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

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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.

https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/

Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

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/

Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

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/

Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

Josh Scott: https://www.youtube.com/@beesintheweeds