Beekeeping - Short and Sweet

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...

In this week's Podcast: Buying queens for replacement or increase can be a very expensive pastime, why not instead, consider raising a few home grown queens. It not that tricky and can be hugely rewarding. Listen in to hear how I’m approaching our queen rearing this year. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 349 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey...

In this week's Podcast: Are you letting your colonies starve as you take off the Spring honey crop? Now’s the time to check. Also, Drone laying queens and Egg laying workers feature in this week’s chat. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 348 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances Join Our Beekeeping Community...

In this week's Podcast: I'm joined by Natalie Armstrong, Inventor and Designer of the awardwinning Hive-Five Multiguard Bee hive Entrance to discuss the entrance and how it is used. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks. Welcome to Episode 347 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Check out the Hive Five Multiguard here Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company Join Our Beekeeping Community in the f...

In this week's Podcast: I’ve seen plenty of queen cells over the last week, but there are some that look different to the others. I’m referring to swarm cells and emergency cells, both queen cells, both perfectly usable, but both different in their own way. listen in to hear my thoughts on these and other beekeeping fun. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks. Welcome to Episode 346 of my podcast, Beekeeping...

In this week's Podcast: How often do you inspect your honeybee colonies, weekly, every ten days because you’ve clipped the queens? How about every six or even every five days? Well, this last week I’ve looked at some of my hives at five day intervals, listen in to hear why, and what I found. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks. Welcome to Episode 345 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me a...

In this week's Podcast: I’ve seen the first signs of this seasons swarming activity and we’ve even had a couple of colonies throw up queen cells. For me, it’s perfect timing and those swarm cells are always fantastic to use in splits and other swarm management techniques. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 344 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey...

In this week's Podcast: Happy Easter everyone, Spring has sprung and our colonies are developing nicely. Brood nest areas are growing and, if you overfed your colonies in late Winter, you may find they're lacking a little space. Maybe it's time to consider adding another box! Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 343 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The...

In this week's Podcast: I’m back after my visit to the Harper Adams University in Shropshire for the annual British Beekeepers Association , Spring Convention, and what a great time it was. Details of my trip coming up and also, some thoughts about the development of our colonies right now. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 342 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at...

In this week's Podcast:  It’s on your marks, get set, and Go! We’ve carried out our first brief, but important inspections along with some Spring cleaning and as usual, it’s a mixed bag. Listen in to find out how I got on. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks. Welcome to Episode 341 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company Join Our Beekeeping Community in the follo...

In this week's Podcast: T oday I’m joined by Simon Mildren, Founder and CEO of Hivekeepers and his Micro Honey Harvester to find out more about this interesting piece of kit and how it might change the way you extract honey. Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 340 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. Find out more about Hivekeepers Micro Honey Harvester here Contact Me at The Nor...