Happy Holidays Everybody! Come on along and listen in to Jeff and Kim and Kirsten and Jim when they get together around the virtual Christmas Tree and talk about the Holidays, the good and bad for last year and what they hope will be going on next year.

Kirsten Traynor, and her 2MillionBlossoms podcast moved to Germany this year when she took a new job at one of the best beekeeping institutes in Europe, LAVES Institute of Bee Science Celle. Moving in the middle of a pandemic was a challenge, but her new job was worth it. Her new institute is involved basically in 3 areas of bees and beekeeping. They produce honey, and this year had a bumper heather crop. They also are involved in honey analysis, and in teaching the next generation of commercial beekeepers. Spring this year was cold and wet and Kirsten is hoping for better weather this coming spring.

Kim (Beekeeping Today Podcast & Honey Bee Obscura) had a fairly good year with the bees, and so far, winter has been mild and easy. He did miss a lot of meetings this past year and hopes that changes this coming year. His connections in the beekeeping world are troubled with the current price of honey, and producing more bees and less honey seems like a better way to go.

Jim Tew (Honey Bee Obscura) spent quite a bit of time wrestling with mite issues and queen issues this year, and hopes to be better prepared next season. He also is coming to grips with the fact that lifting 70-pound boxes of honey over the top of his head might not be the best thing any more, so downsizing his bee box size may be in his future.

Jeff (Beekeeping Today Podcast) is still learning about the weather in the Pacific Northwest, which is cooler and wetter than his previous beeyards in Ohio and Colorado. He’s looking to get better at figuring out how to keep his bees warmer and drier next year. Not to mention, keeping all three of podcasts up and running and getting better.

The group is working on getting a regular newsletter out starting soon. They hoped it would be early December, but that obviously didn’t work, but it’s getting closer. Stay tuned, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US AT GROWING PLANET MEDIA!!

Links and websites mentioned in this podcast: 

•  2 Million Blossoms podcast - https://2millionblossoms.com/thepodcast/
• Honey Bee Obscura Podcast - https://www.honeybeeobscura.com

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This episode is brought to you by Global Patties! Global Patties is a family business that manufactures protein supplement patties for honey bees. Feeding your hives protein supplement patties will help ensure that they produce strong and health colonies by increasing brood production and overall honey flow. Global offers a variety of standard patties, as well as custom patties to meet your specific needs. Visit them today at http://globalpatties.com and let them know you appreciate them sponsoring this episode! 

We welcome Betterbee as sponsor of today's episode. BetterBee’s mission is to support every beekeeper with excellent customer service, continued education and quality equipment. From their colorful and informative catalog to their support of beekeeper educational activities, including this podcast series, BetterBee truly is Beekeepers Serving Beekeepers. See for yourself at www.betterbee.com

Thanks to Strong Microbials for their support of Beekeeping Today Podcast. Find out more about heir line of probiotics in our Season 3, Episode 12 episode and from their website: https://www.strongmicrobials.com

We want to also thank 2 Million Blossoms as a sponsor of the podcast. 2 Million Blossoms is a regular newsletter and podcast focused on stories and photos of all pollinators and hosted by Dr. Kirsten Traynor.

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We hope you enjoy this podcast and welcome your questions and comments: questions@beekeepingtodaypodcast.com

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Thanks to Bee Culture, the Magazine of American Beekeeping, for their support of The Beekeeping Today Podcast. Available in print and digital at www.beeculture.com

Thank you for listening! 

Podcast music: Young Presidents, "Be Strong"; Musicalman, "Epilogue". Original guitar background instrumental by Jeff Ott. Ed Colby's short, "Possums in the Outhouse", Brightside Studio

Beekeeping Today Podcast is an audio production of Growing Planet Media, LLC