In this reflective winter walk-through, Jim Tew returns to the bee yard expecting discouraging losses—but instead finds surprising signs of life. Colonies he believed were gone are flying, cleansing, and holding on after one of the coldest winters in recent memory - miracle bees!

As Jim navigates snow, mud, and the emotional ups and downs of winter beekeeping, he shares candid thoughts about preparation, neglect, resilience, and the seasonal rhythm that every beekeeper eventually learns to accept. The episode explores how enthusiasm for beekeeping naturally waxes and wanes during the long off-season, especially in colder climates where little can be done beyond waiting and hoping.

Jim reflects on differences between warm- and cold-climate beekeeping, the visible evidence of cleansing flights in snowy landscapes, and the quiet science hidden in simple observations—like how far bees travel to die or relieve themselves.

Most importantly, this episode captures a turning point: the emotional shift from winter doubt to early-spring optimism. Even after setbacks, the survival of a few colonies can rekindle motivation and remind beekeepers why they continue year after year.

Sometimes the miracle isn't perfect management—it's simply that the bees made it through.

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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

In this episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew welcomes Anne Frey to explore the practical and often uncertain process of preparing for spring package bees. Together, they discuss one of the most common beekeeper questions—how many colonies to order—highlighting that the answer depends not only on winter losses, but also on personal goals, budget, and the balance between enjoyment and workload in beekeeping.

The conversation then shifts to the realities of transporting packages safely. Jim and Anne emphasize that overheating is the greatest danger during travel, noting the importance of airflow, spacing between packages, and avoiding enclosed vehicles or unnecessary stops that allow temperatures to rise. They share field experiences ranging from hauling large numbers of packages in trucks to improvising cooling strategies with water and ventilation—illustrating how quickly confined bees can become stressed or perish without proper care.

Beyond logistics, the episode reflects on the evolving motivations of beekeepers over time. Jim candidly considers scaling back to a smaller, more enjoyable number of colonies, while Anne reinforces that maintaining fewer hives can still be a meaningful and successful beekeeping path. The discussion ultimately returns to the excitement of beginning each season anew, reminding listeners that thoughtful planning—and keeping beekeeping fun—are just as important as the bees themselves.

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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

Winter doesn't always offer tidy lessons, and in this Plain Talk episode, Jim Tew takes listeners with him into a brutally cold Ohio bee yard. Standing among hives buried in snow after weeks of extreme temperatures, Jim shares an honest, unfiltered look at what it feels like to face possible winter losses—without inspections, without answers, and without easy optimism.

Rather than offering prescriptions or quick fixes, Jim reflects on expectations versus reality. He talks candidly about how weather outside a region's "normal range" can push colonies beyond their limits, even when bees have adequate stores and minimal disturbance. Listeners will hear Jim wrestle with hard questions many beekeepers face quietly: How many colonies should I replace? Packages or splits? What could I have done differently—and what might not have mattered at all?

This episode also touches on broader themes of resilience and perspective. Jim contrasts textbook claims about cold tolerance with lived experience, and he acknowledges the financial and emotional weight winter losses carry, especially later in life. Yet, even in the coldest moments, the episode closes with resolve. Beekeeping is not abandoned because of a bad winter—it's continued because of the good days that come after.

This is Plain Talk at its most raw: reflective, sobering, and deeply familiar to anyone who has ever stood quietly in a winter bee yard wondering what spring will bring.

______________________

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