Bob Ford of Sticky Bee Honey Farm in southern Minnesota is living proof that beekeepers never do anything halfway. What started as two hives quickly ballooned to 65–80 before his back had other ideas.

Now running 40–45 hives, Bob shares the joys and heartbreaks of Minnesota beekeeping — where you can survive a brutal winter only to watch colonies mysteriously collapse during a "false spring" a few weeks later.

He also gets real about varroa mite management, wind exposure, and the sad reality of neighboring beekeepers who just let their bees die every year and buy new packages in the spring.

But the real fun is in Bob's beekeeping business side hustles. Not content to just sell jars of honey at farmers markets, he designed a centrifugal honey straw filler (which once redecorated his entire open-concept kitchen in a fine mist of honey), built a food trailer selling honey lemonade and honey kettle corn, and 3D printed custom honey dippers with his logo on top.

Oh, and during nine months of post-surgery bed rest, he wrote 25–30 children's books starring a little bee named Sticky. Because apparently when Bob can't work, he still can't stop working.

Video Version of This Episode

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Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

Bob Ford/Sticky Bee Honey Farms: https://sites.google.com/ibinc.us/sticky-bee-honey-farms/home http://amazon.com/author/stickybeehoneyfarms

Brian Schmitz keeps bees on Orcas Island in Washington's San Juan Islands — a place so peaceful and remote that residents refer to trips to the mainland as "going to America."

A pandemic-era beekeeper turned 30-colony operator, Brian navigates a uniquely temperate maritime climate where the ocean acts as a natural air conditioner. He's also the reigning salmon derby champion at his local American Legion post, a title unchallenged since 2019 — and yes, he's proud of it.

The real action comes when yellow jackets enter the picture. Brian and host Eric Bennett dig into one of the Pacific Northwest's most brutal beekeeping challenges — a pest so aggressive it can take down even a thriving, booming colony.

From hardware cloth entrance reducers to decoy wasp nests to the wildly effective "raw chicken over soapy water" trap, Brian shares every trick in his arsenal. He also opens up about beekeeping ethics, responsible swarm management, and why working his hives brings him the same calm focus he relies on as a professional ship's navigator.

This one's a great listen.

Video Version of This Episode

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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.

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Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com

Brian: IslandBeeSupply@gmail.com

Beekeeping Advice from Dr. Sammy Ramsey!

In this episode of Bee Love Beekeeping, host Eric Bennett welcomes Dr. Samuel (Sammy) Ramsey — PhD entomologist, National Geographic Explorer, and producer of the new Disney+ and Hulu documentary series Secrets of the Bees.

Dr. Ramsey shares what it was like collaborating with James Cameron and National Geographic, how filmmakers captured never-before-seen footage inside a beehive using endoscopy cameras and high-speed rigs, and what it meant to contribute both as a scientist and a vocalist to the project.

The conversation then dives deep into honey bee health: the looming threat of Tropilaelaps mites, the true mechanics of Varroa damage, and the great sugar roll vs. alcohol wash debate — with Dr. Ramsey offering a nuanced, research-backed take on why the sugar roll still has a legitimate place in a beekeeper's toolkit.

The episode closes with Dr. Ramsey's top advice for new and experienced beekeepers alike — including a reminder that beekeeping is a team sport — and a hilarious (and instructive) wild beekeeping story involving a bee, an ear canal, and an emergency room visit that ends with a bee named Beyoncé.

Video Version of This Episode

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• Discount Code: SHOWMETHECOLOR

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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.

Secrets of the Bees: https://www.disneyplus.com/browse/entity-059dc4ee-f790-476d-82b3-e418c1f96780

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Eric@BeeLoveBeekeeping.com