Beekeeping - Short and Sweet
A Beekeeping Podcast for the Inquisitive Beekeeper with a Short Attention Span! BeeFarmer, YouTuber (The Norfolk Honey Company, Patreon Host (www.patreon.com/norfolkhoney), Beekeeping mentor to 1000's of beekeepers worldwide via my social media channels, Facebook and Instagram.
Episodes
401 episodes
Episode 400: Honey Production Colonies
In this week's Podcast: Episode four hundred, who would have thought it. And we celebrate by being chased away from the apiaries by some very heavy rain showers. It’s all going to change though as we head into some warmer weather and wit...
Episode 399: Mind The Gap!
In this week's Podcast: We're well on our way towards the Summer solstice, now that we're in the month of June and colonies in all apiaries are building well. Nucleus colonies have surprised me over at the fishing lakes, but I've also fo...
Episode 398: Queen Rearing Questions
In this week's Podcast: Lots of beekeeping happening this week, the weather has cooled, just a little, and I’ve been asked some questions about my preferred method of queen rearing and asked my views on Summertime moving of bees.
Episode 397: Heatwave Beekeeping!
In this week's Podcast: It’s all change, the colder weather of just a week ago has suddenly shifted into a weekend heatwave and that could put beekeepers at risk. Time to be sensible and avoid opening up our bee hives during those very h...
Episode 396: Slowly Drawn Comb
In this week's Podcast: The cooler weather has definitely caused our colonies to slow down the wax production, that’s had a knock on effect in getting foundation drawn as comb, and the downturn in temperature has also meant grumpy bees!<...
Episode 395: Rain Delays Inspections
In this week's Podcast: Wouldn’t you just know it, on the one day I really needed to carry out some inspections, it’s rained. It was cold, and it just kept raining all morning, the result, next day, yep, swarming!Hi, I’m Stewar...
Episode 394: Spring Honey Crop
In this week's Podcast: The weather has been typically Spring like, warmer days, but with chilly nights. The double brood method has worked well in managing Spring growth and the Spring Honey Crop is growing nicely.Hi, I’m Stew...
Episode 393 More Swarms and Nectar Flows
In this week's Podcast: It’s been yet another swarmy week with another two collected from my own apiaries. We have a nectar flow at the farm, and I’m using that to draw out more frames of foundation.Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, ...
Episode 392: Colony Spring Growth
In this week's Podcast: Swarm number two safely collected, and it was a big one! If you’re collecting swarms, always go with a bigger box than you think you’ll need, stay tuned to hear why!Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to...
Episode 391: April Showers & Cold Inspections
In this week's Podcast: We’re off and running and in April, that means very changeable weather, intermittent showers, and some chilly inspections days. I had this just yesterday and although the bees behaved themselves, they certainly le...
Episode 390: Spring Stings and Swarms
In this week's Podcast: My plans for a gentle stroll into Spring were thrown off track this week when I received a call telling one of my colonies had swarmed. It was just the 2nd of April, too late for an April Fool’s joke, and so my se...
Episode 389: A Cold March Week
In this week's Podcast: Well the week of warmer weather has suddenly turned cold and with it, a halt to my early inspections. We’re always busy though and with that in mind, I’ve been back to the workshop catching up on Spring preparatio...
Episode 388: The Excitement of First Inspections
In this week's Podcast: First inspections, such an exciting moment in the season. An opportunity to have a quick look, at how our colonies have coped with the long winter months. This is just what I did during the week and it was a mixed...
Episode 387: First Spring Inspections
In this week's Podcast: Early inspections are just around the corner and with it, an opportunity to see how our colonies have fared over the Winter months. If you do take a look, do you know what you’re looking for? Listen in to hear wha...
Episode 386: Shook Swarm & Bailey Comb Change
In this week's Podcast: As we head into Spring beekeepers will, no doubt, be contemplating various techniques to use on their hives to maximise the seasons honey crop. Techniques such as the Shook Swarm and Bailey Comb Change are u...
Episode 385: The Demaree or Split Board Method
In this week's Podcast: The Demaree method, honestly, I’ve always failed with it, on the other hand, my version using a split board is so much more effective and reliable. An important consideration for me when our seasons can be so shor...
Episode 384: The Artificial Swarm
In this week's Podcast: It won’t be long before the early March Sunshine arrives and many beekeepers will start to stress a little, or maybe a lot, over their colonies swarming. The Artificial Swarm is an excellent method of managing thi...
Episode 383: Beehive Spring Clean
In this week's Podcast: I talked about Nosema last week, and it got me thinking about the things I do to give my honeybees the very best opportunity at the start of the new season to produce a lovely crop of honey in the Summer. Let’s ki...
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Episode 382: Nosema 2026
In this week's Podcast: Nosema apis and Nosema Ceranae. Two, spore forming, parasitic Microsporidia! They sound like something of a horror show for our bees and the effects of a heavy infection can be quite damaging. Listen in as I...
Episode 381: The Honey Room
In this week's Podcast: The past week has been all about the move home. I’m glad to say the office is getting there, but the honey room, well, that’s another story!Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 381 of my podcas...
Episode 380: A Successful Beekeeping Season
In this week's Podcast: We have a few weeks yet until the start of the new beekeeping season. How can I make sure this year is as successful for my bees and me as it can possible be? Stay tuned to hear my thoughts and plans.Hi, I’...
Episode 379: Buying a Honeybee Nucleus Colony
In this week's Podcast: We’ve had some sunny weather for a change, I’ve been able to get out to an Apiary full of nucleus colonies. So this week, as promised, my take on what to look out for if you’re thinking of buying a nucleus colony ...
Episode 378: Snow Covered Apiaries
In this week's Podcast: With the recent appearance of snow in our apiaries there’s a belated Christmassy feel to the scene, not that it lasted very long at all for me here in Norfolk. We’ve been feeding warm fondant to some of our nucleu...
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Episode 377: My Beekeeping Plans 2026
In this week's Podcast: A very Happy New Year to you all. It's a chilly start to 2026 so I've stayed in the office and figured now would be a good time to spill the beans on my beekeeping plans for the coming year. Hi,...
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Episode 376 My Beekeeping Review 2025
In this week's Podcast: With just a few days left before Christmas I thought it an opportune moment to reflect back on the beekeeping year that was 2025. The highs, the lows and the ups and the downs! All feeding in to my plans for 2026....
