Beekeeping For Newbees®

In this episode, we dive into the important considerations around feeding your bees. We’ll cover the pros and cons of supplemental feeding, when it’s necessary, and how to do it effectively. Plus, stick around for some bonus content at the end! 🍯🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: When to Feed: Key scenarios where feeding might be necessary. Pros and Cons: Benefits and potential drawbacks of supplemen...

In this episode, we explore the most common species of bees kept in North America. Whether you’re a new beekeeper or looking to expand your apiary, we’ll discuss which bees might be the best fit for you and cover the pros and cons of each type. 🍯🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: Common Bee Species: A look at popular species like Italian, Carniolan, Russian, and more. Best Bees for Beginners: Recomme...

As usual for The Bee Buzz , today we’re diving into your questions and covering a variety of quick topics. From bottom boards to virgin queens, this episode is packed with useful insights and tips for beekeepers of all levels. 🐝💬 What’s Inside This Episode: Bottom Boards: Understanding their role and how to maintain them. Earwigs: Dealing with these pesky invaders in your hives. Frames and Found...

Should you use the entrance reducer set at ¾" to 1", the 3" entrance, or remove it altogether? What about upper entrances? Which direction should they face? Should you use a mouse guard? This episode is all about entrances—how big they should be, when to adjust them, and how they impact your hive's success. 🚪🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: Entrance Options: Pros and cons of differe...

In this episode, we walk through a typical year in the apiary and explore what it takes to keep things running smoothly as a hobbyist. From seasonal tasks to ongoing maintenance, this is a behind-the-scenes look at the rhythm of beekeeping life. 🌸🍯🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: Seasonal Overview: A month-by-month breakdown of key beekeeping activities. Hobbyist Perspective: Insights into managin...

In this episode of The Bee Buzz , I’m fielding a variety of questions from our Discord community and emails sent in by listeners. From hive management to seasonal challenges, this episode is packed with practical insights and tips! 💬📧🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: Listener Questions: A selection of thoughtful questions from our Discord and email inbox. Beekeeping Advice: Tips and solutions for r...

In this episode, we tackle the challenge of dealing with laying workers. Learn how to recognize when a laying worker is present in your hive and the best methods to address this issue effectively. 🍯🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: What Is a Laying Worker?: Understanding the signs and causes of this phenomenon. Recognizing the Problem: How to identify a laying worker in your hive. Solutions and Stra...

In this episode, we dive into a common beekeeping frustration: how to encourage bees to make use of available space. Sometimes, they’ll swarm despite having unused frames and even entire supers untouched. With these tips, you’ll learn how to get them to draw up comb and make the most of the space in their hives. 🍯🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: Understanding Bee Behavior: Why bees might ignore ava...

In this episode, we explore how two-frame nucs can help you grow your apiary efficiently and effectively. These smaller nucs offer multiple side benefits for your beekeeping operation, and we’ll cover them all in detail today. 🍯🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: What Are Two-Frame Nucs?: A breakdown of this compact beekeeping tool. Benefits for Your Apiary: How two-frame nucs can support growth and h...

This Bee Buzz is a quick check-in with everyone who has recently discovered that one or more of their colonies didn’t make it through the winter. You’re not alone, and we’re here to share advice and encouragement for moving forward. Plus, we have a special guest dropping by to say hello! ❄️🐝🎙️ What’s Inside This Episode: Winter Losses: Reflections on why colonies might not survive and what you ca...

Capturing wild honeybee swarms can be an exciting way to grow your apiary, but it’s important to be prepared. In this episode, we cover the tools, equipment, and key considerations you’ll need to successfully capture swarms and bring them home safely. 🚚🐝 What’s Inside This Episode: Essential Tools: The must-have equipment for capturing swarms. Safety and Logistics: Tips to ensure a safe and effi...

Swarm traps are a fantastic way to add free bees to your apiary, but is catching swarms always a good idea? In this episode, we take a closer look at the pros and cons of using swarm traps, helping you decide if they’re right for you. 🍯💡 What’s Inside This Episode: Why Use Swarm Traps?: The benefits of catching free bees for your apiary. Potential Pitfalls: The challenges and risks involved in t...

Whether your bees survived the winter or not, there’s still work to be done. In this episode, we cover everything you need to know for that first hive inspection of the year. From assessing hive health to planning for the months ahead, we’ve got you covered! ❄️➡️🌸 What’s Inside This Episode: Post-Winter Inspections: What to look for when you open your hives for the first time. Cleaning and Mainte...

As a follow-up to our recent episode on splits, this discussion dives deeper into the topic of swarming. Swarming can seem daunting, but with the right knowledge and strategies, you can turn it into an opportunity. In this episode, we’ll explore detailed insights and provide practical options to help you handle swarms with confidence. 🍯💡 What’s Inside This Episode: Swarming Basics: Understanding...

Send us a text We’ve talked about splits before, but in this episode, we’re diving even deeper. As your beekeeping skills improve, so must your understanding of the why behind what we do. This episode aims to help you transition from following instructions blindly to making informed decisions based on your bees' needs. As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you hit a roadblock! 🐝💡 What’s...

In this episode of The Bee Buzz , we cover a few interesting email topics from the beekeeping community and test out our brand-new mobile recording setup. 🐝🎙️ What’s Inside This Episode: Listener Emails: Discussions on questions and feedback from our inbox. Mobile Recording Setup: Thoughts on the experience and what’s next for on-the-go episodes. Beekeeping Insights: Tips and takeaways from this...

Send us a text In this episode of Beekeeping for Newbees , we discuss the roles and responsibilities of both mentors and mentees in the world of beekeeping. Whether you’re sharing your knowledge or just starting out, there’s something here for everyone! 💡🤝 What’s Inside This Episode: The Mentor’s Role: Tips for effectively guiding new beekeepers and sharing your expertise. The Mentee’s Role: How...

In this episode of Beekeeping for Newbees , we discuss some key things you should be doing in preparation for the coming spring. While this isn’t an all-inclusive list, these tips will help you stay on track during the colder months. We also introduce the new Discord server—be sure to check it out! 🐝💬 What’s Inside This Episode: Winter Preparations: Tasks to complete now that will set you up for...

This is the final part of our three part Q&A marathon! It feels great to finally catch up on some of your more recent questions. Keep them coming—we love hearing from you! 🐝💬 What’s Inside This Episode: Listener Questions: Answers to recent and thought provoking questions from the beekeeping community. Parting Thoughts: Wrapping up the marathon with reflections and advice for future Q&As...

This is part two of our marathon Q&A session, where we continue answering your buzzing questions! Part three will be released on October 6th, so stay tuned. 🐝💡 What’s Inside This Episode: Listener Q&A: Tackling more of your questions from the beekeeping community. Ongoing Insights: Tips and advice based on real-world challenges shared by listeners. What’s Next: A preview of what to expec...

In this episode of The Bee Buzz , we’re diving into more listener questions from the beekeeping community. As the season slows down, it’s a great time to reflect on the challenges and successes of the year while preparing for what’s next. 🐝💭 What’s Inside This Episode: Listener Q&A: Answers to recent questions from the beekeeping community. Seasonal reflections: Thoughts on wrapping up the b...

This week we answer a new round of listener questions in another Bee Buzz episode. We talk through several real-world situations that beekeepers run into, including questions about feeding, hive management, queen behavior, and general troubleshooting in the apiary. These listener-driven discussions are always a great way to explore practical problems that many beekeepers are facing at the same tim...

Intro paragraph This week we talk about one of the most common questions beekeepers ask in the spring: should you split your hive or simply give the colony more space to grow? We walk through the difference between splitting and expanding, when each approach makes sense, and how these decisions affect swarm prevention, colony strength, and honey production. We also cover common mistakes new beekee...

This week we talk about one of the most common worries new beekeepers face: opening a hive and thinking the queen has disappeared. We walk through the normal situations that can make it look like your queen is gone, including nectar dearths, swarming events, and mating flights. We also discuss practical ways to confirm whether the queen is still present and what steps you can take if she truly is...

This week we talk about one of the most exciting opportunities in beekeeping: catching free honey bees with swarm traps. We walk through how swarms form, how simple traps attract scout bees looking for a new home, and how this method can help you grow your apiary without buying packages. I also share a personal story about salvaging a massive swarm and discuss the advantages and risks of bringing...