Bee Love Beekeeping... presented by Mann Lake

"There is no such thing as ORGANIC U.S. honey!" Honey Dumping. Fake Honey & Much more with ABF President, Debbie Seib.
The episode features beekeeper, Debbie Seib, president of the American Beekeeping Federation, who shares her decades-long journey from beginner to industry leader, offering insight into running a large-scale beekeeping operation and the realities of working closely with honey bees.
Throughout the conversation, Debbie emphasizes that successful beekeeping relies heavily on education, mentorship, and adaptability. She discusses common challenges beekeepers face, such as seasonal food shortages, parasite management like varroa mites, and unpredictable environmental conditions that impact bees’ survival.
The episode underscores that there is no single solution to keeping healthy bees—beekeepers must continually learn, rotate treatments, and stay attentive to hive conditions. Ultimately, the discussion reveals that while beekeeping can be demanding, it is deeply rewarding, especially when colonies survive winter and thrive in the spring.
Video Version of This Episode
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10% Discount on Color Collection hive kits. https://www.mannlakeltd.com/
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.

Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]
American Beekeeping Federation: ABFnet.org

Making money selling honey takes business smarts! Catch all the Do's and Don'ts this week as we wrap up a two-part conversation with beekeeper, Danielle Brooks, founder of Honey Truck in St. Augustine, Florida.
Danielle is a former family photographer turned full-time honey entrepreneur who runs a brick-and-mortar shop, farmers market operation, and wholesale distribution business. All while taking care of two children and 10 beehives.
In this episode, she covers the practical side of selling honey — from packaging and customer retention to knowing when to say no to a big opportunity — plus shares some hard-won wisdom about balancing a growing honey business with life as a mom of two young kids.
Plus of course, her TWO wild & crazy beekeeping stories that you won't want to miss!
Missed Part 1? Check out Episode 312. https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/pro-secrets-how-to-make-money-selling-honey/
Video Version of This Episode
________________
10% Discount on Color Collection hive kits. https://www.mannlakeltd.com/
Discount Code: SHOWMETHECOLOR
_________________
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.

Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]

Danielle: https://www.honeytruck.com/

What does it take to make money selling honey? It's Marketing 101 for beekeepers!
This episode of Bee Love Beekeeping features an interview with Danielle Brooks, whose experience turning a small beekeeping hobby into a real honey business, is full of invaluable information for all beekeepers.
Most beekeepers undervalue their product and underestimate the importance of knowing who they're selling to. Brooke draws on her background in photography and communications to talk about storytelling as a sales tool: knowing your honey's origin, its seasonal character, and the beekeepers behind it gives you something to say that a generic jar simply can't.
Her advice applies whether you have two hives or twenty — start with your audience, build a brand that speaks to them, price your product honestly from the start, and treat every sales interaction as a chance to educate.
Video Version of This Episode
________________
10% Discount on Color Collection hive kits. https://www.mannlakeltd.com/
Discount Code: SHOWMETHECOLOR
_________________
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.

Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]

Danielle: https://www.honeytruck.com/

Host Eric Bennett reaches out all the way to Gloucestershire, England to have a discussion with Stuart Roweth, beekeeper and inventor of Bee Gym and Bee Gym Slim.
Stuart is on a mission to help bees fight back against varroa without chemicals. He walks us through his beekeeping journey, from receiving his first swarm in a cardboard box to developing the Bee Gym, a mechanical device that encourages bees to groom varroa mites off themselves using small flippers, spikes, and wires.
The episode also features an Inside the Hive segment exploring how bees regulate summer heat through evaporative cooling, collecting water and fanning it across the comb in a system that predates human air conditioning by millions of years.
Whether you're new to beekeeping or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with practical wisdom. Stuart and Eric discuss the importance of staying open-minded when it comes to varroa management — testing before and after any treatment, combining mechanical tools like the Bee Gym with other IPM practices, and knowing when a chemical miticide may still be the right call.
Stuart also shares a memorable story about performing a massive bee cutout from a Bristol rooftop, where bees had built rafter after rafter of comb over several years — a humbling experience that gave him an even deeper appreciation for the bees themselves and the dedicated beekeeping community that works tirelessly to protect them.
Video Version of This Episode
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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
_________________
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.
Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]
Bee Gym

In this episode of Bee Love Beekeeping, host Eric Bennett wraps up a three-part conversation with Mann Lake's Kim and Steph — two experienced and enthusiastic beekeepers — covering the final entries on their top 10 list of decisions to make before getting into beekeeping.
The discussion covers mindset, fear of stings, how many hives to start with, long-term goal setting, predator protection, and what to do with your honey.
The episode also features an "Inside the Hive" segment on beeswax, plus Kim and Steph's hilarious — and slightly harrowing — story about a live TikTok inspection gone wrong.
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.
Follow Us: https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/follow/
https://www.beelovebeekeeping.com/
[email protected]
Kim & Steph: https://linktr.ee/MannLakeBeekeepingCommunity