Today John is joined once again by Miss Tara Chapman from Two Hives Honey.  Tara teaches us about honey crystallization, what it means, and the four main factors that contribute to this process.  This is key knowledge to help you better understand the process, how you can use it to your advantage, and how to better educate the end consumer about your honey.  The pair also catch up on current life events and share some successes and challenges from this beekeeping season.  Tune in now for one exceptional interview!

This year’s honey harvest has come and gone, and it is leaving a few tears in its wake.  John discusses how the main apiary did this year, or rather, how much it didn’t do at all.  The bizarre weather patterns have definitely taken their toll on the nectar flow and John gives a few stark examples of how much of an impact it will have on this year’s honey sales.  If you’re feeling the strain this season, tune in now and join in on the harvest woes.

This episode coils up and strikes at the heart of a slippery subject… Snakes in the bee yard.  There are all kinds of different critters out there that we often don’t notice as we go about our bee business, focused on what has become a habitual process of tasks.  But that doesn’t mean that those critters don’t notice us as we go about our work.  Some of these critters might cause us to do way more harm to ourselves then they ever could on their own as we try to escape a sudden unexpected encounter.  But a few of these critters can pose a great danger to the unaware beekeeper who is focused on their routine and not paying attention to their surroundings.  Tune in now to hear a few close encounters of the slithering kind and remember to be mindful of your surroundings when out in nature.

Recently the gang got together to host a LIVE Natural Beekeeping question and answer session.  Nathalie and John answer questions ranging from keeping survivor stock, to doing brood breaks, and even hive inspection frequency.  Tune in now to hear this and more for this months Natural Beekeeping Corner.

In this episode the guys discuss some of the challenges this season has presented with some areas having a sparse nectar flow and the decisions that beekeepers might be faced with because of those circumstances.  John gives a reminder on colonies shutting down brood production during periods of extreme heat and periods of dearth, and a thought experiment in possible queen issues.  Plus, its time for another stop by Ken’s Cooking Corner!  Tune in now for this and more!

In this round of listener questions we hear from Mike B., Jared M., Ben I., and Connor S.  Topics include how to not go broke doing removals, bees not drawing wax on foundation, using all deep boxes, insulating hives for winter, and open feeding.  Tune in now for a smorgasbord of beekeeping information!

The guys have some corrections they need to make regarding speculations that were made in last week’s episodes.  It turns out not all of the pertinent information was provided regarding Ken’s recent HopGuard III experience and this omission completely changes the outcome of that conversation.  John then proceeds to carry that same message through the rest of the episode to try and drive the point home one last time.  Granted, after three years, he may just be beating a dead horse… so to speak.

In this very extended episode, the guys go back and cover a few items that they had meant to include in previous episodes but kept forgetting.  Ken is up to his old tricks of pulling things out of left field which will keep everyone on their toes, and John discusses how the bees will backfill into the brood nest this time of year and what that means.  Plus, it is the first episode for July, which means it is time for another Natural Beekeeping Corner segment.  This month, Nathalie is joined by Les Crowder!  The pair will discuss the background Les comes from as well as his approach to Natural Beekeeping.  Tune in now for this extended episode!

Today the guys are prompted by Jacob to discuss some important questions you should ask if you are considering buying used equipment.  Ken has a question about swarm traps and direction the entrance should be facing.  Plus, it is time for another edition of Ken’s Cooking Corner.  So tune in now to hear these topics and a few other tidbits in your weekly dose of Bee infotainment.

John and Ken talk about potentially relocating some of Ken’s swarms out to his remote property and implementing some selective breeding and re-queening.  John tells the story of a recent hive relocation due to the bee's extreme defensive behaviors.  Ken has also had a swarm move into a two-inch thick Topbar hive that he had setting outside his house and his wife says it needs to move… so the guys discuss the best method and timing needed in order to accomplish that.  Plus, Ken has been reading online and thinks a colony might have had American Foul Brood.  Could this be possible?  Tune in now to find out.