Winter Episodes

Dr. Jim Tew reflects on the practice of putting new bees into old hives, exploring not just equipment decisions but the mindset and judgment behind everyday beekeeping choices.

On a chilly late-winter walk through the bee yard, Jim reflects on late winter robbing behavior and whether we’ve misunderstood it. Is robbing simply theft—or a natural survival strategy when forage is scarce? A thoughtful Plain Talk episode on instinct, survival, and perspective.

Jim returns to the winter bee yard expecting losses but finds surprising survival. A reflective Plain Talk on cleansing flights, resilience, and the emotional return of spring hope for beekeepers.

In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew records live from a snow-covered bee yard during one of the coldest stretches of winter he can remember. With deep snow, sub-zero temperatures, and uncertainty hanging over every colony, Jim reflects on what winter loss really feels like—and why beekeepers keep going anyway.

As winter storms move across much of North America, Jim Tew reflects on beekeeping, weather, and the realities of starting over. From insulation choices and equipment decisions to aging as a beekeeper and adjusting expectations, this episode offers thoughtful, honest plain talk for anyone managing bees in cold conditions.

Jim Tew and Anne Frey talk plainly about wintering bees—insulation, emergency feeding, ventilation myths, and what actually helps colonies survive deep winter cold as the new year begins.

On Christmas Day, Jim Tew steps away from technical beekeeping talk to share personal stories, reflections, and memories shaped by family, work, and a lifetime of making things by hand.

Jim Tew takes listeners on a quiet winter walk through his snowy bee yard, using tracks, hive debris, and even a stethoscope to understand how colonies are faring. A reflective, observant look at winter beekeeping and what a frozen apiary reveals.

In this week’s episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew delves into the challenges and dilemmas beekeepers face when managing small, struggling colonies in the heart of winter. With his signature mix of candor and experience, Jim explores the emotional...

In this episode, Jim is joined by his grandson, Will, to discuss preparing hives for winter, especially for smaller or struggling colonies. Jim explains the natural decline in bee population as winter approaches and the importance of clustering...

As the temperature drops, Jim and Anne Frey discuss the age-old question: Should you insulate your hives for winter? They explore the history of hive insulation, from traditional sawdust-filled crates to modern polystyrene wraps, weighing the benefits...

There comes a time for many beekeepers when they realize they have more colonies than time to properly work them - with “work” being the operative word. If they’ve been keeping bees long enough, they may decide that hefting ten-frame hive bodies...

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Kim and Jim delve into several important maintenance tasks that beekeepers can undertake during the winter season to ensure the health and productivity of their hives. Winter might seem like a downtime, but it's a...

Happy Thanksgiving!! Join Kim and Jim in this special archive episode from late October 2021, where they delve into the critical task of preparing your hives for the winter season. This episode is particularly crucial for beekeepers in colder...

It’s going to be 50 degrees tomorrow. Kim and Jim are going to have to check their bees for the first time this very early spring. So what do they do, how do they examine a colony this time of year way up north? The beekeepers in the warmer parts of...

It’s winter time and sure as the sky is blue (or grey – as the case may be), there will be many dead colonies out there next spring. If not in as early as in the few weeks. Winter kills in the US are running something like 40+% right now. A winter...