Management Episodes

In this archived Honey Bee Obscura conversation, Jim Tew and the late Kim Flottum discuss Working Bees in the Heat and the challenges of managing colonies during the hottest part of summer. From hydration and shade to recognizing heat exhaustion and heat stroke, they share practical advice for staying safe while working bees in demanding weather conditions. The discussion also highlights the importance of planning ahead, working smart, and knowing when to stop before heat-related illness becomes a serious risk.

Jim Tew returns to the bee yard to inspect five package colonies installed earlier in the spring. The colonies are thriving and rapidly filling their equipment, prompting a discussion about colony growth, swarm prevention, and the need for additional space. Jim also experiments with an oscillating multi-tool as a possible solution for heavily propolized frames, sharing his real-time observations on whether the idea has practical value. Along the way, he reflects on hive management, plastic versus wooden frames, and the challenge of maintaining colonies in a single deep brood chamber.

Jim Tew shares a real-time look at managing packages, unexpected colony survival, and a surprise swarm—highlighting the unpredictability and practical lessons of beekeeping.

In Part 2 of this two-part series, Jim Tew and Anne Frey continue their discussion on package bee installation, focusing on queen release timing, handling techniques, and the small decisions that can determine early colony success. From candy plug challenges to real-world queen loss scenarios, they share practical insights drawn from years of experience.The conversation also revisits common early-season mistakes—especially around feeding and hive setup—and highlights how easily new packages can fail if conditions aren’t right. Whether you’re installing your first package or refining your approach, this episode offers straightforward, experience-based guidance to improve outcomes in the critical first days of a new colony.

Package bee installation tips with Anne Frey and Jim Tew, covering setup methods, feeding mistakes, and queen release strategies for early spring success.

Jim Tew investigates two winter colony losses in the bee yard, sharing real-time observations, possible causes, and the reality that not every colony failure has a clear explanation.

Anne visits Georgia in mid-winter and compares southern beekeeping practices with northern management. Jim and Anne discuss syrup feeding, nectar dearths, small hive beetles, varroa control differences, and why climate shapes every beekeeping decision.

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.

As spring approaches, Jim Tew and Anne Frey talk through the real-world decisions behind ordering, transporting, and installing honey bee packages. From how many colonies to buy to the risks of overheating during travel, this episode offers practical, experience-driven guidance for beekeepers preparing for the new season.

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 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.

Sometimes beekeeping doesn’t look polished, tidy, or picture-perfect—and in this week’s episode, Jim leans right into that truth with a candid look at what he calls slipshod beekeeping . After visiting beekeepers and listeners at the Kentucky State Beekeepers Assn, he returns home to a bee yard that reflects the realities of taking several years off to care for family. With winter approaching and the colonies not quite where he wants them, Jim takes listeners along as he makes quick, imperfect, ...

In this Plain Talk episode of Honey Bee Obscura , Jim Tew heads out to the bee yard for a quiet, reflective fall inspection. As the days shorten and the goldenrod fades, Jim shares what he looks for when evaluating his colonies’ readiness for winter. He discusses the telltale signs of healthy late-season activity, how to spot the early warning flags of robbing, and when it’s best to step back and simply observe. Jim talks through practical steps such as checking hive weight, watching for moistur...

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 work...

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 h...

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 someth...

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, an...

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. F...

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura , Jim Tew is joined by Jeff Ott (from Beekeeping Today Podcast) wrestle with the idea of bare bones beekeeping . After a few false starts with recording equipment, the two dive into what it really means to keep bees with minimal effort, tools, and energy—especially as age, time, or physical limits change how one approaches the craft. Jim reflects on his desire to simplify: watching the landing boards, reading seasonal cues, and conserving his energy while sti...

As summer winds down, Jim Tew sits down with fellow beekeeper Anne Frey to talk through what August reveals about colonies heading into winter. Their conversation explores the signs that point to how well bees are prepared, from brood nest patterns and queen performance to food reserves and mite levels. Anne and Jim discuss how local conditions shape management decisions and how preparation in late summer sets colonies up for survival and spring success. They also reflect on finding the balance ...

In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew explores what it really means to call ourselves “beekeepers.” After more than fifty years with bees, Jim questions whether we truly “keep” them—or if we’re simply borrowing space in their world. He draws comparisons to birdhouses, backyard chickens, and monarch butterflies, observing that bees remain fundamentally wild, even when living in our boxes. Jim shares personal experiences of stepping back from active management for several years,...

In this reflective and personal episode, Jim Tew explores a question many beekeepers may not think much about—why are so many bee yards hidden from view? Fresh off a long solo road trip, Jim shares how, despite driving over 2,000 miles, he didn’t spot a single beehive. This observation launches a deeper discussion about the reasons beekeepers often keep their hives out of sight: privacy, safety, neighbor concerns, theft prevention—and perhaps even a bit of tradition. From stories of problematic ...

In this episode, Jim Tew welcomes back Anne Frey of Betterbee to unpack the troubling die-offs many beekeepers experienced this past winter and spring. From unexplained colony declines to puzzling symptoms that didn’t respond to brood boosts or pollen patties, Jim and Anne share firsthand observations of a season marked by confusion, frustration, and difficult decisions. Anne describes colonies that made it through winter only to slowly spiral down, despite repeated efforts to revive them. The c...