Opening was recorded at Apimondia in Copenhagen. This episode blends field notes and a feel-good interview with Elsa Gallagher of the Bee & Butterfly Habitat Fund.

Practical beekeeping takeaways: habitat is the foundation for bees, and forage diversity consistently outperforms monocultures.

Gallagher explains how her team equips landowners with locally adapted seed mixes: a native “picture” bordered by a clover-rich “bee mix,” free for 2–25 acre projects and cost-share above that. She outlines city and campus pathways, from park strips to roadside plantings, stressing the power of local champions.

For small yards, the advice is simple: mow less, overseed Dutch white clover, reduce pesticides, and plant bloom succession—willows in spring, clovers and phacelia in summer, sunflowers and asters in fall.

Monarch support is easy too: add common or swamp milkweed; the butterflies find it.

We also discuss pesticide realities, mosquito spraying, and why building habitat reduces chemical dependence over time.

Whether you run two hives or a commercial yard, this conversation centers love of bees, resilient beekeeping, and healthier landscapes for every honey bee. and beyond.

It's all about having fun while we learn about beekeeping and sharing the love of honey bees!

Video Version: https://youtu.be/yE7KGAFg6IE

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/

Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your first $100 order.

https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/

Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

https://www.beeandbutterflyfund.org/

"It was sheer panic!" That's how Amber explains her wild & crazy beekeeping story.

In this episode of Bee Love Beekeeping, we open with a poetic ode to honeybees and a couple of “beekeeper bloopers,” then sit down with Amber Leach, North American Sales Manager at Veto-Pharma.

We dig into Varroa Integrated Pest Management (IPM): why testing before and after treating matters, how to avoid resistance through rotation and correct use, and what’s new in Apivar 2.0.

Amber breaks down Varroa EasyCheck (alcohol wash, sugar roll, CO₂), shares high-altitude lessons from 7,500 ft, and explains why commercial beekeepers treat mite management like a business decision.

We wrap with winter-prep priorities, a humbling bee sting story, and practical, step-by-step fall beekeeping checklists.

It's all about having fun while we learn about beekeeping and sharing the love of honey bees!

Chapters

• 00:00 – Cold open: a honeybee’s harmony
• 01:22 – Welcome + fall Varroa reality check
• 01:56 – Beekeeper bloopers: honey-soaked suit & the hose trap; “bees sense fear”
• 03:57 – Guest intro: Amber Leach
• 06:32 – Veto Pharma’s focus: testing → treatment for Varroa
• 07:48 – Varroa EasyCheck: alcohol, sugar, CO₂—how/why to use each
• 09:39 – Habits, misuse, and how resistance happens (human factors)
• 12:16 – Amitraz & Apivar: role, history, and resistance nuance
• 14:24 – Apivar 2.0: formulation changes, faster profile, handling, no withholding
• 15:46 – Storage & correct application basics
• 16:04 – Ad break: Mann Lake honey harvest essentials
• 17:09 – Packages/nucs: don’t assume mite-free; questions to ask
• 20:28 – High-altitude beekeeping & the power of journaling
• 22:02 – Winter prep priorities: mites first; food & windbreaks
• 24:24 – Amber’s “hot hive” sting story (panic isn’t a plan)
• 28:58 – What hobbyists can borrow from commercial keepers: treat it like a business
• 31:53 – Case study: high counts + slow-release treatment expectations
• 34:56 – Start early (July!), be consistent, and retest
• 35:49 – Wrap-up, contacts, and sponsor thanks

Video Version: https://youtu.be/dG35F1qUDDg

__________________

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/

Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your first $100 order.

https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/

Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

Amber: info@veto-pharma.com https://www.veto-pharma.com/

How many sources of income do your beehives produce? If it's just honey sales and a few wax products, you will want to listen to this episode!

In this week's Bee-Love Beekeeping, we explore the magic of honeybee navigation and take a trip to Hawaii’s North Shore to meet beekeeper Katie Metzger, founder of Hanai Hives.

We kick off with a look at groundbreaking research on honeybee eyesight, revealing how these incredible insects read the polarized sky to travel miles and return home without losing their way—even on cloudy days. Then, we dive into Katie’s inspiring beekeeping journey, from her start in California school gardens to leading apiaries in Hawaii.

She shares how she built Hanai Hives, a community-driven beekeeping venture that blends education, agritourism, and honey production.

Together we discuss:

• Beekeeping in Hawaii’s unique microclimates

• The challenges and opportunities of turning beekeeping into a business

• Her hive adoption and hosting programs

• Agritourism experiences like bee farm tours and honey tastings

• Pest management strategies for varroa mites, small hive beetles, and ants

The Hawaiian concepts of Hanai (adoption/nurturing) and Kuleana (deep responsibility), and how they guide her approach to bees and community.

Katie also shares a really unusual wild beekeeping story, her philosophy on mentoring, and how love and responsibility—not just honey or money—drive her work. It's all about having fun while we learn about beekeeping and sharing the love of honey bees!

Video Version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woCzQlxypRU

__________________

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ Mann

Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your first $100 order.

https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/

Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

https://hanaihives.com/

https://royalsocietypublishing.org/do...