Here we will discuss everything needed for new beekeepers to learn to keep honeybees including: Beekeeping tools, hive components, what to do and when, and every trick of the trade that we can think of. If you are new to beekeeping, this podcast is for you.
…
continue reading
Queen Rearing Podcasts
This is a podcast about beekeeping. I'll be documenting my journey of starting up a commercial apiary, sharing the lessons I have learned, examining cutting edge research in the bee world, and interviewing other beekeepers. Check out my YouTube channel as well: https://youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog?si=F0Co9pfXQeuQ3Fmi
…
continue reading
1
Queen Rearing Presentation Dothan, AL Bee Club
55:06
55:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:06I give a presentation on the entire queen rearing process at the Wiregrass Beekeepers Association in Dothan, Alabama. My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog
…
continue reading
1
Episode 183 – Africanized Honeybees: Are They Coming for You? 🐝⚠️
34:55
34:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:55Africanized honeybees are one of the most misunderstood topics in beekeeping. In this episode, I cut through the fear driven headlines and talk honestly about what Africanized bees are, where they actually pose a risk, and how much of what we hear is grounded in biology versus social media panic. We also dig into real behavior differences, why iden…
…
continue reading
Taktic. It’s one of the worst-kept secrets in commercial beekeeping… but almost nobody talks about it openly. In this episode of The Pollen Nation Podcast, we dig into the real story behind Taktic and amitraz: why so many beekeepers use it, what makes it so effective, what the risks are, and how it compares to legal products like Apivar and Amiflex…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 182 – American Foulbrood, European Foulbrood, and the Fear Factor 🐝🧪
43:17
43:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:17American foulbrood gets a lot of attention in beekeeping circles, often accompanied by fear and worst-case scenarios. In this episode, I walk through what AFB and EFB actually are, how they differ, how they spread, and why severity does not always equal likelihood. We also talk about realistic risk, common misdiagnoses, used equipment, open feeding…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 181 – Bees in the News (29): Horned Devil Bees, Smart Bees & Vaccine Breakthroughs 🐝🗞️
25:54
25:54
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:54This Bees in the News edition covers four fascinating stories from around the world, from new species discoveries to the first honeybee vaccine. We look at how research and innovation continue to change our understanding of bees, their intelligence, and the threats they face. What’s Inside This Episode: Discovery of the horned “Lucifer” bee in West…
…
continue reading
If you’ve ever questioned why commercial beekeepers feed high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) instead of sugar syrup, or worried it might end up in the honey, this episode is for you. In this deep dive, I break down the science and economics behind HFCS feeding. My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtu…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 180 – The Pennsylvania Bee Law (Part 2) HB 1277: Plant and Pollinator Protection Act 🐝⚖️
32:36
32:36
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:36This episode is a follow-up to last week’s discussion about Pennsylvania’s proposed bee legislation. We move from the 2024 Senate Bill 1198 to the newly filed 2025 House Bill 1277, breaking down what changed, why it matters, and how the bill expands the state’s authority over beekeepers. What’s Inside This Episode: What happened to the 2024 Senate …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 179 – The Pennsylvania Bee Law: What Beekeepers Need to Know 🐝⚖️
31:03
31:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:03This episode takes a closer look at Pennsylvania’s proposed Plant and Pollinator Protection Act (SB 1198) and why it’s raising concerns among beekeepers across the country. I break down how it rewrites the long-standing Bee Law, what new powers it gives the Department of Agriculture, and why even backyard beekeepers could be affected. What’s Inside…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 178 – The Bee Buzz (30): Winter Prep, Ventilation & Varroa Reality Check 🐝💭
34:10
34:10
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:10In this Bee Buzz episode I tackle common late-season questions about treating Varroa mites before winter, dealing with moisture and ventilation, replacing old comb, wrapping hives, and whether it’s safe to move colonies near a windbreak this time of year. We also look at what “too much insulation” really means, how to manage condensation safely, an…
…
continue reading
1
How the Government Shutdown is Affecting Beekeepers
11:32
11:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
11:32How is the current government shutdown impacting the beekeeping industry? My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog #Beekeeping #HoneyBees #BeekeepingPodcast #CommercialBeekeeping #WalkInTheWoodsApiary #governmentshutdown…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 177 – The Bee Buzz (29): Drone Comb, Plastic Foundation & Late-Season Hive Tips 🐝
38:50
38:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:50In this Bee Buzz episode I answer listener questions about using drone comb to reduce Varroa without chemicals, getting bees to accept plastic foundation, managing weak colonies before winter, handling late season queen loss, and how to think about brood frames, pollen patties, and uncapped nectar as the season winds down. What’s Inside This Episod…
…
continue reading
1
Bee Probiotics: Marketing Hype vs. Scientific Reality
15:07
15:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
15:07Can probiotics really make your bees healthier or is it just clever marketing? In this episode, we dig deep into the science behind bee probiotics like SuperDFM and others, breaking down what the peer-reviewed research actually says. My website:https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog:www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapia…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 176 – Winter Hive Survival (Part 2): Smarter Insulation for Stronger Colonies 🧊🐝
42:03
42:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:03In part two of my conversation with Minnesota beekeeper Peg DeSanto, we continue unpacking the science of overwintering and explore the research behind condensation, CO₂ balance, and hive insulation. Peg explains why matching hive size to colony strength matters, how smaller overwintering spaces improve survival, and how her Hive Hugger project was…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 175 – Winter Hive Survival: Science, Insulation, and the Condensing Hive 🧊🐝
42:09
42:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
42:09In this episode I talk with Minnesota beekeeper Peg DeSanto about one of the biggest challenges in beekeeping, getting colonies through winter. Peg explains how she became determined to stop winter losses and what she learned about insulation, moisture control, and the science behind the condensing hive approach. What’s Inside This Episode: Why 50 …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 174 - Bees In The News (28): Parasites, Organics & Alaska Hive Beetles 🐝🗞️
26:28
26:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
26:28Bees In The News is back with a fresh format and more commentary. Instead of just reading headlines, I dive into what these stories really mean for beekeepers. In this episode, we explore the surprising discovery of natural bacteria in pollen that may protect bees, the growing concerns about native bee loss in Missouri and Kansas, and a Penn State …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 173 – Building a Hive Monitoring System: Sensors, Heat Maps, and Real Data 🖥️🐝
33:50
33:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:50Every beekeeper wonders how their colonies are doing in the middle of winter. Are they clustered? Do they have enough food? Is it safe to open the hive? In this episode, I walk through the new project I have been teasing for months, a hive monitoring system that uses temperature probes, humidity sensors, and data collectors to create real-time heat…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 172 – The Bee Buzz (28): Winter Hive Questions, Feeding, and Moisture Boards ❄️🐝
34:08
34:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:08It is Bee Buzz time again, and in this Q&A session I answer listener questions on winter prep, feeding, and hive management. We talk about whether to reduce colonies from two brood boxes to one, how to handle screened bottom boards, what to know about moisture boards, and when to stop feeding syrup. I also cover queen excluders in winter, protectin…
…
continue reading
1
Does Honey Cure Allergies? What the Science Really Says
13:47
13:47
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
13:47This video attempts to answer the question if honey helps cure allergy symptoms. My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog
…
continue reading
1
Episode 171 – Inside the Winter Cluster: How Bees Heat and Survive the Cold ❄️🐝
25:34
25:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
25:34When temperatures drop, bees form the winter cluster to stay alive. In this episode, we dig into what triggers clustering, how bees rotate between the mantle and the core, and the muscle power that generates heat without flight. We also look at how the cluster moves as a unit to consume honey, why frame arrangement matters, and what not to do when …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 170 – Tree Cavities vs. Langstroth Hives: How Bees Really Survive Winter ❄️🐝
40:40
40:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
40:40When bees overwinter in a tree cavity, they enjoy thick insulation, controlled airflow, and condensation that actually helps them survive. In a Langstroth hive, things look very different, and without adjustments, those differences can cost colonies dearly. In this episode, I break down what happens inside a natural cavity and compare it to the equ…
…
continue reading
As we're coming up to the two year anniversary of the podcast, I just wanted to share my thoughts about where I want to take it going forward. My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: www.youtube.com/@walkinthewoodsapiaryvlog
…
continue reading
1
Episode 169 – Winter Prep for Your Hives: Feeding, Merging, and Insulating ❄️🐝
38:59
38:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:59Winter is coming, and the way you prepare your hives now will determine how strong your colonies are in the spring. In this episode, we go step by step through assessing colony strength, when to combine hives, and what kind of feeding really works. We also break down insulation and ventilation, weighing your hives, and why candy boards and sugar br…
…
continue reading
In Episode 28 I look into the origins of the "Save the Bees" slogan and discuss whether we're overlooking the most important bees of all. My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: https://www.youtube.com/@UCRc81mRPEeRhSIVxWsvRUEg
…
continue reading
1
Episode 168 – Spring vs Fall Pollen: What Bees Really Need (And When) 🐝🌼🍂
53:01
53:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:01This episode focuses on the difference between spring and fall pollen and how seasonal shifts impact bee nutrition. We look at what bees need to raise brood, how they build fat reserves for winter, and why feeding is not the same in every season. At the end of the episode, I share my personal story of 9/11, where I was that day in DC, what I saw, a…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 167 – The Beltsville Bee Lab Shutdown: What’s Really Going On 🏛️🐝
23:03
23:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
23:03News of the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab closing has sparked controversy, but what’s fact and what’s fearmongering? In this episode, we dig into the proposed relocation of the nation’s oldest bee research lab and what it means for diagnostics, research, and beekeepers like you. We also take a hard look at the usual claims about bee declines, climate bla…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 166 – Oxalic Acid and Mite Madness: What’s Changing, What’s Not 🧪🐝
33:18
33:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
33:18Oxalic acid has long been a trusted treatment for Varroa mites, but recent label updates are causing confusion about dosage, legality, and safety. In this episode, we talk through what the updated EPA labels for Api-Bioxal and EZ-OX actually say, why generic wood bleach is not a legal alternative, and how much is too much when vaporizing OA. We als…
…
continue reading
1
Episode 165 – Fall Swarming: Why You Still Need to Watch Closely 🍂🐝
35:00
35:00
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:00Fall swarms aren’t just a myth, and in some areas, they’re happening right now. While most beekeepers associate swarming with spring, certain late-season conditions can trigger it all over again. In this episode, we break down what those triggers are, how to recognize the signs, and what to do if your bees get the fall swarm bug. We also clear up t…
…
continue reading
In Episode 27 I go over how to ship mated queens through the mail and give some tips that I've learned. My website: https://walkinthewoodsapiary.com/ Check out my weekly beekeeping vlog: https://www.youtube.com/ @WalkintheWoodsApiaryVlog
…
continue reading
1
Episode 164 – Fall Flow and Winter Bees: How Nature Prepares the Colony for the Cold 🐝🍂
35:42
35:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
35:42As the summer bees finish their work and the fall flow begins, the colony shifts gears. In this episode, we explore how the biology of the honey bee changes for winter, why the nutritional profile of fall forage is different from spring, and what that means for feeding decisions. We talk about cluster sizes, race-specific overwintering tendencies, …
…
continue reading
1
Episode 163 – Bearding, Fanning, and Heat Shields: How Bees Actually Cool the Hive 🔥🐝
32:49
32:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:49Record-breaking heatwaves aren’t just hard on humans — they challenge your colonies too. In this episode, we talk through ways to support your bees during extreme summer temperatures. You’ll learn how hive ventilation works, what role water plays in cooling the colony, and why some popular summer hacks may do more harm than good. What’s Inside This…
…
continue reading