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.
Episode 413: Autumn Drone Laying Queens
In this week's Podcast: September is the very latest month that I will inspect any colonies before the colder weather sets in. But not just any, or all of my colonies, there has to be a very good reason to disturb the bees, listen in to hear exactly why I might choose to inspect now.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 413 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 412: New Honeybee Queen Saved
In this week's Podcast: With the nights cooling and Autumn upon us, I’m getting short on time to make sure all my newest nucleus colonies are prepared for the Winter ahead. One such colony, with a new queen has only a cup full of bees. Listen into hear how I hope to help them through to next Spring.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 412 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 411: Sugar Syrup for Honeybees
In this week's Podcast: It’s time to consider feeding colonies for the Autumn and Winter ahead. I do have quite a number of boxes of fondant still and I would use these but I find myself mixing up sugar syrup. Listen in to find out why and my thoughts on the type of syrup I’m using and why.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 411 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 410: Late Summer Shook Swarm
In this week's Podcast: The weather has calmed down somewhat, we’ve even had some rain! I’ve been adding treatments to nucs and found some very small queen right colonies, if you can call them that, and I need to decide what to do with them before the Autumn sets in.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 410 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Thor...
Episode 409: Heatwave After Heatwave
In this week's Podcast: It’s been another scorching week and our honeybees seem to be taking everything in their stride. Positives this week are, lots of mated queens from our own raised queen cells and I’ve also been in the honey room, it’s sweltering once more!
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 409 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 408: Mated Queens and Treatments
In this week's Podcast: It’s been a busy week with checks on our recently emerged virgin queens, have they mated and have they started to lay eggs. Listen in to hear the latest beekeeping news from around my apiaries.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 408 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Thorne Beehives Bailey Board
Some of my Favo...
Episode 407: Bad Beekeeping Advice
In this week's Podcast: Bad Beekeeping Advice. I’m sure we’ve all been offered advice as we’ve progressed through our beekeeping journeys, but how do you know what advice to take and what to leave? If you take my advice, you’ll listen to today’s podcast to find out more or maybe you won’t!!
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 407 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 406: Wet and Dry Supers
In this week's Podcast: It’s almost the time of year when you might hear a lot of talk about supers, particularly wet or dry supers, today I’ll explain what they are and how you can store them ready for reuse next time.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 406 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Uncapping Knife as I use
R...
Episode 405: Time For Honey Extraction
In this week's Podcast: Time drifts on by, and the end of the Summer nectar flow draws ever closer for me. Time for a quick apiary summary and then off to the honey room to look at this year’s extraction set up.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 405 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Uncapping Knife as I use
Re...
Episode 404: Go With The Flow
In this week's Podcast: Brood Breaks, The end of the nectar flow, and the first sighting of wasps in the apiaries. All mean one thing, for me, here in Norfolk, it looks likely the Summer honey production phase of the season is over. Maybe it’s time to turn my attention to extraction.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 404 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 403: Time For The Splits
In this week's Podcast: July is a great time to make up any splits that you want for overwintered nucleus colonies. For me, I’m taking a slightly different approach this year.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 403 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Old Castle Farm Hives - Six Frame Dual Poly Nuc
Thorne Beehives Bailey Board
Episode 402: Hottest Inspections Ever!
In this week's Podcast: It won’t have gone unnoticed that this week has been quite warm! The UK’s Hottest June day ever, set not so far away from me, and, on that day, I had to carry out several inspections. It felt like someone had thrown a bucket of hot water over me while I was wearing my bee suit!
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 402 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 401: Happy Father's Day
In this week's Podcast: Happy Father’s Day, and, I have a question for you, and it’s one not just for the Dad’s out there. Have any of your colonies become hopelessly queen less this season, more than in previous years? We’ve had quite a number of nucs that have now become hopelessly queen less. Luckily, I’m queen rearing!
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 401 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 with it the start of the Summer nectar flow.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 400 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Th...
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 found a number of colonies that are on a brood break, could this be as a result of the June Gap?
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 399 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 398 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
Beekeeping Courses at Thorn...
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 hot periods in the day.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 397 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For...
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!
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 396 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
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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 Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 395 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
Beekeeping Courses at Tho...
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 Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 394 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Li...
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, welcome to Episode 393 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
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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 392 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
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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 let you know you’re not welcome.Â
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 391 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
Beeke...
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 season begins! Listen in for the full story and my surprise at feeling my first, new season sting!
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 390 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 preparations.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 389 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sale
B...
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 bag as ever!
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 388 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Nucleus Colonies For Sa...
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 what I think you should be checking out.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 387 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 useful ways of replacing comb and reducing pests and disease loading in your hive.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 385 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 short.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 385 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 2026<...
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 this busy time of the season and, actually, it’s a really simple process that sometimes confuses. Hopefully today, I can take the mystery out of the technique for you.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 384 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 kick off with a more detailed look at the Spring Clean.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 383 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 explain what it is, how you can identify it, and ultimately deal with it, so your bees can have a healthy and productive Summer.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 382 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Hive Five Multi Guard Entrances
Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 2026
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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’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 380 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 for the start of the new season.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 379 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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 nucleus colonies and that’s triggered a social media response, listen in and I’ll explain exactly what I’ve been up to.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 378 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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.Â
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 377 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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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.
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 376 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:
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Episode 375: Don't Stop Hefting
In this week's Podcast: We’re well into December now, fast approaching the Winter Solstice, that shortest day of the year. Then we’re on the slow road back to Spring and all the fun that the warmer weather brings us, but what’s going on in our hives right now, here’s what I think……
Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks, welcome to Episode 375 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet.
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Episode 374: Pollen Microscopy for Beekeepers
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.
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