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, and commercial beekeepers managing thousands. They share practical advice on keeping colonies warm, ventilated, and dry, while considering different hive types—from 8- and 10-frame Langstroths to top bars and even polystyrene boxes.

Kim emphasized that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach: the best method is the one that works for your bees and your climate. Jim recalls beekeeping practices from the past and wonders how modern materials might make things easier. Together, they remind listeners that preparation is essential—whether that means insulation, moisture management, or simply ensuring adequate food reserves.

This archive episode offers timeless reminders for beekeepers everywhere: have a plan, protect your bees, and adapt your strategies to your operation size and environment.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

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Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

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. Feeding thick syrup, ventilation debates, and insulation strategies also come into focus.

Jim emphasizes the importance of making tough choices now—taking losses in fall rather than in midwinter—so equipment, comb, and bees are better positioned for spring. Episode 250 offers both reflection and encouragement, helping beekeepers act decisively as they finish preparing their colonies for the cold months ahead.

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Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

______________________

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew explores the challenges of fall honey and testy bees during the autumn flow. What begins as a calm reflection on goldenrod and fall asters quickly turns into an unexpectedly lively encounter with defensive bees. Jim describes multiple stings, determined pursuit by guard bees, and how hive temperament can shift overnight—even in colonies that had been calm the day before.

Moving beyond the sting drama, Jim turns his attention to the autumn landscape: 40 acres of goldenrod and asters, monarch butterflies drifting past, and the distinctive smell of fall honey. He reflects on why goldenrod doesn’t always deliver the honey crop beekeepers hope for, how drought can limit nectar production, and how this season’s flow may not produce much surplus honey.

Jim closes with lessons from letting his yard grow wild into a natural pollinator paradise—an unintended success after he stopped mowing—and wrestles with the balance between letting nature take over and maintaining clear access to the hives for safety. Whether you’re heading into fall with booming colonies or just enjoying the last warm days of the season, this episode is a reminder that beekeeping always holds surprises.

______________________

Thanks to Betterbee for sponsoring today's episode. Betterbee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, Betterbee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

______________________

Honey Bee Obscura is brought to you by Growing Planet Media, LLC, the home of Beekeeping Today Podcast.

Music: Heart & Soul by Gyom, All We Know by Midway Music; Christmas Avenue by Immersive Music; original guitar music by Jeffrey Ott

Cartoons by: John Martin (Beezwax Comics)

Copyright © 2025 by Growing Planet Media, LLC