Bees With Ben

PODCAST EPISODE 4: Manuel Hempel of Vindfløy Bybigård in Bergen, Norway

As you will find out, the last time I saw Manuel Hempel was in a karaoke bar In Canada. Obviously, my stellar singing voice made a great impression on the young, 34-year-old beekeeper from Norway, as we have stayed in touch ever since. To be serious, I met this incredibly passionate fellow when we were both at the APIMONDIA beekeeping and honey production conference in Montreal, Canada, and was struck by his story. Passionate about all things bee-related, Manuel is a keeper in a part of the world where the climate and terrain is tough – the city of Bergen on the southwestern coast of Norway. Although Bergen is not as wild as the mountainous areas of Norway, and the sea makes the climate milder and therefore suitable for bees, I am in awe of this young beekeeper, his perspective and story.

Vindfløy Bybigård is a beekeeping project in downtown Bergen, named after the Vindfloy (wind transducer) on Mt. Floyen where Manuel’s first hives were situated in 2013. Manuel run beehives from backyards to rooftops in different neighbourhoods all around the town of Bergen, seeking to “engage with the public and local institutions to create awareness for the city as an urban ecosystem, promote biodiversity and support local bees and pollinators by contributing to a more insect friendly environment in town”. What a legend! He is also very passionate about education, running workshops and giving presentations on bees at different events. In turn, Manuel and his bees have been involved with amazing groups such as Spire Bergen, ALF (Integration Center), SLowfood Bergen and the Bergen International School.

I am thrilled to introduce Manuel to the Ben’s Bees Community in Episode 4 of the BEES WITH BEN podcast. Listen in to hear us chat about the honey cooperative called HONNINGCENTRALEN (which translates to Honey Centre) – an awesome initiative where the price of honey is fixed so that all beekeepers can sell their honey for a good price and maintain its high quality. Food for thought until I next meet up with Manuel at the 2021 APIMONDIA in Ufa, Russia, for more chats on bees and hopefully a little karaoke ;) Tune in!  https://anchor.fm/ben-the-beeman

PODCAST EPISODE 3: Nicholas Bishop from the London Honey Company

I love to travel. And with lockdown restrictions meaning many of us have very itchy feet right now, I have been thinking that the perfect antidote to cabin fever is the BEES WITH BEN podcast! What a better way to keep meeting beekeepers, honey slurpers, nature lovers, and apiarists from all over the world than a virtual hang out with yours truly! And episode three is a real cracker!

As many of you know, I spent a month or two travelling in Europe a couple of years ago now, and it was a divine experience. With the purpose of seeking out small honey producers in a number of beautiful locations across the European continent, I was lucky enough to bask in the northern sun, sip wine, eat delicious homemade meals, get dirty in the fields with some amazing keepers, buy and try local honey from farmers markets, and met many cute Euro-bees as they buzzed around in lavender fields. It was some kind of heaven, that’s for sure.  And it was on this trip that I was lucky enough to meet the passionate Nicholas Bishop from the London Honey Company, who I am delighted to introduce to the Ben’s Bees community in Episode Three of the BEES WITH BEN podcast.

Nicholas Bishop is the Commercial Director of the London Honey Company, who are purveyors of the finest honey, honeycomb, handmade 100% beeswax candles and 100% British mead based in Voyager Business Park, Spa Road, London. With over 20 years of beekeeping experience, the London Honey Company stocks their delicious and high-quality produce in shops, food halls, restaurants and hotels across the UK, as well as selling from their gorgeous online store. A much-loved company, chefs and foodies are head over heels with their produce, as are some of the finest institutions in Britian – in fact, the London Honey Company are the proud beekeepers of the Tate Galleries in London and the Victoria and Albert Museum! Incredible stuff!

When I met Nicholas in Europe a few years ago, I was struck by his passion and work ethic, yet despite being super busy, he generously gave up his time to give me a wonderful tour of the London Honey Company facility. This space was new then, as they had recently moved in due to a huge growth in their business; things haven’t changed, and the London Honey Company has forged ahead due to their sophisticated and dedicated beekeeping work and honey production skills. It wasn’t until last year that we met again, as we were both giving talks at the Apimondia conference in Montreal, Canada. A wealth of knowledge and a lovely bloke, I was thrilled when Nicholas said he’d be more than happy to chat with me about honey types in London and the UK, in particular heather honey varieties. Tune in!

PODCAST EPISODE 2: Manuka King Rob Waddell from Grand Ridge Nursery

It was three years ago that I met nursey owner, bee lover and plant genius Rob Waddell at the Coonara Beekeeping Club in Ferntree Gully, Victoria. As plants are the key to making bees happy, I was struck with Rob’s incredible wealth of knowledge, especially when it came to Australian natives and the magical Manuka tree responsible for the medicinal variety of honey that we should all be tucking into as wintertime hits. For this reason, I am beyond delighted to introduce Rob to the BEES WITH BEN podcast!

Rob Waddell is a passionate bloke, a generous soul and a lover of nature. He is the owner of Grand Ridge Nursery at Seaview which stocks an incredible selection of native plants and provides a wonderful tree planting and propagations service. With an incredible amount of knowledge under his belt, Rob is the perfect guy to help you with your native plant needs, and a local go-to for tips and information on the remarkable Manuka plant. And if there is one thing that Rob and I have in common, it’s a love of Manuka. And so much of what I know about Manuka, I learnt from Rob! In fact, I recently planted 100 trees myself, based on his advice, on my family’s property in the Yarra Valley, and I am dying to see them grow over the years.

As Rob’s website states, the Chinese proverb tells, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now". So why is right now the (second) best time to plant your Manuka trees? Manuka partnered with hungry bees makes the kind of magical honey that not only tastes great but has countless antiviral, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant medicinal benefits and qualities. Manuka honey is produced by bees that pollinate the flowers of the manuka bush (Leptospermum scoparium) which is native to New Zealand and south-eastern Australia. So, what makes manuka honey special? Manuka’s unique trait is its high antibacterial quality – its active ingredient, Methylglyoxal, is most likely responsible for these effects, and this honey variety has traditionally been used for wound healing, preventing tooth decay, soothing sore throats, and improving digestive issues. Strong stuff!

So, with the chills of winter setting in, now is the perfect time to listen in on Episode 2 of the BEES WITH BEN podcast as I chat with Rob about the countless benefits of magical Manuka honey, the best way to plant Manuka trees, the ins and outs of running a nursery, and why native plants should hold a special place in all Australians hearts.

PODCAST EPISODE 1: Simeon Valkenburg from Valkenburg Apiaries

It doesn’t happen every day, so when you meet someone that you know will be both a friend and mentor, it’s a glorious moment. That was the exact feeling I had when I first met Simeon Valkenburgback in 2016, making Episode One of the BEES WITH BEN podcast super special.

It was early springtime in Townsville, and Simeon and his brother Paul were part of a group of us – six beekeepers in total – who got together and volunteered to help with the Asian Honeybee varroa mite incursion that happened there at that time. I soon realised I was amongst very incredible company, and our experience working together in the far north was eye-opening, bonding and inspiring. The Valkenburg brothers are beekeepers based in South Australia. Together they run Valkenburg Apiaries, as well as invaluable initiatives such as the Beekeepers Field Day in Renmark, which educates about the vital connection between bees and almond production. Incredibly passionate, dedicated, politically engaged, and hardworking, Simeon and Paul are easily some, if not the, best commercial beekeepers I know in Australia.

As Simeon describes, a commercial beekeeping venture needs to be built on both passion and integrity, no matter how your business grows: “Together with my brother Paul, I have been working for a number of years building our beekeeping business. We manage over a thousand hives, which is generally considered a medium sized operation by South Australian standards. We derive most of our turnover from bulk honey production. When it comes to managing an apiary business, it is the bee husbandry part which particularly captures my interest. In our opinion, the keynote to commercial success in the beekeeping industry is contained in the old adage, ‘If you look after your bees, they will look after you’.” With a focus on positive communication and reciprocated benefits with land holders in their area, the brothers honey production and pollination services have earnt them a stellar reputation – they understand the importance of a mutually beneficial relationship with other farmers and community members, and this integrity shines through in their work on so many levels.

Since we first met in far north Queensland, I have had a great deal to do with Simeon at conventions and events around the country.  For this reason, it is a total pleasure to be able to introduce you, the Ben’s Bees community, to Simeon himself, as we chat about Valkenburg Apiaries, bee nutrition, and the highlights and challenges of running a commercial beekeeping business in Australia. Tune in!

For any of you that know me, I love a good yarn. One the of the best things about my job is getting out and about with local people, sharing the knowledge I have about bees, the environment, produce, gardening and healthy living.

And I have lots of experience getting on my soapbox! For years now, I have been a representative at local and international conferences. I have appeared on popular TV and radio programs (including The Project, ABC radio, Network Ten News, and Channel Nine’s reality show, Dream Job). I have launched educational programs and books (such as, children’s publication, The Bee Book, promoted on Channel Seven, Tasmania). I have mentored new beekeepers in their practice, one-on-one, in person and online. I have also been an active teacher in the community, travelling around from school to school, town hall to town hall, community centre to community centre. My sell-out courses have proved to be great fun and very popular, as they are driven by my passion for spreading the word about bees, beekeeping, sustainability and local produce. And, (drumroll) I have a podcast on the way! I understand the importance of being entertaining, welcoming my guests, making everyone feel involved, and passing on the love of bees in a way that is accessible and promotes positive change!

www.bensbees.com.au