When bees overwinter in a tree cavity, they enjoy thick insulation, controlled airflow, and condensation that actually helps them survive. In a Langstroth hive, things look very different, and without adjustments, those differences can cost colonies dearly.

In this episode, I break down what happens inside a natural cavity and compare it to the equipment most of us use today. You will hear how bees manage heat, water, and carbon dioxide in winter, why condensation is not always the enemy, and what steps you can take to make your hives perform more like nature intended.

• Why tree cavities give bees a head start on winter survival
• How clustering really works, from core temps to the outer mantle
• The surprising role of carbon dioxide in calming bees and slowing consumption
• Why water and condensation are vital, but only when they drip below the cluster
• The insulation gap: tree walls vs. Langstroth boxes
• How entrance size and placement change survival odds
• Practical takeaways to prep your colonies for colder months

If you have ever wondered why colonies thrive in trees but struggle in wooden boxes, this episode connects the dots. You will leave with actionable ways to improve your overwintering setup, from insulation strategies to smarter entrance management.

🌐 beekeepingfornewbees.com

📘 bestbeekeepinggear.com

🎥 youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🌱 thehealinghiveproject.org

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.

Winter is coming, and the way you prepare your hives now will determine how strong your colonies are in the spring. In this episode, we go step by step through assessing colony strength, when to combine hives, and what kind of feeding really works. We also break down insulation and ventilation, weighing your hives, and why candy boards and sugar bricks are not the magic fix some people think they are. This is the practical, no-nonsense guide you need before the cold weather sets in.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• How to evaluate colony strength before winter
• When and how to merge weak hives without the newspaper method
• Feeding options: 1:1, 2:1, and 3:2 sugar syrup, plus what to avoid in cold temps
• Why candy boards, sugar bricks, and fondant usually fail
• Using pollen patties wisely without triggering brood too late
• Weighing hives to judge food stores and survival chances
• Insulation, ventilation, and preventing condensation problems
• Cheap and simple gear for securing hives against wind and snow

Why Listen to This Episode?

This episode clears away bad advice and simplifies what works. You will leave with a clear plan to get your bees through winter without wasting money or losing colonies to preventable mistakes.

More Info:

🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com

📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.

This episode focuses on the difference between spring and fall pollen and how seasonal shifts impact bee nutrition. We look at what bees need to raise brood, how they build fat reserves for winter, and why feeding is not the same in every season. At the end of the episode, I share my personal story of 9/11, where I was that day in DC, what I saw, and how it unfolded.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Tree pollen, brood buildup, and spring protein needs
• The role of high-lipid fall pollen in building winter fat bodies
• Why pollen patties are not a one-size-fits-all solution
• What to do when your fall flow never arrives
• How feeding mistakes can backfire going into winter
• A first-hand 9/11 account from DC and how it shaped the day
• The renovation timing that kept my mother away from the Pentagon impact zone

Why Listen to This Episode?

You will gain a clearer understanding of how bee nutrition changes by season and hear a first-hand account of 9/11 that offers perspective and reflection.

More Info:

🌐 https://beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 https://bestbeekeepinggear.com

📺 https://youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 https://discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ https://buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🫶 https://thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.

News of the USDA Beltsville Bee Lab closing has sparked controversy, but what’s fact and what’s fearmongering? In this episode, we dig into the proposed relocation of the nation’s oldest bee research lab and what it means for diagnostics, research, and beekeepers like you. We also take a hard look at the usual claims about bee declines, climate blame, pesticide hysteria, and what the real numbers say about colony health. This one might ruffle some feathers, but it’s a conversation worth having.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• The truth about Beltsville’s shutdown and what might happen next
• Why moving lab services doesn’t mean losing them
• Can private industry or nonprofits step in and do it better?
• Debunking lazy climate arguments with real-world context
• Global honey bee colony counts and why they’re rising
• The almond industry, monoculture problems, and managed pollination
• Why honey bees are the invasive species nobody talks about
• Reframing decline: how growth and loss can coexist

Why Listen to This Episode?

This isn’t just about one lab. It’s about who controls the narrative and how beekeepers get their information. If you’re tired of politics clouding science and fear replacing facts, this episode clears the smoke and brings things back to reality.

More Info:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 Also visit: bestbeekeepinggear.com

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🫶 Learn more about the nonprofit: thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what doesn’t in real-world beekeeping.

Oxalic acid has long been a trusted treatment for Varroa mites, but recent label updates are causing confusion about dosage, legality, and safety. In this episode, we talk through what the updated EPA labels for Api-Bioxal and EZ-OX actually say, why generic wood bleach is not a legal alternative, and how much is too much when vaporizing OA. We also dig into what studies show about dose vs. efficacy, why more isn’t always better, and what to watch out for when combining treatments. If you’ve heard people say “the label changed,” this episode breaks it all down.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Api-Bioxal now approved at 4g per brood box — what that actually means
• EZ-OX’s label vs. Api-Bioxal: different brands, different limits
• Why you can’t legally use generic wood bleach for OA vaporizing
• What new research shows about 5g+ doses and delayed colony losses
• The risk of vaporizing OA with honey supers still on
• Proper PPE and how inhaling vaporized OA can damage your lungs
• Why rotating treatments is more important than ever
• Apiguard vs. Apivar confusion: why amitraz resistance is important to understand

Why Listen to This Episode?

Whether you're brand new to OA or a seasoned vaporizer, the treatment landscape is changing. This episode helps you stay compliant, effective, and safe while keeping your bees healthy and your colonies thriving.

More Info:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 Also visit: bestbeekeepinggear.com

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🫶 Learn more about the nonprofit: thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% globally ranked podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what doesn’t in real-world beekeeping.

Fall swarms aren’t just a myth, and in some areas, they’re happening right now. While most beekeepers associate swarming with spring, certain late-season conditions can trigger it all over again. In this episode, we break down what those triggers are, how to recognize the signs, and what to do if your bees get the fall swarm bug. We also clear up the confusion between fall bearding and true swarm behavior, and talk about what really happens when you see queen cells in September.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• What causes fall swarming and why it’s more than just a lack of space
• How reduced brood pheromone and strong nectar flow can set the stage
• Why fall pollen may not stimulate brood the way spring pollen does
• Why bearding is not the same as swarming but can still be a clue
• Swarm vs. supercedure vs. emergency cells and how to tell them apart
• The dangers of fall swarms for both the swarm and the parent colony
• What to do if you catch a fall swarm or miss it entirely
• Managing space and drawn comb during the fall flow

Why Listen to This Episode?

Understanding the subtle signals of a fall swarm can help you avoid losing a colony right before winter. This episode gives you the tools to recognize the warning signs and respond before it’s too late.

More Info:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 Also visit: bestbeekeepinggear.com

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 Join the Discord community: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Support the podcast: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🫶 Learn more about the nonprofit: thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 1.5% podcast with over 600,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what doesn’t in real-world beekeeping.

As the summer bees finish their work and the fall flow begins, the colony shifts gears. In this episode, we explore how the biology of the honey bee changes for winter, why the nutritional profile of fall forage is different from spring, and what that means for feeding decisions. We talk about cluster sizes, race-specific overwintering tendencies, CO₂ and ventilation in winter, and how to decide what is right for your bees rather than following blanket advice from others.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Quick update on yellow jacket and wasp trap testing
• How to estimate honey yield from a full deep
• Why ordering your 2026 bees early can save you money and stress
• The shift from summer bees to winter bees and what changes biologically
• Fall versus spring forage and how nutrient profiles match seasonal needs
• Deciding on cluster size based on bee race, climate, and goals
• CO₂, ventilation, and keeping entrances open in winter
• Why overwinter feeding should fit your bees and your specific conditions

Why Listen to This Episode?

If you want your colonies strong and ready for spring, understanding the biology and seasonal needs of winter bees is key. This episode gives you practical, fact-backed strategies you can adapt to your own bees, location, and goals.

More Info:

🐝 beekeepingfornewbees.com

📘 bestbeekeepinggear.com

🎥 youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🌱 thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 2% podcast with over 500,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what does not in real-world beekeeping.

Record-breaking heatwaves aren’t just hard on humans — they challenge your colonies too. In this episode, we talk through ways to support your bees during extreme summer temperatures. You’ll learn how hive ventilation works, what role water plays in cooling the colony, and why some popular summer hacks may do more harm than good.

What’s Inside This Episode:

• Why beekeeping forums are flooded with conflicting, often bad information
• How bees manage internal hive temps through fanning, evaporative cooling, and bearding
• A walkthrough of vented inner covers, screened bottom boards, and screened entrance reducers
• What we can (and can’t) learn from tree cavities and natural hive structures
• The critical importance of accessible water in summer heat
• Heat shielding: the wild way bees absorb and relocate thermal energy
• Why opening the hive for “extra ventilation” may backfire — and what to try instead
• A reminder that Varroa doesn’t take the summer off, and why low counts can still mean high viral load

Why Listen to This Episode?

If you’ve ever worried about your bees overheating or wondered how much intervention is too much, this episode offers practical advice and a calming reality check. You'll leave with a better understanding of what bees can handle and what they need from you.

More Info:

🌐 Visit the website: beekeepingfornewbees.com

🔗 Also visit: bestbeekeepinggear.com

📺 YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@beekeepingfornewbees

💬 Join the Discord: discord.gg/XzkqFKrjMJ

☕ Buy Me a Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/beekeepingfornewbees

🫶 Learn more about the nonprofit: thehealinghiveproject.org

About the Podcast:

Beekeeping For Newbees is a top 2% podcast with over 500,000 downloads, helping new and experienced beekeepers grow stronger colonies and make smarter decisions through every season. Listen weekly for practical guidance, swarm stories, and honest takes on what works and what doesn’t in real-world beekeeping.