What does "efficiency" really mean in beekeeping—and can it go too far? In this Honey Bee Obscura episode, Jim Tew welcomes back Anne Frey of Betterbee for a lively, down-to-earth talk about working smarter in the bee yard without losing the joy of beekeeping.

Anne shares her insights from running a small commercial operation in upstate New York, where rainy days and heavy supers are a constant challenge. Together, she and Jim discuss practical ways to save time, reduce lifting, and improve workflow—whether through simple tools like dollies, trailers, and brad nailers or better planning of extracting spaces and bee yard layouts.

Listeners will pick up plenty of ideas for improving efficiency while keeping things fun—from using hand trucks and lift gates to rethinking equipment setups and honey house organization. Anne and Jim also touch on the limits of efficiency, reminding beekeepers that sometimes the best plan is to relax, experiment, and find what works for you.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

Jim Tew is back from a long drive through Michigan's autumn beauty—and while the leaves have changed, his thoughts haven't strayed far from bees or smoke. In this week's Honey Bee Obscura, Jim explores one of beekeeping's oldest tools—the smoker—and how this essential companion has become both a help and a health concern.

From his makeshift recording spot at his daughter's home to a chat with a firefighter friend, Jim dives into the effects of smoke on both beekeepers and bees. He reflects on his own lifelong asthma and how smoke exposure impacts his breathing, raising questions every beekeeper might consider but few discuss openly.

Listeners will learn how Jim has experimented with different fuels—pine needles, wheat straw, and his favorite cedar shavings—and the tradeoffs between convenience, toxicity, and effectiveness. He also shares his practical two-can smoker system that keeps fuel dry and ready while reducing waste and cleanup.

If you've ever wondered how something so simple could still be indispensable—or whether it's time to rethink the smoke in your beekeeping life—this episode is pure Jim Tew: reflective, honest, and unmistakably practical.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this reflective episode, Jim Tew takes listeners on a journey through his years as a traveling beekeeper, visiting apiaries and researchers around the world. From the early days of Africanized "killer" bees in Venezuela to disciplined Burmese military trainees in Myanmar, Jim recounts how these experiences shaped his understanding of honey bees and the people who care for them.

Jim describes the sobering reality of working with hyper-defensive bees in Venezuela and the evolution of those colonies over time, before shifting to stories of beekeepers in China, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. Through it all, he highlights the universal spirit of beekeeping—a shared language spoken through the hum of the hive, no matter the country or culture.

Jim closes with a gentle reminder that every beekeeper, from backyard hobbyists to world travelers, shares the same curiosity and respect for the bees. His tales from the road remind us that while techniques and environments differ, the heart of beekeeping remains constant worldwide.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew reflects on one of beekeeping's most underrated tools—instinct. Beekeepers make hundreds of small decisions in the apiary, many of them guided by experience and that unspoken "gut feeling." But how do you know when to trust it?

Jim shares a story from helping his grandson's neglected hive in Michigan that appeared doomed by American foulbrood. Everything looked and smelled like the dreaded disease, and his first instinct was to destroy the colony. But something didn't feel quite right. After careful thought—and some hesitation—Jim trusted his gut and waited. It turned out not to be foulbrood after all, saving thousands of bees from destruction.

The episode moves through other examples of gut-driven choices: whether to replace a failing queen, when to combine colonies, or how to interpret subtle signs in the hive. Jim admits that intuition doesn't always get it right—sometimes it's "about fifty-fifty"—but it's still an indispensable part of good beekeeping.

Through humor, humility, and decades of experience, Jim reminds us that while science, records, and data are vital, listening to your gut can sometimes make the difference between a good decision and a painful mistake.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

______________________

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this Archive Special from October 2021, we revisit a conversation with the late Kim Flottum and Jim Tew as they discuss the many ways beekeepers prepare colonies for the cold months ahead. From simple windbreaks to traditional tar paper wraps, insulated hive covers, and quilt boxes filled with wood shavings, Jim and Kim explore techniques both old and new.

The discussion highlights how winter prep has evolved, offering options for hobbyists with just a few colonies, sideliners with dozens, and commercial beekeepers managing thousands. They share practical advice on keeping colonies warm, ventilated, and dry, while considering different hive types—from 8- and 10-frame Langstroths to top bars and even polystyrene boxes.

Kim emphasized that there's no one-size-fits-all approach: the best method is the one that works for your bees and your climate. Jim recalls beekeeping practices from the past and wonders how modern materials might make things easier. Together, they remind listeners that preparation is essential—whether that means insulation, moisture management, or simply ensuring adequate food reserves.

This archive episode offers timeless reminders for beekeepers everywhere: have a plan, protect your bees, and adapt your strategies to your operation size and environment.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

______________________

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

This milestone episode marks 250 installments of Honey Bee Obscura. Jim reflects on more than 5,000 minutes of plain talk beekeeping, the early days recording with the late Kim Flottum, and the ongoing joy of talking bees every Thursday morning.

With autumn closing in, Jim turns to a practical and urgent subject: your last chance winter prep for bees. He discusses how to evaluate queens in late September, when to combine weak colonies, and whether requeening makes sense this late in the year. Feeding thick syrup, ventilation debates, and insulation strategies also come into focus.

Jim emphasizes the importance of making tough choices now—taking losses in fall rather than in midwinter—so equipment, comb, and bees are better positioned for spring. Episode 250 offers both reflection and encouragement, helping beekeepers act decisively as they finish preparing their colonies for the cold months ahead.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

______________________

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew explores the challenges of fall honey and testy bees during the autumn flow. What begins as a calm reflection on goldenrod and fall asters quickly turns into an unexpectedly lively encounter with defensive bees. Jim describes multiple stings, determined pursuit by guard bees, and how hive temperament can shift overnight—even in colonies that had been calm the day before.

Moving beyond the sting drama, Jim turns his attention to the autumn landscape: 40 acres of goldenrod and asters, monarch butterflies drifting past, and the distinctive smell of fall honey. He reflects on why goldenrod doesn't always deliver the honey crop beekeepers hope for, how drought can limit nectar production, and how this season's flow may not produce much surplus honey.

Jim closes with lessons from letting his yard grow wild into a natural pollinator paradise—an unintended success after he stopped mowing—and wrestles with the balance between letting nature take over and maintaining clear access to the hives for safety. Whether you're heading into fall with booming colonies or just enjoying the last warm days of the season, this episode is a reminder that beekeeping always holds surprises.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

______________________

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew shares his fascination with old beekeeping books, particularly a rare two-volume set titled Beekeeping, New and Old: Described with Pen and Camera by W. Herrod-Hempsall. Jim first found Volume 1 nearly 40 years ago in poor condition, but recently added the elusive Volume 2 to his collection. With nearly 2,600 pages combined, the books are a window into the forgotten history of beekeeping—covering skeps, hive designs, drumming, collateral hives, and hundreds of hive types now lost to time.

Jim explains why these texts matter: they remind us that beekeeping today is just a snapshot in a long continuum of human–bee interaction. He reflects on the sheer diversity of hive experiments before Langstroth's design became standard, and how history shows both the ingenuity and the futility of trying to "perfect" beekeeping for humans rather than for bees.

To balance the nostalgia, Jim also highlights a modern favorite: Bees and Their Keepers by Swedish journalist Lotte Möller, a readable, thoughtful look at bees, culture, and human history. From ancient Roman complaints about bees to Brother Adam's breeding work, Möller's book provides an engaging counterpart to dusty tomes.

For Jim, these books—whether rare treasures or modern reflections—are not just curiosities. They are tools for writing, podcasting, and grounding today's beekeeping in its rich and complicated past.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee's mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

______________________

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC