Bee Love Beekeeping... presented by Mann Lake

What gear do beginning beekeepers need? What PPE do you need? Where do you place your hives? Where do you buy your bees? Smokers? Hive tools? All of these questions, and more, are answered here in Part 2 of our discussion with beekeepers, Kim & Steph.
The "Inside the Hive" segment highlights the honey bee waggle dance, including new research showing individual bees navigate far more precisely than the dance itself can communicate.
The episode concludes with a candid look at beekeeping philosophy, from treatment-free approaches to conventional varroa management. Steph shares a hard-learned lesson from losing a colony by avoiding treatment, and both hosts encourage rookie beekeepers to reflect on their own values, connect with local clubs or online communities, and stay open to evolving their approach over time.
VIDEO VERSION
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5% Discount on Live Bees, Beginner Essentials, and Bee-Friendly Plant Seeds at Mann Lake: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/honey-bees/
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-components/beginner-essentials/
Discount Code: GETSTARTEDINBEES
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10% Discount Primal Bee Hives: PrimalBee.com/BEELOVE
Discount Code: BEELOVE
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Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/
Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your first $100 order.
Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]
Kim & Steph: https://linktr.ee/MannLakeBeekeepingCommunity

Don't Start Beekeeping Until You Have Made These 10 Decisions (Part 1)
Host Eric Bennett sits down with Kim and Steph — seasoned beekeepers and popular TikTok content creators — to kick off an exciting multi-episode series covering the 10 most important decisions aspiring beekeepers need to make before taking the leap into beekeeping.
Kim and Steph bring years of hands-on experience working with honey bees, and their enthusiasm and practical wisdom make this an essential listen for anyone considering starting their beekeeping journey.
The episode also features a fascinating "Inside the Hive" educational segment on swarming behavior, that gives both new and experienced beekeepers a deeper appreciation for just how remarkable honey bees truly are.
Whether you're a total beginner who has never been within ten feet of a hive, or a seasoned beekeeper looking to fill in a few gaps in your knowledge, this episode is packed with actionable insights, honest real-world advice, and plenty of laughs along the way.
Eric, Kim, and Steph cover everything from the philosophical ("why do you even want to do this?") to the practical ("what kind of box should I buy?"), making this one of the most comprehensive beginner-focused beekeeping conversations you'll find anywhere.
VIDEO VERSION
________________
5% Discount on Live Bees, Beginner Essentials, and Bee-Friendly Plant Seeds at Mann Lake: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/honey-bees/
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-components/beginner-essentials/
Discount Code: GETSTARTEDINBEES
_________________
10% Discount Primal Bee Hives: PrimalBee.com/BEELOVE
Discount Code: BEELOVE
________________
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/
[email protected]
Kim & Steph: https://linktr.ee/MannLakeBeekeepingCommunity

In this heartfelt and information-packed episode of Bee Love Beekeeping, we begin with an important update on new research revealing that neonicotinoid pesticides are even more harmful to honeybees than previously understood. Every beekeeper needs this information.
From there, we head “Inside the Hive” to explore one of nature’s most fascinating transformations: how a queen bee and a worker bee start as identical eggs, and how just three days of royal jelly determines a worker bee's destiny. We also dive into the dramatic piping and dueling of emerging queen bees.
Then, in a special Valentine’s-inspired discussion, host Eric welcomes his niece Juniper Bennett—a first-year beekeeper in rural Montana—for a candid and joyful conversation about starting her own apiary. From picking up her bees in an Applebee’s parking lot to homeschooling her kids through hive-building, Juniper shares what it’s like to begin beekeeping with intuition, love, and zero prior experience.
This episode is about more than honey bees and beekeeping. It’s about stewardship, courage, family, and creating a sanctuary—both for pollinators and for ourselves.
VIDEO VERSION
________________
5% Discount on Live Bees, Beginner Essentials, and Bee-Friendly Plant Seeds at Mann Lake: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/honey-bees/
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-components/beginner-essentials/
Discount Code: GETSTARTEDINBEES
_________________
Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/
Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your first $100 order.
Primal Bee: https://primalbee.com/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]
Juniper Bennett: https://www.onleorganics.com/

Beekeeping Winterization, Mentors, Varroa, Single Brood Management, Swarms, Advice for New Beekeepers... This episode is packed!
In this episode of Bee Love Beekeeping, we dive deep into the world of honeybees and the humans who care for them. From a poetic opening that celebrates the harmony of the hive to practical, boots-on-the-ground advice, this episode blends wonder with real-world beekeeping wisdom.
We kick off a new weekly segment, Inside the Hive, exploring how bees survive winter by clustering, vibrating to generate heat, and carefully managing their honey stores. Then, recorded live from the North American Honey Bee Expo, we sit down with beekeeper, educator, and YouTuber Josh Scott of Bees in the Weeds.
Josh shares his journey into beekeeping during the pandemic, how to navigate the overwhelming flood of online advice, and why mentorship and local bee clubs matter more than ever.
The conversation goes deep into winter preparation, mite management, feeding strategies, and Josh’s preferred method of single brood management—including its advantages, challenges, and how to manage swarming behavior.
Whether you’re brand new to beekeeping or a seasoned beekeeper refining your management style, this episode is packed with insight, perspective, and a reminder that there’s more than one right way to keep bees.
VIDEO VERSION
________________
Discount on Live Bees & Beginner Essentials at Mann Lake: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/honey-bees/
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-components/beginner-essentials/
Discount Code: GETSTARTEDINBEES
_________________
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://primalbee.com/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]
Josh Scott: https://www.youtube.com/@beesintheweeds

In this information-packed episode of Bee Love Beekeeping, we welcome master beekeeper Deborah Klughers for a rapid-fire deep dive into practical, real-world beekeeping.
Building off her legendary “100+ tips” for beekeepers presentation, Deb shares hard-earned lessons on feeding strategies, hive stands, smoker safety, mite monitoring, drone brood management, and even the controversial—but fascinating—role of bee venom in beekeeper health.
From her favorite baggie feeder system and why warm syrup matters, to a cautionary tale about toxic cinder blocks and treated pallets, Deb emphasizes that small management decisions can have life-or-death consequences for honey bee colonies. She also challenges conventional mite-testing wisdom, explaining why drone brood inspection and culling gives her clearer insight than alcohol washes alone.
The conversation closes with a thought-provoking discussion on bee venom exposure, apitherapy, and why Deb believes beekeepers should rethink their relationship with stings—followed by her most important advice of all: listen to the bees. This episode is equal parts practical instruction, cautionary storytelling, and deep respect for the wisdom of the beehive.
Video Version
________________
Discount on Live Bees & Beginner Essentials at Mann Lake: https://www.mannlakeltd.com/honey-bees/
https://www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-components/beginner-essentials/
Discount Code: GETSTARTEDINBEES
_________________
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/
[email protected]
Deb Klughers: https://bonacbees.com/index.html https://www.instagram.com/bonacbees