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Locust Tree Nectar Flows with Anne Frey
Episode 237
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew is joined by Anne Frey of Betterbee to talk locust flows—and the puzzling question of why these spectacular blooms don't always result in a honey crop. F…
Published on 4 months, 2 weeks ago
Plain Talk: Queen and Drone Traps
Episode 236
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew recounts an unexpected turn during what was supposed to be a simple walk through his bee yard. When a hive erupts in swarm-like intensity, Jim finds hims…
Published on 4 months, 3 weeks ago
Exploring Mysteries of the Bee Yard
Episode 235
On this rainy and unseasonably chilly spring day, Jim Tew heads out to his bee yard with longtime friend and former lab assistant Jason Ferrell. While the original plan was to inspect a package colon…
Published on 5 months ago
Plain Talk: The Lost Swarm
Episode 234
In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew shares the frustration and lessons learned from losing a swarm — a reminder that even seasoned beekeepers face humbling moments. Jim recounts …
Published on 5 months, 1 week ago
Bee Talk with Eugene & Diane Makovec
Episode 233
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew welcomes Eugene and Diane Makovec to his sunny Ohio bee yard for a rare in-person conversation. Eugene, editor of American Bee Journal, shares the windin…
Published on 5 months, 2 weeks ago
Plain Talk: Predicting Swarms (232)
Episode 232
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim is back in the bee yard with a keen eye on an abandoned hive setup—watching and wondering if it might be chosen by a swarm. What starts as a quiet observatio…
Published on 5 months, 3 weeks ago
Plain Talk: Releasing Tew Queens
Episode 231
In this hands-on episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim is back in the bee yard and walks listeners through a personal and sometimes risky process: directly releasing queens into newly installed packages.…
Published on 5 months, 4 weeks ago
Plain Talk: Installing Tew Packages
Episode 230
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew takes listeners into the bee yard to share his experience installing two packages of bees. He discusses the realities of package season, including unexpe…
Published on 6 months ago
Rosario Candelero: Student Bee Vet
Episode 229
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew welcomes special guests Rosario Candelero, a veterinary student at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, and Jason Ferrell, a beekeeper and IT sp…
Published on 6 months, 1 week ago
Plain Talk: To Wire Frames or Not
Episode 228
In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew revisits a seemingly simple question that sparked a surprisingly passionate response from readers and listeners alike: Do beekeepers still wire and embed…
Published on 6 months, 2 weeks ago