When does a hobby become a business? In this episode, Steve and Luke discuss the transition from hobbyist beekeeper to sideliner, including the challenges, opportunities, and mindset shifts that come with managing more colonies and serving customers. They share practical thoughts on growth, avoiding common mistakes, and determining whether expansion is right for your operation.

The conversation also explores the importance of building a strong beekeeping network. From local clubs and mentors to industry contacts and research partners, the relationships you develop can open doors, solve problems, and create opportunities that would be difficult to achieve alone.

Finally, the hosts review emerging research investigating compounds found in honey bee venom and their potential role in cancer treatment. While much of the work remains in the research stage, the discussion highlights some of the promising findings and what they may mean for the future of medicine.

Whether you're managing your first hive or considering your next fifty, this episode offers insights on growth, community, and the surprising ways honey bees continue to impact our world.

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

Episode 47 of Beekeeping Buddies has us still busier than we have been in years! Early spring translated to early swarms, early honey crops, and earlier cutouts, and earlier stings! Come listen to what we are doing this time of year.

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

Episode 46 of Beekeeping Buddies has us busier than we have been in years! Early spring means early swarms, early honey crops, and earlier cutouts! Come listen to what we are doing this time of year. New thumbs up thumbs down section of beekeeping buddies as well!

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

Episode 45 of Beekeeping Buddies has us visited by some of our own Beekeeping Buddies! Randy McCaffrey (628 Dirt Rooster) and Tommy McCaffrey come by and explain how Hobby Beekeeping is a Way Of Life... and how that changes in Illinois vs Mississippi.

628 Dirt Rooster Website: https://628dirtrooster.com/collections/all
628 Dirt Rooster Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/628DirtRooster
628 Dirt Rooster YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@628DirtRooster

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

Episode 44 of Beekeeping Buddies takes us out west as we talk about beekeeping in Arizona and how conditions there compare to what many of us see in the Midwest. We also dig into swapping queens in package bees, including why a beekeeper might choose to do it. In this episode's Honeybee Hotline, we answer listener questions and work through practical beekeeping issues from the field. Lastly on our droning on, we talk about what we will be doing as we reach warmer temperatures and longer days!

Honey Hives Farm: https://honeyhivefarms.com/

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

We're enjoying a stretch of beautiful weather here in the Peoria area, and that can only mean one thing for beekeepers: false spring temptation.

This week, Steve and Luke talk through what you should (and shouldn't) be doing during these warm February days. When is it smart to crack a lid? When should you leave well enough alone? And how do you avoid setting your colonies back before maples even think about blooming?

Luke also shares a hard lesson from the yard an accident that resulted in a grass fire. What happened, what caused it, and what you can do to avoid the same mistake around your apiary.

Finally, Luke breaks down some of the standout speakers and takeaways from the Midwest Honeybee Expo in Wisconsin. From practical management tips to bigger industry conversations, there was plenty worth bringing back home to Illinois.

If you're staring at your hives in 50-degree weather wondering whether to "just take a quick peek," this episode is for you.

Midwest Honeybee Expo: https://www.midwesthoneybeeexpo.com/

North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

Welcome to episode 42 where we talk about our statistics for the last year and our plans in the new one. We talk about our aparies, what we will be doing, and how we plan to tackle some of these new challenges. Thank you for season 2 and we look forward to seeing you season 3!

Randy Oliver 2025 Research Roundup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DT2HTyF2-k

North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf

Welcome to episode 41 where we talk a bit about the weather, but because we don't have a lot going on in the yard, we are going to run down our gift buying guide for 2026! We hope everyone has an excellent holiday season.

Randy Oliver 2025 Research Roundup: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1DT2HTyF2-k

North American Honeybee Expo: https://www.nahbexpo.com/

Discord Server: https://discord.gg/Jk6hyZAY

Randy Oliver Mite Calculator Calendar: https://scientificbeekeeping.com/randys-varroa-model/

How RRA Makes Fondant: https://youtu.be/CAiOF3onmBQ

The American Bee Journal: https://americanbeejournal.com/

Project Apis m. Bee Survey Video 2025: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOCis4ZPfp8

Project Apis m. Website: https://www.projectapism.org/events/i8yr94doxarjvh453lchfhr0xf3bvq

Riverview Road Apiary Nucs: https://riverviewroadapiary.com/products/spring-2025-nuc

Heart of Illinois Beekeeping Club: https://hoibees.org/

Dalan Animal Health Queens: https://bluetoad.com/publication/?m=5417&i=830245&p=38&ver=html5

Beekeeping Buddies Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/beekeepingbuddies/

Fruit and Vegetable Pollination Handbook: https://www.ars.usda.gov/arsuserfiles/20220500/onlinepollinationhandbook.pdf