Beekeeper Confidential | Bees & Beekeeping

Mandy talks with historical novelist Lois Leveen about how researching the greatest love story of all time brought bees into her life, and how she used her voice to make life easier for Portland beekeepers.  

What's the BUZZ? Mandy visits with Thor Hanson, conservation biologist and author who has written a delightfully whimsical book that highlights the importance of bees (ALL BEES) in the environment. They discuss Thor's work, and play a game of Celebrity Bee Mash Up! 

It is inspiring to see how beekeepers can use their passion for bees to engage their community and grow a legacy of education, service, and activism. Angela is a fascinating beekeeper who does all of this and more. Their work also includes queen rearing, writing, using the hive as a model for personal and professional growth, ongoing efforts to enhance local food systems, and facilitating an inclusive platform for the trans & queer community to be involved in beekeeping and farming. In my opinion, Angela is a super hero.

Mandy shares her experience with extracting and relocating a feral colony that had been residing in the wall of an abandoned home. Her excitement turned to dread when she realized that the colony had an invasive beehive pest, Small Hive Beetle.

Last week Mandy visited the Apiary at Portland State University and spoke with Isabel Rummell, who is tasked with caring for the bees and supporting student involvement in the program. Mandy first met Isabel at Zenger Farm, here in Portland where Portland Urban Beekeepers keeps its club apiary. They hold work parties twice a month to beekeepers of all experience levels. When Mandy invited herself to the apiary at PSU Isabel generously accepted because she is one of the nicest people EVER. They inspected their 2 bee hives and sat down for a chat in one of the beautiful student plazas. In this interview Mandy shares one of her techniques to prevent bee stings that anyone can do (hint: it involves throwing things).

Each fall the Oregon State Beekeepers Association holds a gathering for beekeepers near and far. Mandy attended this year's conference with her microphone in tow and met up with local beekeeper, Rex McIntire. While they talked, Mandy and Rex enjoyed the sounds of live bluegrass music played by Caught Red Handed. They talked about bees, fishing, coffee, and pondered some of life's trickier situations. There was also special news bulletin from Mandy's friends at Bee Built! 

Mandy visited Nectar Creek Tap Room in Philomath, Oregon. YUM! Mandy has been an admirer of Nectar Creek session meads for years and she was so happy that they accepted her invite to be a guest on the show. She was greeted with a refreshing flight of Waggle, Clary Sage, Top Bar, and Nectarade all made on site in their production facility. Co-Owner Nick Lorenz and Mandy sat down for a chat and he told her all about how he and his brother Phillip have established themselves as leaders in the craft mead industry by rewriting the rule book on craft beverages by serving up unique, thoughtfully procured session meads that left her swooning for more.