Episode Details

In this episode of Beekeeping Today Podcast, Jeff and Becky sit down with East Coast beekeeper and innovator Jim Fischer, the creator of Fischer's Bee-Quick. Known for its pleasant almond-cherry aroma, Bee-Quick was developed as a safer alternative to harsh chemical repellents for removing honey from supers. Jim shares how his father challenged him to "solve the problem" of the dreaded butyric acid, leading him to experiment with aromatics until he distilled a solution that worked for both bees and beekeepers.

Beyond Bee-Quick, Jim's story weaves through decades of beekeeping experience: starting with two retirement gift hives in Virginia, scaling up to pollination along the Blue Ridge Parkway, and later pioneering rooftop beekeeping in Manhattan. He talks candidly about fall splits, queen management, and his practical philosophy that favors simple approaches over complex "desperation moves." Jim also describes working with biodynamic certification, his memories of Richard Taylor and Ross Rounds, and the realities of keeping bees in an urban setting.

Whether you're curious about the origins of Bee-Quick, strategies for overwintering nucs, or the logistics of rooftop hives overlooking Central Park, this wide-ranging conversation offers insights, humor, and practical advice from a beekeeper who has seen—and done—a little bit of everything.

Websites from the episode and others we recommend:

• Bee Quick: https://www.betterbee.com/harvesting-equipment/bq2-bee-quick-8-oz.asp
• Project Apis m. (PAm): https://www.projectapism.org
• Honey Bee Health Coalition: https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org
• The National Honey Board: https://honey.com

• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast: https://honeybeeobscura.com

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This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global offers a variety of standard and custom patties. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode!

Thanks to Bee Smart Designs as a sponsor of this podcast! Bee Smart Designs is