Interviews with Beekeepers Archives - The Walrus and the Honey Bee

The voice of Peter Little (Exmoor Bees)

Peter Little and Steve Donohoe Peter Little has always been an absolute legend to me because he knows so much about so much and is quite happy to pass on his wisdom. He runs Exmoor Bees and Beehives with his…

2 Apr 19 Walrus

The Voice of Ray Olivarez

Me and Ray Olivarez Oct 2018 I met up with a very busy Ray Olivarez of Olivarez Honey Bees last October at his company headquarters in Orland, Northern California. In this audio clip from the interview he talks about his…

Steve Donohoe and Murray McGregor of Denrosa

28 Mar 19 Walrus

The Voice of Murray McGregor

Me and Murray McGregor of Denrosa This is the second in a series of posts in which I provide a short audio clip of my interviewee. Today I'm featuring Murray McGregor of Denrosa Apiaries in Perthshire, Scotland. He has over…

David Kemp at Buckfast Abbey in the 1960s

24 Mar 19 Walrus

The Voice of David Kemp

David Kemp at Buckfast Abbey in the 1960s Back in the day they used to put honey in cans rather than jars, and the picture shows a very young David Kemp sealing the lids on with the old canning machine.…

16 Jan 19 Walrus

Visit to French Hill Apiaries

Mike Palmer and his truck I noticed that Vermont beekeeper Mike Palmer has now got a website, so here are some notes from my visit to meet him 18 months ago: The Journey to America I stayed with Mike and…

7 Jan 19 Walrus

Bees need a holiday too!

Montana Scenery Last October I was in Northern California to interview Ray Olivarez of Olivarez Honey Bees. It took a fair bit of arranging to get a date which worked for Ray but eventually we settled on Tuesday 23rd October…

An old shot of Buckfast abbey by David kemp

26 Dec 18 Walrus

Ups and downs of 2018

As Confucius almost certainly once said, "It's the Yin and Yang, innit?" in answer to questions about why life is so rarely all black or all white, but is both at the same time. I am at peace with this.…

27 Oct 18 Walrus

Shaken, not Stirred

I am sitting at my desk in a delightful room in the Kimpton Sawyer Hotel in Sacramento, contemplating how to spend my last full day here in California. Tomorrow will be all about getting home. I will check out at…

19 Oct 18 Walrus

California Dreaming

My adventures in which I meet my beekeeping heroes began with a trip to Vermont in the USA, in July 2017, and next week my final two interviews will take place in sunny California. I am seeing Ray Olivarez of…

16 Sep 18 Walrus

Birthday Review of the Year

As I slump in my incredibly comfortable La Z Boy chair in front of my super amazing iMac computer, I can still feel the bulk of my birthday meal progressing steadily through my walrus body. That meal was yesterday, and…

8 Jul 18 Walrus

Airborne Honey at Another Level

Bee Hives in New Zealand Airborne Honey at Another Level: When I drove down to the Headquarters of Airborne Honey in Leeston on New Zealand's South Island, it was a scorching hot Summer's day, not unlike today's weather six months…

6 May 18 Walrus

Vive Le Morse!

Treguihe near Corseul in France Oh, the power of Google (other search engines are available, and some of them don't track your every move and send adverts to you). I just used it to find out what the French word…