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In this episode, I’m Hive Talkin all things cosmetics with UK-based specialist Dr. Sara Robb. You’ve seen the products on the shelves and probably noticed that so many of them contain beeswax and honey and that’s not just for marketing purposes. Both are proven to have amazing health benefits and you could be making your own sustainable small-batch products in no time - with just a little guidance from Dr. Sara! Dr. Sara Robb began making honey soaps and beeswax creams back in 2003. With 20 years of formulating experience and numerous books and journal articles under her belt, she now writes a regular column in Bee Craft Magazine and provides cosmetic recipes and guidance to small-scale producers. Listen as we talk through why what we put on our skin is as important as what we put in our bellies, the benefits of real honey, how to use bee products to make cosmetics and what the legal requirements are to actually turn your bee craft into a small (or global!) business. For more information on Dr. Sara Robb and her formulations and to get some help with your products visit  www.cpsr.buzz or follow Dr. Sara (and her parrot Boysie!) on Instagram @drsararobb

I’m delighted to be Hive Talkin all things honey with Howland Blackieston and C.Marina Marchese co-authors of the new book Honey For Dummies. Howland is an experience backyard beekeeper, entertaining public speaker, and a dab hand at building beehives. He’s also the author of Beekeeping for Dummies. The very first beekeeping book I ever bought and which I still keep in my apiary for reference.  And C.Marina Marchese who you may know as the Honey Sommelier. Marina is the first US citizen to be accepted as a member of the Italian National Register of Honey Experts and is the founder and president of The American Honey Tasting Society. At the time this episode was produced Honey for Dummies is currently available from blackwells.co.uk and (kindle version) on Amazon. To find out more about Howland and Marina head to www.honeysommelier.com or follow on social media @honeysommelier www.howlandblackiston.com or follow on social media @howlandblackiston and please remember ... always make sure the source of your honey is traceable and if you can then please support your local beekeeper. You're bound to have one!

Shortly after I started my apiary I spotted a big piece in a national newspaper about the awards The Scottish Bee Company was winning for their honey and their discovery that Scottish honey contains 10 times more manganese than rivals across the globe.  I had to know more and immediately searched for their social media. Following a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign, they’re now following Scotch whiskey and breaking into global markets, diversifying into a whole range of bee-related products, and continue, even through this pandemic, to go from strength to strength. Join me as I Hive Talk with business-minded Suzie Millar, co-owner of The Scottish Bee company, honey sommelier, and brand new Mum about great ideas, apprenticeships, and Shrubs (the drink not the plant!). Head over to www.scottishbeecompany.co.uk for more information or to go crazy in their online shop! To keep up to date with new product releases give them a social media follow at @scottishbeecompany and learn more about supporting our pollinators at www.repollinate.org.uk

Now I don’t want to stereotype here but you may have noticed I’m Scottish. And we Scots love a tipple. So when I found out about The Apiarist Gin I just had to know more. Who are these clever people that have married two of my favourite things.. Gin & Honey! Then when I started to do a little more research and my husband found out they had branched out into Rum he wanted me to find out more! When dynamic couple Alex and Natalie Conti found their international exhibitions company thwarted by the global pandemic they used the free time as an opportunity and looked to their bees for inspiration. In addition to selling delicious honey and beeswax products from The Little Apiary, they diversified into the world of drinks-making and brewing - with extremely successful results. Join me as I Hive talk with Alex Conti founder and owner of The Apiarist Gin. Find out more about Alex's drinks at www.theapiaristdrinks.com and their honey and beeswax products at www.ourlittleapiary.com. Plus make sure you stay up to speed with new product releases (often limited edition so you'd better be quick!) on social media @theapiaristgin and @ourlittleapiary

Texas-based US Marine veteran Steve Jiminez and a small team started the originally US-based charity Hives For Heroes in 2018. After being introduced to beekeeping through a friend Steve realised the positive effect the practice of tending to hives and time in the apiary had on the personal issues he was dealing with since leaving active service and wanted to share the experience with other veterans. Since 2018 the support network has grown faster than Steve could have imagined and is now supporting veterans in every state in the US and crossing borders, and continents, to Australia. Join me as Steve and I Hive Talk about the issues facing veterans, how the positive impact on the mental wellbeing of veterans beginning beekeeping is now being studied by Oklahoma University, and how experienced beekeepers can become involved in the project as Mentors. If you’d like to become a Newbee, volunteer as a Mentor, support the charity or find out more about their amazing work head over to www.hivesforheroes.com and give them a follow on Facebook and Instagram @hivesforheroes for up-to-the-minute news.

Is the buzz of the hive language or music? Beekeepers and scholars have pondered this question for centuries but my guest took this question a step further and studied the frequencies of bee buzz and matched it to musical notes.. creating orchestral music. In this episode, I'm Hive Talkin with acclaimed Australian composer and multi-instrumentalist Rae Howell.  Also the founding director of Sunwrae: a touring ensemble, label, and sheet music publisher,  she works across a broad range of genres in collaboration with performing and visual artists and has been a visiting composer for numerous projects and residencies all around the world. But it’s her exciting music project with live honeybees, a full-string orchestra, and a visual extravaganza that I really wanted to talk to her about! You can follow Rae and her projects on social media @sunwrae or the composition we discuss @beesharphoneybee.  Head to https://vimeo.com/260478497 to watch the full piece with the amazing visuals or Rae's website www.raehowell.me for more information on her full body of work. 

In this episode I'm Hive Talkin all things flowers with Helen Rogers of Highgate Honey in North London who used her lockdown time to really observe what plants the bees were attracted to at certain times. During the last year of off and on lockdowns, like many of us, Helen and her mother Eva were unable to meet but they’d chat regularly about what plants in Eva’s established Oxfordshire garden the bees were attracted to. Over the months Helen kept detailed notes which she has now turned into an easy to use guide book - 80 Flowers For Bees.  Perfect for everyone who wants to support our bees and pollinators in their outdoor space but, like me, have no idea where to start.  Join us as we chat flowers, planting, bees and as always a little bit of honey! To find out more about Highgate Honey, get hold of a copy of  Helens new book or reserve a place at her World Bee Day Honey Tasting online event  in May 2021 visit www.highgatehoney.com and follow Helen and her bees on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter @HighgateHoney.

In this episode I'm Hive Talkin with Prof. David Evans AKA The Apiarist Blog as we attempt to understand what a honeybee swarm is, why it happens, how it happens and how we can all benefit from this amazing (and harmless) spectacular of nature. David is a Scottish based beekeeper and professor of virology currently at St Andrews University.  His research interests include the replication and evolution of important human and animal viral pathogens including Poliovirus, HIV, Zika virus and both Deformed Wing Virus  and Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus of honeybees. You can follow David on twitter @the_apiarist or visit his entertaining and informative blog www.theapiarist.org which is stuffed full of timely and detailed advice laced with more than a touch of humour. 

When all around us is a whirl of change, solace can be found in an apiary and mindfulness in the company of bees. Im joined by Elizabeth Barton of Oakdale Bees. Elizabeth runs an apiary set in 4 acres of wild meadow bordering the Royal Windsor Forrest in Berkshire.  In addition to producing delicious local honey and beeswax products Oakdale Bees also run Beekeeping Experience Days built around the practice of Mindfulness. Join us as we discuss how the Principals of Mindfulness fit perfectly with beekeeping and how being outdoors and connecting with nature is so beneficial to our mental health.  (Insta: @oakdalebees FB: @Oakdalebees) I’m also speaking with Keith Griffiths (and his Mum Stephanie) of Kentucky based Beeing2gether. Keith is an inspirational young man who despite facing adversity in his short life has overcome his mental health issues through working with bees. No only has he started his own honey business, mentors others on beekeeping and loans hives he has now written a book Honey Bees & Beekeeping - A Mental Health Miracle with a new publication in the pipeline! (Insta: @beeing2gether FB: @Beeing2getherLLC)

Come with me as we peek under the surface of the business of honey with an insight into the beekeeping journey and working life of Sarah Wyndham Lewis who you may know as The Honey Sommelier.  Sarah was introduced to the bee world by her husband Dale Gibson and together they created the London based sustainable beekeeping practice Bermondsey Street Bees (Insta @Bstreetbees). Sarah is a professional Honey Sommelier, working with chefs, bartenders and honey producers around the world. A regular contributor to TV, radio and print media, her book  ‘Planting for Honeybees’ is published in five languages.  Not only does she know her honey (and is now a Great Taste judge!), she’s a fantastically entertaining public speaker and her knowledge and passion for quality food and it's production, is transparent in everything she does.  Follow her on Instagram @honeysommelierlondon or find out more at   www.bermondseystreetbees.co.uk