E242 - Plain Talk: Bee Keeping vs Bee Tweaking

In this reflective episode of Honey Bee Obscura, Jim Tew explores what it really means to call ourselves "beekeepers." After more than fifty years with bees, Jim questions whether we truly "keep" them—or if we're simply borrowing space in their world. He draws comparisons to birdhouses, backyard chickens, and monarch butterflies, observing that bees remain fundamentally wild, even when living in our boxes.

Jim shares personal experiences of stepping back from active management for several years, allowing colonies to survive—or not—on their own terms. This shift prompts him to consider the limits of human contro...