers in the area. Is there anything that can be done, or is this the beginning of the end for the last refuge from Varroa Destructor?
(Original Air Date: June 29th, 2022)
For today's Beekeeper Chat, Nathalie and John tackle a beekeeper question based off of the recent "Ticking Timebomb" episode. John also gives an update on his new hives and the pair cover a few random extra topics to finish out the chat. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: June 22nd, 2022)
Today Nathalie and John go a bit further into the methods they are currently using to naturally convert a colony living in a Langstroth Hive over into a TopBar hive. John has put one of Nathalie's first conversion methods to the test and is already having results. The pair discuss some key points to keep in mind, plus Nathalie has a few other conversion ideas she is planning for future experimentation. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: June 15th, 2022)
In this week's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John feel like there might be something fishy in the air. John gives an update on his Apiary and re-introduction to bees, and the pair discuss how crucial it is to pay attention to descriptive words on honey labels lest you end up buying something fishy. Oh, yeah, and Bees are Fish too!
**Correction: In the first portion of this episode John is talking about his battle with Carpenter Ants. After comparing them to Wood Ants, he then accidentally interchanges carpenter "bees" for "ants," but he was still referring to Carpenter Ants and not bees.
(Original Air Date: Jun 8th, 2022)
In this week's beekeeper chat, John gives Nathalie some scenarios that can be encountered during a hot summer dearth so that she can detail how she would personally approach each scenario. Topics include shrinking colonies, the presence of wax moth larvae, and missing queens. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: July 13th, 2020)
Today, Nathalie and John discuss a recent docu-video that talks about whether bees truly are herbivores, or if there is more going on behind the scenes… Welcome to the microscopic world of microbes, bacteria, and fungi! Tune in now to learn more about how these tiny aspects might be making a big impact on the health and lives of our honeybees.
(Original Air Date: June 1st, 2022)
In this week’s beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John tackle the sting of beekeeping. Literally, the sting, and its effects. Do you have an allergy to bee stings? Are you sure? Do you know the true definition of an allergic reaction verse a local reaction? Do you have an EpiPen, just in case, but have never been medically diagnosed as being allergic to stinging insects? Tune in now to learn more about the pros and cons of such devices, as well as how to tell if you are truly allergic to bee stings.
(Original Air Date: May 18th, 2022)
In this week's edition of the Beekeeper Chat, John and Nathalie discuss the challenges and heartache that can be experienced on both sides of being the buyer waiting to get your bees, and the seller trying to fulfill their orders. This, of course, is brought on by John's bee order being delayed again, and now at risk of being canceled completely... and he's not so sure he fully believes the reasoning behind the delays. Tune in now to get caught up on the latest from the Beeless Beekeeper!
(Original Air Date: May 11th, 2022)
In a follow-up to the Natural Beekeeping Corner episode - pt 12 - Brood Dynamics with Fonta Molyneaux, John and Nathalie discuss the concepts of what it is to be an Intuitive Beekeeper. How do you build up your own instincts so that you can be a better collaborator with your bees? Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: May 4th, 2022)
In today’s beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John discuss the concepts of 3D Printed Hives. What styles are out there? What possible side-effects could the materials hold for the bees? Are they truly an option for every beekeeper, and should they even be considered if they were? Can they really help to “Save the Bees?” Tune in now to learn more…
(Original Air Date: April 27th, 2022)
Don’t let all the fluff and random banter between these two beekeepers lull you into a false sense of security, as the main subject matter of this episode could be triggering for anyone who has a problem with little creepy crawlies. Today, Nathalie and John discuss a variety of topics ranging from updates on John’s lack of bees; a study on bananas in hives; Topbar hives in northern climates; chickens for pest control; and of course the pest themselves… Ticks! Scorpions, roaches, and maggots also get a special mention in this creep show of a crawly little episode as well. So, grab your favorite bug repellant and settle in for a potentially unsettling conversation. Don’t look now, but I think there’s something crawling up your arm…
(Original Air Date: April 20th, 2022)
In today's beekeeper chat, John has a variety of things on his mind. Well, Varietal Honey things to be specific. Nathalie and John talk through the concept of varietal honey and the processes that can be taken to achieve you goals. Though, they also pose a few questions about the realities of the process along the way. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: April 2022)
In this latest beekeeper chat, John talks about surviving April Fools day and gives an update on Ken. Nathalie and John then discuss the way comb is naturally built by bees and the different directions it goes during the process. Perhaps this knowledge can also help you when planning your hive expansions and colony growth.
(Original Air Date: April 2022)
In this edition of our Beekeeper Chats, Nathalie and John discuss some of the disturbing setbacks that have occurred with the banning of harmful pesticides. Though it is jokingly called a conspiracy in the title, its really more like blatant disregard.
(Original Air Date: March 16th, 2022)
John starts off today's beekeeper chat with a rant about certain people being selected to represent beekeepers on a world stage. Oddly enough, this does somehow transition over into discussions about how selecting for the wrong things in our beekeeping practices can cause unintended consequences, even when we think we are doing it for the right reasons. Tune in now to learn more!
(Original Air Date: March 2nd, 2022)
Is killing your queen and replacing her really the answer to all beekeeping issues? Hopefully you know the answer to that is a resounding NO. But, just in case you are curious when might be a good time to pinch your queen, and when you should leave her to rule in peace, Nathalie and John tackle some scenarios that help you develop your own beekeeping intuition based on other evidence that the colony might be presenting, or is found in your surroundings. Tune in now to learn more!
(Original Air Date: Feb 23rd, 2022)
In this beekeepers chat, Nathalie and John expand on the concepts of Bias in Beekeeping that were touched on in the main segment episode titled “NBC pt 10 – James Lee.” What other ways does bias show up and how does it affect our own practices and our views of others? Tune in now to learn more…
(Original Air Date: Feb 9th, 2022)
For this beekeeper chat, Natalie and John tackle the concept of keeping bees in plastic bottles as shown on a popular YouTube video. Did their heads spin in circles and explode as they watched the video? Perhaps initially. But... after watching the full video can they find some redeeming aspects to what they see? Tune in now to find out more...
For today's beekeeper chat, John attempts to read (and fails several times) a research article on the nutraceutical values of honey that Nathalie brought to his attention. The pair discuss points of interest that they each found of value in the published research paper, and touch on a couple of questions they might have about some of the research and its potential meaning.
In this week’s beekeeper chat, John and Nathalie discuss a 2019 research article that indicates queen bees not only have control over fertilization of eggs, but also can influence the egg size as well. The initial findings from this research show that eggs laid in queen cells were actually larger and weighed more than eggs laid in worker cells. Could this tie back in to the concept of a royal genetic code or bloodline? Tune in now to hear more!
In today’s beekeeper chat, John and Nathalie talk about the aspects of storage and space management and how it relates to both the type of hives you keep, as well as your own management practices. Can space management also equate to better time management? Tune in now to learn more!
(Original Air Date: Dec 22, 2021)
In this latest edition of the Beekeeper Chats, John and Nathalie discuss the difference between individual bee immunity vs colony immunity and how these two aspects work together to help ensure the survival of the entire superorganism.
(Original Air Date: Dec 8th, 2021)
What would beekeeping look like if it were done more from the perspective of the bee's natural preferences? That is the concept of bee-centric beekeeping, where as many aspects as possible are lined up more in favor of what is best for the bee and not necessarily geared toward the convenience of the beekeeper. Tune in now to learn more!
(Original Air Date: Nov 25, 2021)
Based on a comment from a listener, today’s episode focuses on the ideals of treatment free beekeeping and whether or not those ideals can cross lines over into areas such as Anti-Vaccine. Though one might like to draw a parallel between the two subjects, they are actually very much perpendicular to one another and cannot be fairly compared. Is treating your bees the same as giving a human a life saving vaccine or immune boosting shot? Tune in now to hear our opinions on this matter.
(Original Air Date: Nov 17th, 2021)
In this edition of our Beekeeper Chats, Nathalie and John tackle the subject of Honey Adulteration and the ethics that should be used when handling, marketing, and selling your own honey.
(Original Air Date: Nov 3rd, 2021)
For this week's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John talk about the concept of moving/relocation an established hive to a new location. Whether it is just a few feet, across your yard, down the road, to the next county, or out of state... planning is important when moving an established colony and there are a few key aspects that translate to all scenarios.
(Original Air Date: Oct 27th, 2021)
In this beekeeper chat session, Nathalie and John discuss how important it is to always be striving to learn new aspects of your favorite hobby - beekeeping! This includes ways to help you discern quality educational sources and information from all the other noise that is out there flooding our daily lives. Knowing that your information is coming from a reputable source will help maximize your learning without spending excess time trying to decipher the validity of the information being presented.
(Original Air Date: Oct 20th, 2021)
In today's beekeeper chat, Nathalie and John tackle the different wavelengths of a theoretical topic... the effects of EMF on Honeybees. Do different frequencies have a positive or negative effect on bees? Can an electromagnetic field doom the cognitive functions of bees? Honestly, we have no idea. But, it doesn't mean we can't apply our own experiences to the subject and theorize about it all the same!
(Original Air Date: Oct 13th, 2021)
For the 16th segment in our Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie sits down with John to talk about her latest Hybrid Hive style where she has combined a permanent Langstroth hive box onto a Topbar Hive body to give beekeepers the options of moving from one to the other, and gaining the best of both worlds. Tune in now to learn more!
In this episode our beekeepers, John and Nathalie, discuss the value of late season swarms and the cost they could pose to a beekeeper. However, could they also be put to other uses to help prepare for winter? What other things should be considered when doing our fall preparations, and when should you combine hives? Tune in to our beekeeper chat to learn about these topics and more!
(Original Air Date: Oct 6th, 2021)
Join Nathalie and John as they dissect a theological social media post that they both feel was a bit presumptuous and more than a little uninformed. Whether you agree or not, this is a great thought experiment for you to use to do some self-reflecting on how you view your direct impact and relationship to your bees.
(Original Air Date: Sept 22nd, 2021)
Its time for another Beekeeper Chat... Nathalie and John as they talk about the various aspects of what a beekeeping business might entail. How can you make money with bees? What aspects speak most to you and how can you use that to your advantage? Tune in now to learn more about some of the basic revenue opportunities when working with bees.
(Original Air Date: Sept 15th, 2021)
Join Nathalie and John and they discuss some common pitfalls that you will inevitably encounter while pursuing your beekeeping adventures.
(Original Air Date: Sept 8th, 2021)
(Original Air Date: Sept 21st, 2021)
Following the final episode of Season 3 of The Hive Jive, John and Nathalie sit down for an unscripted chat about their views on beekeeping and provide some advice for new beekeepers. Welcome to the first of many Beekeeper Chats!
For the 15th segment in our Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie sits down with Bruce Rodriguez from Swarmstead Bees and Gardening to discuss catching swarms to increase his hive numbers, his process when catching swarms, and his views on natural beekeeping... Tune in now to learn more!
(Original Air Date: April 22nd 2021)
Continuing over from the main segment episode where Tara taught us about the uses of Propolis, this bonus episode contains all the random tangents that the group got sidetracked with during the interview process. Needless to say, these were originally cut from the main episode in order to keep it under an hour long. So… tune in now to hear more about Tara’s baby news, Ken’s future cooking episode ideas, moving 25 hives across the state of Texas, desperate stories from trying to seal up hives, the group’s least favorite beekeeping month, people who inflate bee numbers, strange swarm calls, and Tara’s take on a certain individual who portrays poor beekeeping safety practices on social media.
(Original Air Date: April 15th 201)
Today the guys talk about Ken’s Topbar that had a massive beard on the front. Could this be showing signs of swarming, or were they just trying to cool down? John discusses queen cups vs queen cells, and where they can be found for swarm purposes, as well as entrance discs being left on Queen Exclude. Ever heard of Drone Berries? Well, you will know what they are if you have a Topbar with an excluder and John explains why that occurs. The guys also discuss the internal dimensions of a Topbar and why a narrower interior can cause issues, thickness of hives and how it can throw off your final build, and even some tips about comb/bar rotation. Tune in now for these topics and more on this Hive Jive Junkie bonus episode!
(Original Air Date: Jan 21st 201)
In this episode Ken and John discuss a few things to consider this mid-winter, as well as tackling a listener question about what to consider when looking to expand your apiary into multiple locations. Tune in now to hear how the guy’s hives are doing and maybe you will find a thing or two that you can consider as well.
(Original Air Date: Dec 17th, 2020)
Can you guess the theme of this episode? John and Ken discuss bees using feces as a deterrent against giant hornets, they also discuss a bad book review, and have a brief talk about Ken's procrastination about combining colonies for winter prep. Put on your wading boots, cause this one might get a bit messy.
(Original Air Date: Nov19th, 2020)
John discusses the pros, cons, and potential pitfalls of laying the groundwork for a future notification system to beekeepers in the state of TX for when pesticides are going to be utilized in their area. Part of this comes back to hive locations technically being considered trade secrets, or proprietary information. Does volunteering to participate in such a list invalidate your right to keep your hive locations a secret? The guys also discuss some of the other challenges that this year has brought to the forefront, and how they might need to restructure their plans for the next season in order to adapt.
(Original Air Date: Nov12th, 2020)
The guys discuss more about bees being prone to robbing this time of year, as well as clearing up some confusion about which comb/bees should be used when doing mite checks. Oh, and Hats are now a thing!
(Original Air Date: Nov 5th, 2020)
In this episode John details how he "Almost" won the 2020 Honey Show with the exception of one small oversite. Minor details are key, as are major ones when entering into a true honey show. The guys also discuss a few more thoughts on their recent honey tasting, plus cautions about late fall robbing!
(Original Air Date: Dec 24th, 2020)
Ken and John are joined by a surprise guest, Max Milam, Ken's Son! (It was a surprise for Max as he had no idea he was about to be dragged into the show.) The guys talk about some recent developments in their lives, and Max and John poke fun at Ken's front porch beekeeping. Hope you have a very Happy Holiday Season!
(Original Air Date: Oct 22nd, 2020)
In this episode John discusses how prolific honey adulteration really is in today's marketplace and how it affects us all. It can be difficult for backyard beekeepers to feel like they even have a chance to compete with the prices they see in the supermarkets, but the key is to shift the focus and better educate your consumers... one at a time. Ken also give some updates on his ongoing efforts to combine colonies to help ensure they successfully overwinter this season.
(Original Air Date: Oct 8th, 2020 with Updated Content from Dec 22rd, 2022)
In the old school style of the season one bonus episodes, this segment covers a lot of ground... The guys talk about their thoughts from their Honey Tasting episode, the challenges (or advantages) of open mated genetics and how they can influence the bee despite the queen type, how some social media people might be running a long con in order to gain followers with shock value at the expense of innocent peoples safety, and a few stories of misadventures in the bee yards. Plus - Stay tuned after the episode for a direct update from John about whether his feelings have changed about she who shall not be named...
Note - For those of you with youngsters that listen along with you, the "S" bomb is dropped multiple times in this episode.
(Original Air Date: Sept 24th, 2020)
After a hard spring and summer, Ken has finally come to the conclusion that next season it might be a better idea to focus on the quality of his remaining hives as opposed to the overall number of hives he can accumulate.
(Original Air Date: Sept 10th, 2020)
The world has really gone bananas. Or at least some of the beekeepers sure have! Every so many years there are these miracle cures and wonder elixirs that make their rounds on the internet. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in them as we all would love a simple cure all solution to life’s problems. Rarely, though, is that the case. Bananas are one such magical cure all that is seeing its time in the spotlight again. But, this isn’t for us… no. It’s for our bees! (Or is it?) Tune in now to hear what all the fuss is about and see if it is really worth going bananas over this latest fad.
John has a few things he would like to share with you before we round out 2022. Tune in now to hear his podcast recommendation, updates about The Hive Jive itself, and what to expect in the coming weeks.
For this month's Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie breaks down the first two stages of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) for natural beekeeping and goes into detail about how each stage can be implemented into your own natural practices.
Welcome to a grizzly tail from the forest... ok, so not really grizzly (though the bees would beg to differ), but it does involve a bear. A Black Bear to be specific! Tune in now and listen along as John details his first encounter with a Black Bear and the path of devastation it left behind.
Today John gives us an update on the current state of his health, and poses a question based on one of his current COVID related symptoms. What would beekeeping be like without the sense of smell?
For the 13th installment of the Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie sits down with Les Crowder to discuss the current events that are unfolding in Australia with the introduction of Varroa Destructor. The pair offer up some natural beekeeping solutions that can be used to both help check for and reduce mite populations in an effort to provide a little bit of hope to our fiends Down Under. Tune in now to learn more...
(Original Air Date: Sept 3rd, 2020)
Some listeners recently shared an article about a 17-year-old young lady who has invented a new entrance portal that will help treat bees for mites as they pass through the portal. John and Ken discuss the potential pros and cons of this concept. The guys also talk more about Ken’s swarms and if he should be combining his hives, and if so, which queens to keep and which to say goodbye to. Plus, some updates and sneak peeks about things to come!
(Original Air Date: Aug 27th, 2020)
Apparently, based solely on the sounds of their voices and their redneck speak, someone thought that John and Ken both had long thick beards. Think, Duck Dynasty! LOL Of course, we couldn’t let such a thing just pass on by without comment. The guys also discuss some of the exciting changes and additions that are currently in the works for The Hive Jive. Tune in now to find out more!
(Original Air Date: Aug 20th, 2020)
A little while back, a listener commented on a social media post and asked if we were ever going to discuss the single box method. To which, John has responded by staring at the screen and scratching his head in confusion... for weeks on end. "What exactly do you mean?" he wonders to himself. Is this a reference to a literal single box of bees, no expansions, nothing else? Or is this just a way to refer to raising bees in a single brood box with a queen excluder on top? Today, the guys ponder this statement, much to no avail. LOL
(Original Air Date: Aug 13, 2020)
In this episode, John and Ken learn about one of the oldest intact Apiaries to ever be discovered on an archaeological dig in Israel. They guys also discuss the bizarre possibility of bees making a hive out of an active underground septic system, and talk about some culturally sensitive and possibly inappropriate naming conventions.
(Original Air Date: Aug 6, 2020)
In this bonus episode, John learns a startling revelation about the infamous (and still not assembled) Flow Hive. The guys also discuss the appearance of late season swarms, and whether they are worth the effort or not.
(Original Air Date: July 30, 2020)
In what is a rather quick episode, we talk about going slow and steady. Ha! Ken discusses his most recent bee removal from a water meter box, how Max’s beekeeping diligence differs from his own, as well as a new swarm caught out at his brother's property. John tries to remind Ken that there is truth to Max’s methods and that going slow and steady in all aspects of beekeeping is how you win the race.
(Original Air Date: July 9, 2020)
In this bonus episode, John continues his talk with Steve Jimenez from Hives for Heroes. This conversation picks up directly from where the main podcast episode left off. Despite the main episode being completed, the mics kept recording and the camera kept rolling as the discussion carried on.
(Original Air Date: July 2, 2020)
From horse and cow manure to misrepresented TP and even a few crappy people, this episode sure does have a lot of toilet talk. There’s also a few bad words too… Well poo!
(Original Air Date: June 25, 2020)
The colonies have divided and sent out multiple potential new colonies as Swarmageddon sets in out at Ken's place. Could this be a repeat of last year’s crazy swarms that Ken and John experienced at the lake? Only time will tell, but it sure had Ken all riled up as they start to run out of swarm traps.
(Original Air Date: June 18, 2020)
John recounts a recent bee removal with some really testy bees and their shady neighbors. Plus, we take another shot at identifying the difference between Swarm Cells vs Supersedure Cells vs Emergency Cells.
(Original Air Date: June 11, 2020)
It is now June and for many regions the nectar flow is now at its peak, but it won’t last forever. In fact, for some of us, we are running out of time to maximize this year’s honey crop! Is Ken going to be ready? Will he get any honey? Does he know how to count his boxes? Tune in to find out these burning questions and more…
For the 12th installment of the Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie sits down with Fonta Molyneaux from Wild Everlasting Farm to discuss Brood Dynamics and how to optimize your natural beekeeping for your own specific region. This is a great conversation to help lead you down the path to becoming a more intuitive and instinctual beekeeper. Tune in now to learn more…
Today John poses a challenge to any interested beekeeper out there who might be willing to do a little research. We've always heard how much honey it takes for the bees to make wax. But, we never hear how much wax a colony actually needs. Someone should really figure this out to help fill in the gap of knowledge and understand of our bee statistics. Are you up for the challenge?
Nathalie B. takes us on a journey of sustainably raising your own queens right in your backyard. She discusses the difference between commercial queens vs locally raised queens, as well as the reasons you might consider requeening a colony to begin with. Plus, Nathalie walks us through the process of the 2 into 3 split! Tune in now to learn more…
Join us, as we look back from 2062 and thank you all for forty years of Hive Jive in our lives.
Nathalie B. sits down with James Lee, a natural beekeeper and licensed clinical social worker who founded the Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan, to discuss the cognitive bias and dissonance that can be found in all human interactions. Can we find a way to have tolerance for other beekeeping styles (and humanity) by empathizing with our fellow beekeepers instead of assuming they are wrong because their goals and fears do not line up with our own? This episode strives to spark an intelligent discussion on how we can all learn from each other, how we can find common ground even whether we prefer to treat or not treat our bees, and how natural, sustainable beekeeping can be discussed positively without beekeepers entrenching themselves in opposite extremes. Plus, as always, a few practical tips on how to be successful with treatment-free beekeeping in your own apiary! Tune in now for a fascinating journey through human psychology and how it relates to Natural Beekeeping.
Sustainable Beekeepers Guild of Michigan www.SBGMI.org
Has John completely lost his mind? Well, that remains to be seen. Join us for a special stand-alone episode of The Hive Jive and learn all about the wild and crazy things that have taken place since we went off the air in 2021, and possibly catch a glimpse of what's still to come in 2022.
Consider this a reminder that to love and to be loved is the most important thing there is in this world. In his own words and from his personal trials, John takes us on a somber tribute to those people in our lives we have lost over the past year, and a reminder to those left behind that you are not alone. Always bee kind to one another!
(Original Air Date: June 4th, 2020)
In their latest misadventures, Ken comes across an ice chest full of bees, and John is called to a swarm that has over 5 virgin queens in it!
(Original Air Date: May 28th, 2020)
Its time for another Random Clips episode. Just like the title implies, these clips are random and don't necessarily have anything to do with one another. They are all items that originally were left on the cutting room floor and didn’t make the final version. But now you can hear some of these behind the scenes moments and pick up on some of the randomness that goes on when you're not listening.
(Original Air Date: May 21st, 2020)
In this bonus episode John continues his rant from the main segment about the irresponsible beekeeper and the chaos the "Bad Bees" caused; while Ken recounts the rest of the story of Max’s attempt at catching and dispatching with a bad queen, and tries to keep straight all the different races of queens they now have.
(Original Air Date: May 14th, 2020)
Ken and John question the new temp soundboard operator, Shannon, about her thoughts on the show, as well as her experience with Honey. The guys also discuss Ken's ongoing trap-out scenario and the logistics of if he's already gotten all the bees in such a short time.
(Original Air Date: May 7th, 2020) The saga continues with Ken and Max and their re-queening attempts. Plus, does the color of your bee really matter?
(Original Air Date: May 1st, 2020)
The trial-and-error part of the learning curve continues as Ken and Max attempt their first round of re-queening on a hive that originally contained feral stock. John and Ken discuss this, as well as Ken's new Chickens!
(Original Air Date: April 23rd, 2020)
While we continue our Quarantines with horrible audio quality, Ken has been working on more trap-outs from old oak trees that are going to be knocked down and Max is still putting up swarm traps around the land. Ken still has the swarm commander in this truck, of course, and John has something to say about that. John also reminds Ken what an inspection actually is, and talks about the unexpected nectar dearth that hit Central Texas.
For our 9th installment of the Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie is again joined by Les Crowder as the pair discuss ideas based on an article from 2020 titled “Natural Selection, Selective Breeding, and Evolution of Resistance of Honey Bees – Apis Mellifera – against Varro.” Do the findings of the article line up with Les’ view points on natural beekeeping, and what does this mean for the future of beekeeping?
(Original Air Date: April 9th, 2020)
Ken and Max had a heck of a week trying to work their bees. So much so that Max has flipped from keeping the feral stock to wanting to requeen them all. Tune in now to hear about how it all went haywire.
The social distancing and lock-down of Austin continues, so the guys carry on with their telecommute remote broadcast… In this episode they discuss some of the various projects that Ken and Max has gotten themselves into, including a Trap Out of a couple different colonies. John gives a bit more insight into how that type of process really works. Tune in now to learn how to get yourself into some sticky situations. (Original Air Date: April 2nd, 2020)
In this latest edition of the Natural Beekeeping Corner, Les Crowder joins Nathalie for a chat about Hive Intensity Thresholds verses available forage in a region. The pair also discuss some aspects of how important the queen is to your natural beekeeping practices, as well as a plea for beekeepers to resist the urge to purchase and resale honey from commercial operations when you are running low on your own honey supplies. Tune in now to learn more!
John and Ken talk about some of the current events and John gives a high level walkthrough of a bee removal from a shed floor, and if you toss in a little crazy talk about smoke you will have rounded out this Bonus Episode! (Original Air Date: March 26th, 2020)
In random string of thought fashion, this episode covers Ken's discover of Tom Seeley and his books; his incoming packages of bees; to treat or not to treat your hives; and even a little background on pure mated bloodlines in queens! Tune in now to learn all about it. (Original Air Date: March 19th, 2020)
We continue our conversation with Mary Reed, Chief Apiary Inspector for the state of Texas where we join the gang amid a fit of laughter. All bets are off pretty much right from the start as the group tries to compose themselves. But, there are some great bits of information that sneaks in there between the outburst of laughter. Oh, and did we mention the Beedazzled Queens? Yes. It’s a queen. It needs a crown!
What happens when you take the motor cowling from an 85 horsepower V4 Johnson outboard boat motor and turn it into a swarm trap? Well, we don’t actually know. However, Ken and his son Max are willing to find out! Tune in now as Ken and John discuss this, and a few other random topics to round out a truly random bonus episode. (Original Air Date: March 5th, 2020)
Bees employ various strategies in order to fend off pest and diseases. Join Nathalie as she discusses how bees do this naturally at both the colony and individual level and how this understanding can help you choose bees that will give you the best chances of success in your natural beekeeping endeavors.
Grab yourself a slice of strawberry cake and pull up a chair while Ken and John ramble on. Did you know that a bad combo of bee genetics can be the cause of a spotty brood pattern? Could Ken finally get his Bahama Mama? You’ll have to go brave the DropBears to find an Australian Penguin in order to get the answers. Well, that… or you could just tune in to this bonus episode. (Original Air Date: Feb 27th, 2020)
Join John and Ken in cabin 13 just off the shore of lake Buchanan as they discuss Ken's absence from the last main episode, his surgery, and him missing out on all the studio fun. This includes a little PSA for Men and prostate issues. Ken also gets to taste the Jerrabomberra Urban Honey for the first time. For longtime listeners of the show, this is where his obsession with Jerrabomberra honey started. (Original Air Date: Feb 20, 2020)
Who knew that clover and alfalfa could cause such a fuss? Well, John is happy to tell us all about it while he vents about a recent encounter he had on this bonus episode... (Original Air Date: Feb 12th, 2020)
(Original Air Date: Feb 6th, 2020) This episode has it all… no till gardening, potato tipping which is not to be confused with cow tipping, planting by the phase of the moon, paper cows, and even purple mushrooms! Oh, and bees of course.
(Original Air Date: Jan 30th, 2020) In a fully hyped-up caffeinated sugar high type of morning, the guys are in rare form. They run through a series of seemingly unrelated (though mostly bee related) topics from commercial beekeeping routes, to pesticide usage, and even a couple of rants about social media influences who do more of a disservice to their followers than they might realize. Bees on Tinder anyone?
In this 6th segment of our Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie talks about some of the key factors that are often attributed to honey bee colony decline… namely Varroa Mites and Viruses. However, could there be more to it than just that? Nathalie challenges you to look beyond the forest, so to speak, and think a little bit about the unintended consequences that can come from other sources, like pesticides and even mite treatments.
(Original Air Date: Jan 22nd, 2020) The guys are suffering from delirium after the never-ending listener question episode, and todays topic seems to reflect just that. Yep, Alien Bees! Don’t worry though, they also talk a bit about mites, and hive beetles too. Enjoy your latest bonus episode.
(Original Air Date Jan 15th, 2020) Welcome to your first new Bonus episode for all you Hive Jive Junkies out there. Ken and John figured they should just start off with a bang, and what better way than by insulting two very large groups of people... Commercial Beekeepers and Vegans! How dare they!
It is time to say goodbye to yesterday… Season three of the podcast comes to a close and as the guys wrap up this little beginner beekeeping adventure that has spanned the last three years, they recap on where the show started and some of the milestones along the way, all the while paying tribute to our beloved redneck who allowed us all to join him on his journey to becoming a beekeeper… Mr. Ken Milam.
Today John is joined once again by Miss Tara Chapman from Two Hives Honey. Tara teaches us about honey crystallization, what it means, and the four main factors that contribute to this process. This is key knowledge to help you better understand the process, how you can use it to your advantage, and how to better educate the end consumer about your honey. The pair also catch up on current life events and share some successes and challenges from this beekeeping season. Tune in now for one exceptional interview!
This year’s honey harvest has come and gone, and it is leaving a few tears in its wake. John discusses how the main apiary did this year, or rather, how much it didn’t do at all. The bizarre weather patterns have definitely taken their toll on the nectar flow and John gives a few stark examples of how much of an impact it will have on this year’s honey sales. If you’re feeling the strain this season, tune in now and join in on the harvest woes.
This episode coils up and strikes at the heart of a slippery subject… Snakes in the bee yard. There are all kinds of different critters out there that we often don’t notice as we go about our bee business, focused on what has become a habitual process of tasks. But that doesn’t mean that those critters don’t notice us as we go about our work. Some of these critters might cause us to do way more harm to ourselves then they ever could on their own as we try to escape a sudden unexpected encounter. But a few of these critters can pose a great danger to the unaware beekeeper who is focused on their routine and not paying attention to their surroundings. Tune in now to hear a few close encounters of the slithering kind and remember to be mindful of your surroundings when out in nature.
Recently the gang got together to host a LIVE Natural Beekeeping question and answer session. Nathalie and John answer questions ranging from keeping survivor stock, to doing brood breaks, and even hive inspection frequency. Tune in now to hear this and more for this months Natural Beekeeping Corner.
In this episode the guys discuss some of the challenges this season has presented with some areas having a sparse nectar flow and the decisions that beekeepers might be faced with because of those circumstances. John gives a reminder on colonies shutting down brood production during periods of extreme heat and periods of dearth, and a thought experiment in possible queen issues. Plus, its time for another stop by Ken’s Cooking Corner! Tune in now for this and more!
In this round of listener questions we hear from Mike B., Jared M., Ben I., and Connor S. Topics include how to not go broke doing removals, bees not drawing wax on foundation, using all deep boxes, insulating hives for winter, and open feeding. Tune in now for a smorgasbord of beekeeping information!
The guys have some corrections they need to make regarding speculations that were made in last week’s episodes. It turns out not all of the pertinent information was provided regarding Ken’s recent HopGuard III experience and this omission completely changes the outcome of that conversation. John then proceeds to carry that same message through the rest of the episode to try and drive the point home one last time. Granted, after three years, he may just be beating a dead horse… so to speak.
In this very extended episode, the guys go back and cover a few items that they had meant to include in previous episodes but kept forgetting. Ken is up to his old tricks of pulling things out of left field which will keep everyone on their toes, and John discusses how the bees will backfill into the brood nest this time of year and what that means. Plus, it is the first episode for July, which means it is time for another Natural Beekeeping Corner segment. This month, Nathalie is joined by Les Crowder! The pair will discuss the background Les comes from as well as his approach to Natural Beekeeping. Tune in now for this extended episode!
Today the guys are prompted by Jacob to discuss some important questions you should ask if you are considering buying used equipment. Ken has a question about swarm traps and direction the entrance should be facing. Plus, it is time for another edition of Ken’s Cooking Corner. So tune in now to hear these topics and a few other tidbits in your weekly dose of Bee infotainment.
John and Ken talk about potentially relocating some of Ken’s swarms out to his remote property and implementing some selective breeding and re-queening. John tells the story of a recent hive relocation due to the bee's extreme defensive behaviors. Ken has also had a swarm move into a two-inch thick Topbar hive that he had setting outside his house and his wife says it needs to move… so the guys discuss the best method and timing needed in order to accomplish that. Plus, Ken has been reading online and thinks a colony might have had American Foul Brood. Could this be possible? Tune in now to find out.
A lot of drama has happened in the social media version of the beekeeping world while John was lost on a plane, so he gives us an update on the current backlash being experienced by a certain TikTok influencer. The guys also address a couple of listener questions from Ryan in Indiana regarding building pollen feeders and mowing near your hives. And there is some random info in here regarding different painful stings that the guys have experienced between bees and wasps, as well as a couple of little bugs that you cannot see until you do see them. Wait. What?
In this fourth installment of the Natural Beekeeping Corner Nathalie takes us on a tour of “The Peoples Hives.” What is this you ask? Well, tune in now to find out what hive style this might be and why Nathalie believes it is the hive of the future and can allow anyone to be a beekeeper.
In this episode John elaborates on a recent listener question about queen math. This leads into some discussion about queen rearing and a few tips and trip on using the Nicot queen rearing system. The guys also discuss some of the challenges that can be encountered by the queen on her nuptial flights that might reduce the chances of her successfully making it home, as well as some recent trends where new queens are immediately superseded by the colonies. Tune in now to learn more!
The guys discuss a recent news article about “Millions of Bees” dying after “being left in a UPS truck for weeks.” Like many beekeepers our there, John and Ken have both had their own run-ins with shipping related issues, and if you keep bees long enough, you likely will as well. This topic leads to other ways that shipping can cause issues for your beekeeping business and what things you might want to take into consideration. Tune in now to learn more!
World Bee Day is coming on May 20th. Join the gang as they speak with Jonna Sanders to learn more about the history of World Bee Day and Slovenian beekeeping. If you were not already aware, World Bee Day is the brainchild of the Slovenian Beekeeping Association, Čebelarska zveza Slovenija. Slovenia is doing some truly revolutionary work in honeybee science and education. Tune in now to learn more!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/world-bee-day-tickets-142278297217?aff=ebdssbonlinesearch
In this episode, John discusses the concept of excess drawn wax comb creating a hoarding desire in the bees. This is where generating extra drawn frames during your first two to three years of beekeeping starts to come back into play and can allow you to greatly increase your honey harvest. Keep in mind though, the tactics discussed in this episode will only work if your colony is strong enough to guard the additional space, and your nectar flow is in full swing. John also touches on the timing for adding boxes intended for cut comb or ross round honeycomb. Tune in now to learn more!
In our third installment of the Natural Beekeeping Corner, Nathalie walks us through the differences between commercial beekeeping practices vs the urban backyard beekeeper. She also covers the benefits of local genetics of bees vs imported genetics, as well as how to do sustainable splits of your existing colonies using the two into three method.
In this special edition of The Hive Jive, John takes us through the history of “Telling the Bees.” For centuries, cultures the world round have had their version of telling the bees about significant life events within their family. Most times, this act especially applied to notifying the bees of a death within the family. However, bees were also told of other events in the family such as marriages, births, and new household members coming to live with the family. As John takes us through this history, he weaves in his own recent experience with this old-world tradition.
Ever been in the situation where you desperately need to find a queen in order to do a split or because you are trying to re-queen a colony and you need her gone, but can’t find her no matter how hard you try? Well in this episode John details a few hail-Mary tricks that you can use if you absolutely must find an elusive queen who has been eluding you thus far. The guys also discuss the use of Oxalic Acid vaporization and its proclaimed effectiveness, as well as a brilliant idea that Nathalie has come up with for transferring a Langstroth Nuc into a Topbar Hive. Plus, its time for another edition of Ken’s Cooking Corner where he gives us his experimental Honey Cake recipe. Tune in now to get your weekly dose of Hive Jive!
This week the guys are joined by Tara Chapman of Two Hives Honey to discuss the uses of propolis. Most beekeepers have a love-hate relationship with this dark sticky substance as it gets on everything and it does not ever seem to come back off. Despite being a sticky pain for some beekeepers, hopefully we all realize the great importance that it plays in the lives of the bees and how it helps to create and maintain a healthy hive. However, what can we as beekeepers do with this substance once we scrape a ball out of the hive during a routine inspection? Well tune in now as Tara walks us through some of the wonderous possibilities that propolis can hold for an industrious beekeeper.
Sometimes you might find yourself in a situation where you might need to do a split, but you don’t really want to increase your total number of full-sized colonies. Or, perhaps you often find yourself where a few of your colonies always seem to need a boost. Well, this is where the beauty of creating a Nuc as a resource hive can come in handy. Tune in now as the guys discuss these concepts, as well as a high level overview of double screened boards and Snelgrove boards and how they can be used in processes like these.
It is the first episode of April and Ken seems to be missing in action. Could it be a delayed April Fool’s day joke? John does a quick recap of the topics from the first part of this year, and touches on the key aspects to be focused on as Spring unfolds. Plus, its time for our second Natural Beekeeping corner and Nathalie breaks down the concepts of the Integrated Pest Management process, or IPM for short. Tune in now!
Spring is finally starting to show its beautiful face, despite the calendar stating it should have started a few weeks ago now. The flowers are finally starting to bloom, albeit not in the quantities that Central Texas has seen in Springs of the past few years. But at least the blooms are coming, and the bees are happily bringing in natural pollen once again. This sparks an unplanned conversation about some of the differences between the artificial pollen substitutes and natural pollen when it comes to the actual protein count of each. The guys also discuss pre and pro biotics that would be found naturally occurring on pollen from flowers vs the substitutes, as well as a brief touch on building big strong colonies for honey production verses splitting to make more hives. Plus, it is time for another segment of Ken’s Cooking Corner. Tune in now to learn more!
Ken is making plans to finally move some of his Langstroth colonies to his property located several counties away from his home apiary. But, since beekeeping is typically a weekly event at this time of year, how does one go about trying to manage a growing colony when you are several hours away and likely will not see your colonies but maybe once a month? John and Ken talk through some of the initial concepts to plan for such an adventure. The guys also discuss how to re-wax the plastic core foundation in an effort to get the bees to fully draw out comb on the plastic, as well as the potential effects of a prolonged La Nina weather pattern.
Today the guys are joined again by Steve Jimenez with Hives for Heroes to discuss all of the amazing progress the organization has made over the last year. Hives for Heroes exists to help empower veterans thru beekeeping and they have managed to grow their organization to now represent all 50 of the United States in North America. This is quite the impressive feat and a massive influx of growth since we last talked with them. Tune in now to hear more about the program and see how you can help do your part to save the bees while saving a life!
This might surprise you, but the answer to all of your questions is Drones. Yep! You might not have even know that you were asking a question, but the answer is still Drones. Drones are the key to a lot of crucial decisions both for a colony and a beekeeper this time of year. But how do you know when you have a sufficient number of drones to start making those decisions? Well, get our your calculators and calendars because we are about to enter the game of drones.
Spring is approaching for some sooner rather than others, and they guys are scheming and plotting what their first moves should be coming out of this winter. However, what are some of the things to consider before you start taking any actual actions with your colonies? Tune now to find out… Plus, its time for the first segment of our Natural Beekeeping Corner with Nathalie B!
The guys poke their heads out for the first time after the historic winter blast that nearly crippled Texas. Did all their colonies survive? Only time will tell as the ice and snow begins to melt and the guys are able to finally get out and do some initial evaluations to see what possible losses they might be facing. Plus, its time for Ken’s first Cooking Corner segment!
Though most of the northern U.S. has already been in the grips of winter for a while, a Polar Vortex has plunged everyone into a deep freeze unlike anything those of us in the far south have experienced in over a decade. What does this mean for our bees? Does this type of weather phenomenon affect all colonies across the country the same, or is there more to it than just the drop in temperatures? Tune in now to learn more about this subject and more!
The guys are back for their first episode of 2021 and they might just have a few opinions to share. They discuss the effects of different invasive species and a current push to release the Chinese Flea Beetle in order to eradicate the invasive Chinese Tallow Tree in the Texas and other states in the U.S. They also introduce a couple of new segments that will become a regular part of this third season. Tune in now!
There may have been a few moments when the mics were still live while the guys catch up with each other over recent events, upcoming projects, and a few strong opinions about some new TV shows. Tune in now if you'd like to hear some random chatter.
Ken and John sit down for their final main segment episode for 2020 as they ring in the Holiday Season. We find out who the winners were for Ken's Fruitcakes, as well as discuss an email from down under and talk about possibly building an AZ hive. Happy Holidays Everyone!
What is an acceptable drop rate during the winter, and how can you tell if finding dead bees at the entrance is normal or a sign of problems inside the hive? Also, its that time of year again and Ken has succumbed to his fruitcake madness!
Welcome to our first LIVE (at the time of recording at least) Listener Questions episode. In this installment the guys are joined by Jake from NE, Rachel from Oz, Frank from the UK, and JeffreyAnn, as well as several other members who were listening and chatting along in the comments section during the event. The guys tackle questions about good balling of queens by worker bees, knowing if you are feeding too much or not enough, inverting combs from removals to discourage usage, reclaiming frames of dark comb, consideration for queen rearing, and pointers when looking for good land, among other topics that pop up along the way.
Winter is finally making its first appearance in central Texas with our first freeze on the way. But, does Ken have his colonies all prepped and ready for the end of the beekeeping season? Do they have enough food? Did they get their mite checks done? Treatments? So many questions, and yet, we are all out of time!
During times of dearth (no food available in nature) honeybees can be highly prone to robbing. Even the slightest drop of a sugary substance can set off quite the catastrophic chain of events if the beekeeper is not careful. And, even when all precautions are taken, weak hives can fall victim to a horrific invasion.
It is time for another update from Ken’s self-proclaimed Redneck Brother from Another Mother Down Under… Brett! Only this time, its LIVE! Or, well at least it was live when it was being recorded. Tune in now to hear the abridged version of our first ever Live show with our Australian guests!
They guys are back, but obviously still not fully recovered from their traumatic tasting of the Buckwheat Honey samples. It very well may have short-circuited a few synapsis as well, seeing as how the guys can’t seem to maintain a single cohesive thought between the two of them. They touch on many varied topics from their recent honey experiences to some teases about the upcoming live episodes. Oh, and who is responsible for Ken losing more than half of his packages… that too!
John and Ken recap a few final thoughts on winter prep and give some last-minute pointers for those of us that may have been procrastinating. Winter… is coming early!
In this episode we will eventually learn what to do with our wax once we have harvested and uncapped our honeycomb... But first, Ken hijacks the show with some new honey to be tasted. Tune in now to learn what initial steps you can take to clean and preserve this wax and render it down for future use.
John and Ken are back in the rehearsal studio space this week to tackle some of the recent questions that listeners have sent in over the last few weeks. But first, they start off with a gift of Sourwood honey that they happily taste… again, and again, and again. This round we hear questions and feedback from Jeffrie Ann, Darrell S, Amy P, Jamie & Shannon, Blake, Kylie, and James S.
John and Ken sit down with the Honey Sommelier, C. Marina Marchese, from the American Honey Tasting Society. John has sent Marina a few samples of honey for the group to go through and taste in order to map out the different scents and flavors associated with each. The group sample two versions of spring honey, one from John's main apiary, and another from on top of the hotel in downtown Austin. There is also a sample of summer and fall/winter honey from John's apiary as well. Plus, John snuck in some of the Jerrabomberra honey from Australia, as well as two of his infused honey samples just for kicks. Tune in now for this detailed and interesting experience in honey tasting!
Spring has sprung down under, and Fall has come again to North America. That means winter will not be too far behind and it will be hitting the northern states sooner rather than later. Its time to reflect on the progress each hive has made this year and determine if they are capable of surviving winter on their own, or if it would be better to cut your losses now and potentially combine weaker colonies to create one new colony that hopefully has a better chance of surviving the coming winter. This episode can be a supplemental addition to Season One Episode 29 – Combining and Consolidating Hives.
On this episode John is joined by Nathalie Biggie to discuss how the foundations of natural and treatment free beekeeping has formed the basis for all that they do at Bee Mindful. From the minimalist approach to beekeeping using found and recycled resources, to the reasoning behind what it truly means to be treatment free, this episode covers a wide range of topics that ultimately keeps coming back to the importance of being mindful in all that we do with our bees.
Ken and John have some big news to share regarding the major changes and transitions the show has recently undertaken. They are joined by a couple of special, though silent, guests in the recording space today as well and eventually the conversation turns to the importance of fall mite treatments for colony healthy and well-being. Tune in now to catch up on all the exciting new changes and learn more about fall mite checks and treatments!
Today John sits down with author and reluctant beekeeper, Dave Doroghy. Dave recently released a new book about his misadventures in beekeeping called “Show Me the Honey – The Adventures of an Accidental Apiarist.” The guys discuss some of the trials and tribulations that Dave went through after receiving a hive of honeybees as a gift from his sister. Tune in now to hear Dave tell you from experience what not to do when keeping bees.
In this special bonus episode of The Hive Jive, John sits down with Gemma Astley from Homestead Hens and Honey. The pair talk about how Gemma got started in podcasting, her love for animals big and small, and a few of the adventures and misadventures on the homestead. From whippets to bees, and chickens to lizards, this episode has it all… even a sorted love affair between a tortoise and ceramic pot! Tune in now for truly one of a kind interview with plenty of laughs along the way.
In this latest listener questions episode, the guys tackle emails and online submissions from: Asha K, Charli B, Rachel S x2, James (Jimmy P), Jadyn S, Jamie S, Louise J, and Roger T. Tune in now to see what interesting questions and answers might apply to your own beekeeping adventures!
Though Ken has mentioned it a few times, and a few listeners have also asked about it, the timing for Fall Splits completely slipped John's mind. Where we usually do really well about getting the content out to you just before you need it, we totally dropped the ball on this one. So, tune in now to hear how Fall Splits work, and when you really should start them to ensure the best chances of success.
The original point of this episode was to talk about some of the natural predators of the Honeybee during the peak of summer. However, first we must due some quick updates from around the world, and then we should probably figure out what the heck B.A.V. stand for exactly.
Oh my gawd its back again! (The summer dearth that is...) John reminds us that most things in beekeeping are cyclical and points to a couple of episodes from year one of the podcast that can help you through this tough spot of summer. The guys also tackle a few listener questions from Becca, Tim, and Rachel.
John checks in with Ken to see how things are going so far. Has Ken finally learned his lesson about not being a Front Porch Beekeeper? We’ve heard a lot about how many new colonies have been acquired by either swarm capture or water meter removals, but how many colonies have been lost this year? Let’s see what answers are to be had…
In this episode the guys discuss a few listener stories regarding bee stings, as well as some YouTube videos about Honey Bees Choosing what they prefer. Tune in now to catch the buzz!
In this episode John adds a couple of after-thoughts to the previous honey extracting episode. Also the guys discuss some of the findings from John’s recent visit up to see Ken’s hives and their Hail Mary attempt to salvage what they could.
This episode has been a year in the making for those of you who have been following alongside the podcast in time with your own beekeeping journey. And, if everything has gone well, and mother nature was kind to you and your bees, hopefully it is time for your first legitimate honey harvest!! Tune in now as John walks us through the concept of the honey harvest and extraction process.
John sits down with Steve Jimenez from Hives for Heroes to discuss the important work that they are doing to help save veteran’s lives, and rescue bees in the process. There are countless heroes out there who come back to a world they don’t often relate to any longer. They struggle to cope with the things they have seen and done and they fall victim to the effects of PTSD. Often these individuals fall through the cracks in our society, and they slip away. This is a sad and unfortunate reality for many veterans and members of the armed forces, and it is a reality that amazing organizations like Hives for Heroes is working tirelessly to correct.
It’s Ken’s Birthday!!! Or, rather, it was his birthday. He is happy to be 21 again, or maybe it was 22. It’s hard to keep track once you are up there that far. But, the addition 3 dozen and 6 years experience sure does help out along the way. (You do the math!) In this episode we catch up on Ken’s swarm traps, talk about BetterComb briefly, and have a sneak peek ahead to a potential honey harvest.
Ken curls up for a nice little nap while John tackles another batch of Listener Questions from ya’ll.
Ken learns a hard lesson in what happens when you get lax and just do “Front Porch Beekeeping”… meaning you simply watch the bees from the entrance coming and going, peek in via an observation window, or crack the lid just long enough to say “Yep, there’s bees in there.” Unfortunately that last remark is all you can actually gather from this style of observation, and you don’t really know what might be going on deeper inside the colony. Often this leads to missing key signs that could have possibly helped you prevent the unnecessary crash of a colony.
John sits down with NYC’s premier beekeeper, Mr. Andrew Coté, to discuss what it is like being a 4th generation beekeeper in the Big Apple. The guys cover a wide range of topics including the challenges of rooftop beekeeping, having hives on United Nations soil, and helping beekeepers around the world via Bees Without Borders. Andrew also gives us a sneak peek at what it was like writing his new book “Venom and Honey: Confessions of an Urban Beekeeper.” Tune in now!
John tackles another round of listener questions directly from you lovely Hive Jivers. Is your question on the list?
It's time to go back and quickly recap the key points from our spring episodes. Can Ken hold his own, or will he fail this pop quiz?
In what almost feels like a regular episode, the guys lose track of time and give us our first 45-minute episode since the Quarantine started. Recent rains may signal a light at the end of the tunnel, and a hopeful saving grace for a potential honey harvest this summer. A lot of people have been dealing with swarming already this year, and that might only continue now that rains have arrived. Plus, what’s an episode without a rant about irresponsible beekeepers getting EMS and the Fire Department called on them!?
In this episode, John discusses one listeners opinion of the P word, and then turns around and chastises sensationalists for using the M word. Say what? Tune in now to untangle this mess, and to learn a little bit of truth about the Asian Giant Hornet and whether it currently garners the attention it is getting in the media at the moment.
This April was like a yo-yo as far as the weather went. This back and forth caused some setbacks to the flowers, which negatively impacted the bees, and therefore some of the beekeepers as well. John sits down to tell just a few of the problems that he faced this past month in an effort to let everyone know that we all face hard times every now and then. It happens to us all.
In this episode John attempts to walk us through the concept of reading your comb. Did the bees drink that jar of sugar syrup you just gave them yesterday, or simply store it? Are they raising brood? Does your queen have a good laying pattern? Is there a nectar flow in your area? All of these things can be determined by learning how to read your comb to better understand what is going on with your bees.
On the previous episode they guys discussed how you can raise a new queen. But, what about the actual installation process itself? Regardless if you have a ripe queen cell, a new virgin queen in a cage, or have purchased a fully mated queen, how you install them can make all the difference!
Today, on a very crackly episode, the guys discuss the various ways you can raise a new queen bee at home. Both on purpose, and of course by accident.
While the social distancing continues, John and Ken phone in another episode via remote broadcast and teleconference. This week the guys are discussing the different ways that you can make a split from your colony. There are a lot of different options based on the time of year, available resources, and what you are trying to accomplish. Tune in now to see if they guys can help make it clear as mud!
The guys are forced to do their first ever episode via Teleconference and they aren't so sure they like it all that much. But, despite all the crazy COVID19 restrictions and hurdles, there is still a lot of bee talk that needs doing! So join us as the guys phone in their experiences while installing Ken’s first packages of bees.
Ken seems to think that you can teach your bees how to play checkers. There is a management aspect to beekeeping called Checkerboarding, but it has nothing to do with your bees playing checkers. Sorry Ken. Tune in now to learn what this concept means, and catch up on what all is going on in these strange times.
You've heard the guys joke about bee math and compare it to chicken math, meaning you say you only want one or two and end up with 3 or 4. However, now it is time to talk about real bee math. How do you know if it is time to start raising queens in your area? How long will it take? You need Bee Math!
John and Ken visit with Mary Reed, the Chief Apiary Inspector for the state of Texas. At first glance, some new beekeepers might be intimidated by the thought of a State Inspector coming to look at their hives. However, it can be quite a fun and educational experience. Tune in now as the group discusses what it is to be an apiary inspector, what an inspection is like, and what they are looking for when inspecting a hive.
In the previous episode they guys discussed some initial spring tasks such as rotating your boxes. But, what about those of us that don’t use a Langstroth style hive? Well, this episode will break down how you can accomplish the same sort of task for all your Horizontal Hive Style setups out there!
It’s time to take a look at the second set of checklist items headed into the pre-springtime for your second year of beekeeping. (Keep in mind, these will also be the same for each spring moving forward.) The guys will cover the items you need to be focused on as your temps start to rise and the bees begin early brood production, including: checking food stores and walking that fine line between solid food and starting liquid syrup again, mite checks and treatment, and the concept of rotating boxes.
While Ken is out for a medical procedure John is joined by the beautiful vocal stylings of Katherine, all the way up from Australia, and Nathalie, who is fresh out of the Congo. Exotic accents abound as the group discusses the recent issues for Australia, recent work being done in Africa, and compare and contrast the differences of beekeeping amount the three continents.
In this listener question episode we get an update from Downunder, talk about the mystery of a queenless colony that isn’t queenless, ponder the details on potentially placing hives at a business or retail establishment, and tackle a few questions about a Long Lang style hive.
Sometimes bad things just happen. And, sometimes it is because bad people cause them to happen. Every year when almond pollinations comes around, the news of hive thefts starts popping up across the country. But, sometimes this string of thefts is driven by other factors, such as the natural disasters that Australia recently experienced with the bushfires. In both cases, some people out there see an opportunity to try and make a quick buck, and they do it at the expense of those who are just trying to make ends meet and get by. What is even worse, is when people choose to vandalize someone’s hives for no apparent reason other than to create chaos. Could this happen to you? Should you be worried about your hives? Well… lets talk it over for a moment, shall we?
You have survived your first season of beekeeping, and you are almost through your first winter, congrats! Now it is time to start considering what you want to do in your second year of beekeeping. This episode will provide you with the initial checklist of items to start working on as your second season approaches.
Someone thought it would be a good idea to take ALL of the Listener Questions from over the holiday break all the way up through now, and answer them all at once. This will be the first, and likely last, nearly TWO HOUR episode! Take your time, break it up, digest it slowly. There is are plenty of tidbits of information spread throughout.
The guys are finally back in the studio to kick off the second season in rare form. There are a lot of big announcements to be had, some catching up to be done, and laughs to be had along the way. However, as promised, they do eventually get around to talking about feeding solid sugar to your bees as emergency winter food rations.
The guys have taken all the scraps left over from 2019 and stitched together one last, final, final episode for your listening pleasure. Buckle up, this ones gonna be a long one! We'll see you again in 2020. Happy New Year Everyone!
The guys sit down for their final episode of 2019. A few gifts are exchanged, and Ken finds justification to his Award Winning labeling. We hear a listener question from David regarding a late split that didn’t make it, and the guys break down the reasoning as to why. Tune in now to finish out a great first year with the guys and ring in the holidays.
The guys recap the Podcast stats up to this point and discuss a variety of topics from food and honey, to painting hives and calculating the average daytime temps to know if you can still be feeding in a liquid form.
John and Ken welcome Dr. Ferhat Ozturk into the studio for this very special episode. Learn the nuances of honey and how it can be used for medicinal purposes. Tune in now to find out the relation to certain types of honey and hydrogen peroxide; the complexity and depth of darker honey; and how buckwheat honey may have some redeeming qualities.
Despite their best intentions, this episode never stood a chance. The guys talk about bandages, Ken’s ongoing obsession with ordering packages, phallic stings, dropbears, and other animals that shouldn’t exist. Surely there’s bees in there somewhere…?
Tara Chapman rejoins the guys for a fun talk about her recent experiences at the first US based Honey Sensory training program. Join us to learn some of the nuances that can be attributed to honey tasting, as well as interesting aspects regarding honey crystallization. Plus, Tara and John try to find the humor in recent developments within their respective lives.
In this episode, John and Ken recap on their recent screening of The Pollinators documentary, and John has just returned from the Texas Beekeepers Convention and shares some of the Highlights. Plus a listener question from Frank in Wales! Tune in now to catch up on the recent events.
In this episode, John and Ken recap a few of the more important aspects of winter prep for people living in the southern states. However, the simplification of this might catch you off guard. The warmer the climate you live in, the less preparations need to be done. You’ll see a big detour from what was covered in the northern states episode.
Join us as the guys tell you some scary bee stories about things that go BUZZ in the night... to fill your Halloween with a little fun and fright.
As John and Ken are alone in the studio attempting to tackle your latest listener questions, some strange occurrences take place in the building! Very distracted, and a bit paranoid, the guys attempt to power through in order to get some answers out to Sue, Tanya, and Ann. Enjoy!
Its time for a quick refresher on some of the basic beekeeping terms. Join John as he gives Ken an impromptu terminology quiz.
Desperate times bring out desperate bees, and the late fall periods do just that! When no other food is naturally available, and winter is fast approaching, all of nature desperately seeks out the last few morsels of food as it could be their saving grace that helps them survive the winter. This can be seen in yellow jacket colonies that are rushing to raise the new queens that will overwinter and start new colonies in the spring… by feasting on your honeybees and other unsuspecting insects. Or, it can be the honeybees themselves robbing out a weaker colony in order to horde all the resources for themselves. Tune in now as John and Ken share stories of these exact scenarios!
The listener questions just keep on coming, so the guys keep the answers coming. Tune in now to catch up with Ken's hives and get your own questions answered.
These guys have no concept of time when recording, and Ken is a master at derailing a topic right off into left field. Thanks to all these factors, we present to you another assortment of random clips that were cut from previous episodes due to topic or time constraints. Enjoy!
Ken has been getting a lot of requests for bee related things as people start to learn that he has taken up the hobby. Now, he has encountered his first real moral dilemma that can come with the territory. Tune in now, and help Ken determine what the best course of action would be in this situation.
Ken just can't seem to help himself when it comes to buying things. He recently found a deal where a local beekeeper was looking to sell two complete 10 frame hives, and naturally Ken jumped on the opportunity.
What happens when you have a couple of colonies that both seem just so-so and winter is approaching? Well, one option might be to combine the two weaker colonies to create a colony strong enough to potentially survive the coming winter. In this episode John and Ken discuss how you can consolidate colonies to improve their chances at winter survival.
In this episode John and Ken speak directly to those of you who reside in the northern United States… Winter is Coming! This episode will, hopefully, help lead you in the right direction when preparing your hives to survive your first northern winter. At the very least, it will give you a lot to think about, and a lot more to look up! Are you prepared for winter?
They are those little black bugs that we try desperately to smash every time we see them. People panic the first time they see them in their colony, and even blame them for colony losses… It’s the one and only hive beetle! Come join us for this bonus episode to learn a little bit about what all the stink is over these little black beetles.
You know you love them, thats why you keep sending them in! Its time for another round of listener questions to help get you through your tough spots. This is actually our longest episode to date, and it packed full of random and useful information just for you. Enjoy!
For some of us, the summer dearth is still lingering while others are already starting to feel the approach of fall. If you have not already done so, then Its time to start your fall preparations. In this episode the guys discuss some of the things you should keep in mind during this short transitionary period between seasons.
In this episode John and Ken are left reeling after a very topsy-turvy week of beekeeping bizarreness. Nothing went as planned, and they bees were defying all normal actions for this time of year. After this week John was left with one main statement… Seriously, WTF Bees?!?!
In this bonus episode of The Hive Jive, the guys go into a bit more in depth regarding the feeding of dry pollen substitutes. Tune in now to get your powdery fix!
The summer dearth is hitting hard, and with it can come various hardships for certain beekeepers and their colonies. The guys talk about some of the recent developments in Ken’s journey including the loss of a colony due to potential over-heating, and the loss of one of the treated colonies as well. They also discuss using dry pollen feeders to help supplement your colonies, and touch on a listener’s question.
Join us for a very insightful conversation with a child prodigy. Miss Mikaila Ulmer of Me and the Bees Lemonade makes a stop by The Hive Jive to visit with John and Ken about her amazing adventures thus far. Learn about what inspired her, and how she is now inspiring others with her presentations around the world.
The guys sit down with Tara Chapman of Two Hives Honey to discuss her ever evolving company and her relationship with bees. Don't miss this exciting interview with a remarkable lady who is helping to shape the lives of other female entrepreneurs and helping them find their voice.
Join us for a Special National Honey Bee Day Bonus episode of The Hive Jive with a special guest appearance from Tara Chapman of Two Hives Honey. Ken gets a chance to tell everyone about his first ever swarm capture! Happy National Bee Day everyone!
It may be your first year keeping bees, but it doesn’t mean you can’t start planning for next year’s potential honey harvest. How much honey will you have? What will you do with it? Can you sell it? How should you market your honey if you do sell it? Join us on today’s episode as the guys dream about Ken’s future (potentially award winning) honey.
In this episode Ken and John have come across a little red devil with legs in their recent inspection that prompts their first discussion about the Mighty Varroa Mite. This is just the foreshadowing of a much larger discussion that will be had in a multiple future episodes.
The guys take the time to bask in their 5 seconds of fame after learning an online blog ranking list put The Hive Jive as the #2 beekeeping podcast to listen to in 2019. They also discuss the merits and pitfalls of social media in beekeeping. And, we check in with Ken to see what he finds most interesting after having his bees for two months.
John kicks things off with a challenge to all of you, and he offers up Ken’s Honey as the reward! On a more serious note, it’s HOT out there! How does the heat affect the bees, and how do they cope? Plus, one more time around the block on how to know when to feed during the summer dearth, and what to feed. What are you waiting on? Download the episode and press play already!
In this episode of The Hive Jive, John and Ken discuss the mystery of the vanishing queen during the summer dearth. Did you really lose your queen, or can you just not spot her? The guys also address some listener questions that concern other hive issues at the beginning of the Summer Dearth.
John and Ken take you on a long and winding road of various beekeeping topics in an episode that is far from just ten minutes long. Just when you think they might wrap it up, the guys make sharp detour while jumping from topic to topic. From using honey for wound care, to brood reduction during a dearth, and even neighborhood beekeeping disasters… you’re bound to find something of interest.
The summer dearth is fast approaching; do you know what to do? For that matter, do you know what it means? John and Ken discuss how this time of year might affect your colonies and what you can do to help them out. There might even be some talk of bears… oh my!
In what might be the shortest episode to date, John and Ken tackle a couple more listener questions. Does freezing drone brood frames help reduce varroa? Do you have to clean out the cells after, or can the bees? How do we know bees can’t see red? What do they see in its place? Should you own a red bee suit? Tune in to find out!
With all the buzz in the news lately over bees interrupting baseball games, Ken and John reach out to Dirk Morgan, savior of the bees during the Cincinnati Reds game. Ken also gives John an update on how the topbar hives are progressing.
In this episode special guest Larry Weishuhn joins Ken and John to discuss how bees are a very important part of wildlife and habitat conservation. Every living thing is connected in some way, and sometimes we just have to stop and take a really close look at how our actions and what we do can impact everything else around us.
In this episode of The Hive Jive, John and Ken discuss the difference of Supering vs Nadiring when adding new boxes to your hive. They also break down the concept of making splits if you want to increase your colony numbers.
The wait is finally over, Ken got his first bees! John and Ken spent the weekend scouting locations and setting up Ken’s first four beehives. Working with what was built and (mostly) ready to go, Ken is starting off with two standard 10 frame Langstroths Deeps, and two 19 inch style Topbar hive bodies. Join us as the guys decompress and breakdown the events of Bee Day One on Ken’s journey into beekeeping.
Your new bees have just arrived and you want them to grow up big and strong. So, what do you feed them? How much and how often should you feed them? John and Ken talk spring/summer feeding tips, concepts, and advice on this episode of The Hive Jive.
This bonus episode contains random clips from previous releases of The Hive Jive that were originally edited out for time limits during their specific original episodes. Enjoy the randomness!
Join us for this special Bonus episode of The Hive Jive where the guys make a second attempt at answering YOUR listener questions! This discussion follows many topics such as how to cycle out old comb, feeding bees, varroa mites, and even whether boys can see better than girls. Wait, what...?
When getting started in beekeeping, waiting on your first colony to arrive can feel like an eternity. John and Ken talk through the process so that you know what is going on with packages, nucs, and queen bees during this crucial period before your first bees are ready for pickup.
In this Bonus episode of The Hive Jive, John and Ken discuss the importance of being aware of current legislation, doing your own research, and forming your own opinions about current affairs without blindly following what you see on social media.
Its April Fools Day and apparently all bets are off when the guys chase Easter bunnies around while trying to address random bee misconceptions on this episode of The Hive Jive! Good luck keeping this one on the right path.
On this episode of The Hive Jive, John and Ken interview world renowned natural beekeeper, and author of Top-bar Beekeeping, Les Crowder. Les' approach to beekeeping is, at times, a spiritural experience. Don't miss this special extended episode!
On this episode of The Hive Jive, the guys will take a moment to stop and smell the flowers... so to speak. They will discuss which flowers to watch for as spring begins, and what benefits those flowers provide to your bees.
On this episode of The Hive Jive, the guys will be holding their very first interview, with special guest, Texas Master Beekeeper - Pamela Yeamans. The trio will discuss a variety of topics, including Pamela's love for creamed honey, honey shows, and what she enjoys most about her bees.
Bonus Episode! Join the guys as they tackle your listener questions regarding Honeybees and Beekeeping. Learn why we mark our queens with colored dots, and what each color means. Find out why beekeepers breed queens, and how re-queening a colony change its behavior. Can Topbar hives survive extreme norther winters? Well, tune in to find out!
In this episode of The Hive Jive, the guys will discuss how to choose the best location to setup your Apiary. Finding the right spot to place your beehives can be a stressful process when you start your beekeeping journey. High ground, or low? Sun, or shade? South facing, or east facing? These are just a few of the many factors that will be considered in this segment.
This is a special BONUS episode of The Hive Jive. Its time we learn about the ultimate college frat house bee, also known as The Drone Bee!
On this episode of The Hive Jive, join the guys as they discuss how to acquire your first honeybees. Do you want a package of bees, or is the nuc a better option for your situation? How hard is it to catch a swarm? Where can you find bees in your area? Tune in to find out!
This is a special BONUS episode of the Hive Jive. Today's focused subject is all about the Hard Knock Life of the Worker Bee!
This is a special BONUS edition of The Hive Jive. Today's topic will be an in depth look at the life and times of a queen bee. From egg, to swarm, John will take you on a detailed journey of what it means to be the Queen!
On this episode of The Hive Jive, the guys will take a look at the different beehive styles out there. Are you having a hard time trying to decide if you should start your beekeeping journey with a Langstroth hive or a Topbar hive? Don't fret! You can use these 5 considerations to help make your decision a bit easier.
In this episode of The Hive Jive, the guys will kick off their beekeeping journey by diving in head first. From common wasps, to a detailed breakdown of a honeybee's colony structure, and even a comedic look at a drone's life... prepare to learn more than you might have ever wanted.
What do you get when you take a Redneck Fishing Guide and pair him up with a Master Beekeeper? Well, we are about to find out! Join our hosts Ken Milam and John Swan as they take you on an adventure in Beekeeping.
In this introductory episode, John gives you a preview of what to expect from the show and some advice on how to navigate the different episodes and seasons.