This week’s podcast is something quite different. Bees with Ben episode 86 consists of a candid chat with commercial beekeeper Tommy Daniels, from Melbourne’s Yarra Valley. Candid because Tommy had no idea that he was being recorded, as Ben called him under the guise of merely having a friendly chat. Ben explains that sometimes beekeepers are quite reticent, and he wanted to make their conversation raw and natural. Of course, immediately after the phone call, Ben called Tommy back to ask for permission to use the recording, which was duly granted - after a few short edits!

Given the fact that Tommy was unaware he was to be the subject of a podcast, one thing that this episode does demonstrate quite clearly is that beekeepers can certainly talk! Tommy reckons he’s a bit burnt out at the moment. He has over 1000 hives to look after, and says his bees are happy and there is a bit of nectar around, but not much honey coming through.

Ben wonders whether Tommy has seen any of the effects of climate change; Tommy says that 20 years ago honey flows were completely different and much more significant than today. The accepted average earn per hive for pollination and honey combined used to be $500, but now it’s more like $300.

It is obviously apparent that Ben and Tommy could talk all night. Ben gets a text that dinner is ready, so he signs off, but not before Tommy makes that berage that most beekeepers love, a hot cup of tea!