Beekeeping - Short and Sweet

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Refractometer for Testing Water Content in Honey

Old Castle Farm Hives - Six Frame Dual Poly Nuc

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Old Castle Farm Hives - Six Frame Dual Poly Nuc

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Nucleus Colonies For Sale

Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 2026

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Nucleus Colonies For Sale

Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 2026

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Nucleus Colonies For Sale

Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 2026

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show

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.

Please support us throught affiliate links below, they cost you nothing and help us continue to produce our content.

Nucleus Colonies For Sale

Beekeeping Courses at Thorne Beehvies in Wragby Lincolnshire 2026

Thorne Beehives Bailey Board

Some of my Favourite Microscopy Books:

Pollen Loads of the Honeybee by Dorothy Hodges

Rex Sawyer's Pollen Identification

Pollen Grains and Honeydew by Margaret Adams

The Pollen Landscape by Joss Bartlett

Pollen Microscopy by Norman Chapman

The National Bee Unit Varroa Information can be found HERE

Bee Aware Varroa Information can be found HERE

Thorne Beehives Bees on a Budget Hive 

The Beekeeper's Dictionary website

Ethyl Acetate for colony destructions can be found here

Gardening Potting Tray for effective frame cleaning

Stainless Steel Stock Pots for use as a double boiler. Get one slightly larger than the other to fit inside.

Gas Stove for outdoor use to render wax and old comb.

Contact Me at The Norfolk Honey Company

VMD Website: Click HERE

Join Our Beekeeping Community in the following ways:

• Early Release & Additional Video and Podcast Content - Access Here
• Stewart's Beekeeping Basics Facebook Private Group - Click Here
• Twitter - @NorfolkHoneyCo - Check Out Our Feed
• Instagram - @norfolkhoneyco - View Our Great Photographs
• Sign Up for my email updates by visiting my website here

Amazon links are affiliate links. I recieve a small commission should you choose to purchase.

Support the show