Bee Love Beekeeping... presented by Mann Lake

Naked & Afraid Beekeeping

In this fun episode of Bee Love Beekeeping, host Eric Bennett sits down with Tara Skubella and Darrin Reay — survivalists best known from Discovery Channel's Naked and Afraid — to talk all things honey bees and beekeeping. The duo shares their passion project: a custom apitherapy bee hut built atop four Langstroth hives, where visitors breathe healing pheromones and soak up therapeutic vibrations without a single sting. ______________ $10 off your next order! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] • Discount Code: MLBEELOVE10 _________________ Darren, a fabricator-turned-beekeeper with 13 hives and three consecutive winters of zero colony loss, also breaks down his smart insulation strategy — R40 on the lid, R10 on the walls — mimicking how wild bees survive in hollow trees and cliff crevices. Tara balances Darrin's nuts-and-bolts beekeeping approach by describing herself as a "bee alchemist" who leads breathwork retreats inside the hut and helps guests build genuine relationships with their colonies. Throw in Darrin's chaotic story of catching a swarm from atop a truck bed with a stepladder, Tara's near-miss with Africanized killer bees in Panama, and a beekeeper who runs a queen retirement home, and you've got one of the most entertaining beekeeping conversations you'll hear all year. Video Version of This Episode [https://youtu.be/cXCw4FMJTRw] Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your next order. Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/] https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/] Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com [Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com] Tara & Darrin: https://www.beezenhuts.com/ [https://www.beezenhuts.com/] https://www.instagram.com/alpinewonderer/ [https://www.instagram.com/alpinewonderer/] https://www.instagram.com/tskubella/ [https://www.instagram.com/tskubella/]

Bee Venom Therapy • Drone Races • Making Queens

Hold onto your veils, because this week's episode is a wild ride through the wonderful world of beekeeping with Ohio-based guest Emily Mueller, a certified master herbalist, doctoral student, homeschooling mom of four, and — most importantly — a certified crazy bee lady. Beekeeper Emily schooled us on the art of drone races, the jaw-dropping healing powers of propolis for cavities and cold sores, and bee venom therapy, which she's been administering to herself and others for more than a decade. ______________ $10 off your next order! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] • Discount Code: MLBEELOVE10 _________________ Emily also walked us through her swarm removal business, her queen-rearing process, her propolis mineral paste (6,000 jars sold!), and the time she caught a flying queen mid-air with her bare hands from the top of a 50-foot ladder. She's also the beekeeper who talks to her bees, scolds them when they misbehave, and credits the hive with giving her a meditative calm she never found elsewhere. Whether you're a seasoned beekeeper or just bee-curious, this episode delivers equal parts science, soul, and sheer chaos. Video Version of This Episode [https://youtu.be/uUzwYeK5FbQ] Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your next order. Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/] https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/] Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com [Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com] Emily Mueller: https://www.muellerhoneybee.org/ [https://www.muellerhoneybee.org/] https://www.facebook.com/MuellerHoneyBee [https://www.facebook.com/MuellerHoneyBee]

Secrets of Sustainable Beekeeping - With Beekeeper Michael Scott

What happens when bees ignore your perfectly prepared swarm trap and instead move into a beat-up, broken-lidded box on a woodshed floor? Pure beekeeping magic, apparently. Host Eric Bennett, kicks off this episode with exactly that delightful chaos before welcoming guest Michael Scott from Indiana, Pennsylvania — a town whose name exists solely to confuse people. The two dive deep into sustainable beekeeping, covering everything from honey colors (light and citrusy tulip poplar vs. dark, rich knotweed) to the idea that the best beekeeper might just be the one who gets out of the bees' way and lets them do their thing. ______________ $10 off your next order! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] • Discount Code: MLBEELOVE10 _________________ Michael drops some serious wisdom: real sustainable beekeeping isn't just about you not buying bees — it's about making life better for every bee in your area, including the feral population buzzing around that nobody's counting. He makes a compelling case for ethical beekeeping, warns against importing bees from out of state, and introduces his clever Renaissance Hive, inspired by Anasazi cliff dwellings. He also shares a wild first-removal story involving a very angry colony, a lot of running, and what can only be described as full-body flailing. The takeaway? Beekeepers who listen to their bees — rather than just lecture them — are the ones who thrive. Video Version of This Episode [https://youtu.be/RIpOpEJHFAU] Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your next order. Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/] https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/] Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com [Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com] Michael Scott: https://thethrivinghive.com/index.html [https://thethrivinghive.com/index.html]

Long Langstroth Hive - Custom Designed, Hand Built, Hand Milled

Heroic news for a bee truck traveling the mountains of Utah... Bees on the loose at the White House... And building a beautiful long lang hive! This episode of Bee Love Beekeeping features host Eric Bennett in conversation with Curtis "Jack Lumber" Nielsen, a first-year beekeeper from British Columbia, Canada, who dove headfirst into beekeeping by building his own custom hive from scratch. Rather than purchasing a standard setup, Jack designed and milled an impressive 80-inch long langstroth hive almost entirely from a single log harvested on his own property. Thick two-inch walls, spring-loaded recycled freezer hinges on the hefty lid, and a screened bottom complete this beautiful hive. ________________ $10 off your next order! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] • Discount Code: MLBEELOVE10 _________________ A central theme in Jack's beekeeping philosophy is the "condensing hive method." This approach runs counter to conventional beekeeping wisdom about ventilation, which made for a lively discussion. Jack is currently setting swarm traps baited with lemongrass oil and old brood frames, hoping to catch his first colony from the wild. The host wrapped up by praising Jack's DIY craftsmanship and open-minded approach, inviting him back in five years to report on how his unique long langstroth performs — and whether every one of his thoughtful design choices paid off. Video Version of This Episode [https://youtu.be/5p78DpzOfSM] Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] Mann Lake discount code: MLBEELOVE10 for $10 off your next order. Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/] https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/] Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com [Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com] Jack Lumber: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082090891829171/user/61575394157709 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082090891829171/user/61575394157709]

"My Biggest Beekeeping Mistakes" - Lauren Doninger

Buckle up, honey lovers — this episode is a wild ride through the wonderfully chaotic world of beekeeping with Connecticut backyard beekeeper Lauren Doninger! Before diving into the conversation, host Eric drops ten mind-blowing facts about honey bees (spoiler: they might understand the concept of zero and play soccer). Then Lauren takes us through her approach to swarm catching, the vertical split technique, condensing hives, her biggest beekeeping mistakes and a ton more! She also gives us a peek into her utterly charming self-service honey stand, where neighbors stop by, grab a jar, and leave cash or Venmo on the honor system. Because that's just the kind of beekeeper Lauren is. Lauren doesn't shy away from the messy parts of beekeeping either. She shares cringe-worthy (and relatable) rookie mistakes, and — the crown jewel of disaster stories — leaving her slider door open with 20+ frames of honey on the porch, only to come home to a full-scale robbing frenzy with thousands of honey bees in her house. Through it all, Lauren's message is clear: make mistakes, learn from them, treat your mites, and lean on your beekeeping community — because beekeepers, she says, are simply the best people. Video Version of This Episode [https://youtu.be/ZIjCkXB-21E] ________________ 10% Discount on Color Collection [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/hives-components/] hive kits. https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [https://www.mannlakeltd.com/] • Discount Code: SHOWMETHECOLOR _________________ Special thanks to our presenting sponsor, Mann Lake! https://www.mannlakeltd.com/ [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/follow/] https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/ [https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/] Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com [Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com] Lauren: https://yellowhousehoney.com/ [https://yellowhousehoney.com/]