The Hive Jive - Beekeeping Podcast

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 Nat...

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...

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 rep...

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 2...

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 experimen...

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...

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...

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 reaso...

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; chick...

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 D...

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 co...

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 gene...