In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew takes listeners into the bee yard for what he calls a "bee scene investigation"—a hands-on look at two colonies that failed over winter and what can (and cannot) be learned from their remains.

What begins as a straightforward inspection quickly becomes something more reflective. Jim encounters unusual signs, including a colony where the bees died not in a typical cluster—an observation that raises more questions than answers. While signs like dysentery, lack of stores, and robbing activity provide some clues, the exact cause remains uncertain.

Jim walks through his thought process in real time, considering possibilities such as queen failure, Varroa impact, or simple colony decline. Importantly, he highlights a reality all beekeepers face: sometimes even experienced beekeepers cannot definitively diagnose a colony loss.

The episode also explores the role of robbing in the yard, both as a cleanup mechanism and as a source of agitation among colonies. Jim reflects on management decisions—some intentional, others simply practical—including allowing bees to clean out dead equipment and reducing colony numbers due to local conditions.

This Plain Talk episode captures the uncertainty, curiosity, and ongoing learning that define beekeeping—especially when things don't go as expected.

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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 © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

What does it really mean to put new bees into old equipment—and what does that decision say about how we keep bees? In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Dr. Jim Tew takes a broader, more reflective look at a common springtime practice.

Using the simple scenario of installing new bees into old hives, Jim explores the practical, experiential, and sometimes philosophical aspects of beekeeping. While equipment reuse is part of the discussion, the deeper focus is on how beekeepers make decisions—often balancing thrift, convenience, experience, and risk.

Jim reflects on the realities of older equipment, including wear, unknown history, and potential lingering issues, but he avoids prescribing rigid rules. Instead, he emphasizes that beekeeping decisions are rarely absolute. What works for one beekeeper—or one season—may not work the same way under different conditions.

This Plain Talk episode highlights how experience shapes judgment over time. New beekeepers may look for clear right-or-wrong answers, while more experienced beekeepers learn to weigh trade-offs and accept uncertainty as part of the craft.

At its core, this discussion is less about woodenware and more about mindset—how beekeepers approach their colonies, make decisions, and gradually develop confidence through observation and experience.

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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 © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew reflects on attending a recent Tri-County beekeeping meeting—one he helped organize years ago while working at the OSU Research Center in Wooster, Ohio. His plan was to record conversations with beekeepers at the event and capture some of the voices and stories from the meeting. But sometimes plans change. A packed room, wind, and background noise made recording nearly impossible.

Back at the bee yard, Jim shares his impressions of the day instead.

Standing in the barn on a cool early-spring afternoon, he describes the signs of the season beginning to unfold: temperatures near 50°F, clear blue skies, and maple trees beginning to bloom—an important early pollen source that signals colonies to start building up.

The meeting itself reminded Jim how valuable local beekeeper gatherings can be. Bee clubs and regional meetings bring together people with all levels of experience, creating opportunities to ask questions, share stories, and pass along practical knowledge that doesn't always appear in books.

For longtime beekeepers, these gatherings also become part of a personal history—places where friendships develop and where the shared experiences of keeping bees accumulate over time.

Even without the interviews he hoped to capture, Jim reflects on the spirit of the day: early spring in the bee yard and the enduring importance of beekeepers coming together to talk about bees.

______________________

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 © 2026 by Growing Planet Media, LLC