Beekeeping - Short and Sweet

In this week's Podcast: Happy December everyone, and with activity slowing down around the apiaries it’s an ideal time to dust down the microscopes and see what’s floating around in some of our honey samples. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 374 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances Some of my Favou...

In this week's Podcast: I’ve spent a bit of time at the workshop sorting through old super frames and trying to decide what’s the best way forward in terms of cleaning or not. Do we spend time and money boiling them, or is it better all round to consign them to the bonfire and start over? Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 373 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support...

In this week's Podcast: The colder weather is upon us and it now feels like it should in November! I’ve been out and about around our apiaries and decided to rescue a small colony rather than let them die. I’m not sure if this is sensible or just a waste of time and effort. Listen in for the full sorry saga. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 372 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sw...

In this week's Podcast: Storm Claudia hits and it feels like the rain will never stop. I’ve been having a go at building a hive and still haven’t been able to sort out my colony that’s been attacked by wasps. Here’s this week’s beekeeping updates. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 371 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five...

In this week's Podcast: Having discussed the more serious pests and diseases that can affect our colonies, it’s time to finish off our Varroa chat and conclude with some of the less problematic issues that we sometimes encounter. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 370 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and advertiser: Hive Five Multi Guard Entra...

In this week's Podcast: With Autumn slipping away and Winter on the horizon my thoughts continue to be filled with helping our colonies survive to next Spring. Feeding is complete, Autumn treatments removed, but the challenge of the Varroa mite goes on. With that in mind, here’s part two of pests and diseases.  Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 369 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and...

In this week's Podcast:  After sharing my recent experiences with Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus I’ve had a number of requests to discuss, more widely, honeybee diseases. What to look out for and how they impact our honeybees. So, let’s kick off with possibly the nastiest ones of them all, the foul brood diseases! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 368 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and...

In this week's Podcast: It’s a bit of a somber mood in the office today as it’s been a rather sad end to the week. I’ve carried out the colony destruction on the hive with a heavy infection of CBPV and in today’s podcast I’ll explain the process and what happens next. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 367 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Please support our main sponsor and...

In this week's Podcast: After a year of seeing colonies relatively disease and pest free, our final checks of the season have revealed one colony with visible signs of Chronic Bee Paralysis Virus or CBPV as we abbreviate it. It’s not great but could become a lot worse, listen in to hear why. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 366 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Mu...

In this week's Podcast: It’s been a busy week removing treatments from all of our hives now that we’ve reached the end of that particular phase of the season and I was delighted to see so many really strong colonies and nucs. It appears it was just in time as we feel the full force of Storm Amy. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 365 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Fiv...

In this week's Podcast: As we fast approach the end of September, feeding for some hives continues but others are weighty enough. With everything slowing down in the apiaries, my thoughts have turned to some honeybee microscopy and today I’ll kick off the season with the microscopes I use.   Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 364 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Mu...

In this week's Podcast: With treatments almost ready to come out of our hives, it’s time for me to start under supering, this technique, although not absolutely necessary and sometimes called Nadiring, is a simple and effective way to help your bees through Winter. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 363 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances The Nat...

In this week's Podcast: I'm joined by beekeeper Chris Farrell who is currently battling the Asian Hornet alongside other beekeepers in Kent here in the UK. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 362 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances Asian Hornet book by Sarah Bunker The Beekeeper's Guide to Defences against the Yellow Legged Asian Hornet...

In this week's Podcast: I was watching a TV Series recently and the last episode was called “The Season Finale”, well, rest assured, this isn’t my last podcast but it certainly feels like the season has drawn to a close as we bring our bees back from the Borage and discover a near starving colony. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 361 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive F...

In this week's Podcast: As we carry out final inspections of the year, my thoughts turn to autumn feeding, the recent emergency feeding and how I’ve dealt with the needs of our colonies through the late Summer. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 360 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances The Nation Bee Unit can be found HERE Here are some links to t...

In this week's Podcast: This week, It’s the turn of my workshop to be scrutinised using my Honeybee Integrated Health Management System and my thoughts on why it might not be a good idea to remove dead colonies from your apiary too soon. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 359 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances Here are some links to the type of...

In this week's Podcast: Are your bees starving? Reports across the UK of colonies under attack from wasps and running out of food have been frequent recently. I hope to explain how to get some food into them simply and without fuss. Also, part two of my Honeybee Integrate Health Management System. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 358 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contac...

In this week's Podcast: So it’s Varroa Treatment time once more, that is for many beekeepers around the UK. And it falls within the umbrella of what a lot of beekeepers would term an Integrated Pest Management System. These days, with my focus on bee health I like to call it a Honeybee Integrated Health Management System, listen in to hear why. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 357 o...

In this week's Podcast: With so many Varroa mite treatments out there it can be quite confusing, and not just for the beginner beekeeper. Today I’ll review a few of the other treatments available and hint about the importance of an Integrated Pest Management system for beekeepers that I would rename! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 356 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Con...

In this week's Podcast: The borage has been swathed, somewhat earlier this year than previously, so it’s time to bring home the honey crop and my mind turns to Autumn treatments for Varroa, but which one to choose from, there are so many. Listen in to hear my pick and why. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 355 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey...

In this week's Podcast: Flying in to the UK after my break it was noticeable just how dry the countryside looks, we need some rain. My immediate thoughts were, had wasps destroyed my colonies and was there any honey from our trip to the borage. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 354 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company Hive Five Multi Guar...

In this week's Podcast: The heatwaves continue and that magical date for taking our bees to the borage pollination has arrived. Listen in to hear how we got on, and how we were surprised by a sudden downpour! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 353 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances VMD Website: Click HERE...

In this week's Podcast: The UK is set for it’s first heatwave of the year and with it comes the Summer nectar flow with our borage crop looking likely to be a couple of weeks early. The important thing to remember is to take care in the sun and keep well hydrated. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 352 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company...

In this week's Podcast: The brambles are in full flower and the nectar is flowing. I always get a little more excited at this time of the year as it’s probably my favourite tasting honey. Supers are on to grab a crop while it lasts but my attention is now turning to the main event and that’s Borage pollination for us. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 351 of my podcast, Beekeeping Sh...

In this week's Podcast: Patience, all beekeepers need it, whether it’s waiting on a honey crop, producing queen cells or waiting for a new queen to start laying, Patience, Patience, Patience. Such a shame I seem to have little! Listen in to hear why! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 350 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company Hive Five Mult...