Getting Started in Beekeeping: 06: The Beekeeping Year Part 1 - The Norfolk Honey Co.

[@sean95690]

This instructional is better than paid for courses thank you

[@hjhjk34345]

Thank you so much for these informative videos! You also have a really pleasant presentation style and voice! ☺️

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Thank you so much!

[@sambrian3383]

These videos are definitely the most comprehensive and easy to understand on KZbin. Thanks for all the work that went into them!

[@chrislewis9014]

Thank you. Just transferred our nuc yesterday. Bees flying well here on the edge of Leeds. 😊

[@littlemaximus2071]

thank you

[@gsterley40]

Stewart, thank you for such wonderfully helpful intro sessions! I have been binge watching all day, and am so looking forward to learning more.

[@mauricelisley2612]

Thanks a great help been following 2 years as they come available and I spot them

[@mickbennett4742]

awesome advise cheers Stewart

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Mick, Many thanks for your comment. Stewart

[@grahamabbey3835]

Hi Stuart. I'm also Norfolk based and I've just received my new hive (being helped and mentored by a local beekeeper) and I've found your videos and tutorials really useful. Many thanks. Graham

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Graham, Welcome to the wonderful world of beekeeping. I'm glad you're finding the content useful. If you're interested in seeing more check out my support page www.patreon.com/norfolkhoney I also have a weekly podcast called "Beekeeping, Short and Sweet" and a beekeeping newsletter by the same name which you can subscribe to via my website www.norfolk-honey.co.uk Good luck with your beekeeping season this year. Stewart

[@divingsupra]

Thanks for the videos. Found them really informative for a complete beginner.

[@David-zh5sw]

Thanks for all your videos! I'm planning on starting two hives this spring after a year of studying about being a beekeeper. Your series has been the best. I've watched and learned so much. I can't wait!...David (Seattle, WA)

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi David, Thanks for commenting. It is one of the most exciting events, getting your first honeybees. I can still remember my first colony at the bottom of the garden and how fascinating it was just sitting and watching them. Good luck with your first season and please do let me know how things progress. Stewart

[@chubadee1]

This is a brilliant comprehensive introduction into bee keeping, ! Thank you ;)

[@mennajones4867]

Thank you Stewart. I am in the very early stage of learning, your videos are a great help

[@pipsav4354]

Really starting to enjoy your beekeeping basics videos thanks phil

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Phil, Thanks for commenting, I'm glad you're finding them useful. Stewart

[@Chesscolin883]

Enjoying the sessions Stewart, thank you.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Colin, Thanks for the comment, I'm glad you're finding them useful. Stewart

[@serenatelling2572]

Thank you for a easy to follow guild

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Serena, You are very welcome. Stewart

[@malcolmlane-ley2044]

Thanks for these training videos, I've done a little bit of reading previously but your tutorials have enabled me to learn a lot more and in a very short space of time.

[@gulsemininanc277]

Thanks for the great content, probably the best in youtube right now. I live in Turkey and will be a beekeper soon. Your videos are helping me a lot. Again thank you very much Stuart!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi gulsemin inanc, Thank you for your comment. Good luck with your beekeeping. Stewart

[@thomasreto2997]

Good point about making sore the frames in a purchased nuc colony match the frames of your hive box at the house.🧐

[@IcemanMobile]

Thanks Stuart. Great video.

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi IcemanMobile, Thanks for stopping by to comment. Stewart

[@Sweepy372]

These advice I am sure could be applied to all beekeepers in south Sweden also...thanks!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Thanks for your comments Fred.

[@danielcottam3795]

Thank you for the videos! Sorry for commenting so long after the videos have been made. With regards to moving the hive, what’s your opinion on moving the hive a short distance at dusk, or even night? I only ask as I keep bees (as a beginner) on our family farm and some fields are around half a mile from the main apiary (which is about smack bang in the middle of the farm). The only time I feel the need to move the hives is when we are growing pumpkins, as they have such a short pollination window. Thus I think it could be more beneficial to move them directly to the pumpkin field. Thank you again for the content! Old and new!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Dan, Thanks for commenting. The general rule of 3ft or 3 miles holds true mostly in the active season. It's not a problem in the Winter but I would be cautious when colonies are large and active as they will forage far and wide. That said I have moved colonies a shoprt distance and when there is a heavy local nectar flow and it hasn't caused a problem so I guess my very unhelpful answer is give it a try! Maybe leave an empty nuc behind for any stray bees to gather in and then either requeen them or unite with another colony. Good luck with your beekeeping this season. Stewart

[@annefinlay-baird2797]

Hi Stuart I’m not a new beekeeper but your series is a wonderful refresh and has given me new perspectives. I especially like the way you describe enjoying the process of looking through the hive, not an endurance or weekly task to be got through. The diagrams are excellent and I wonder whether there is access to them eg. Development of Honeybee castes... Thank you for these excellent informative, enthusiastic videos

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Anne, I try to make all of my images and documents available via my Patreon page as people request them. Stewart

[@annefinlay-baird2797]

The Norfolk Honey Company thanks, not sure what the Patreon page is? Thanks

[@myghtywan329]

I am in the UK and looking forward to start with beekeeping, where do I start

[@0hleg]

You said moving the bee hive below 3 miles was risky. But is it not possible to move the hive and close it off completely for a certain time and that solves the issue of the bees leaving?

[@susanbyrne6777]

sorry, more random thoughts, so if you move the hive 3 miles away, then how will the foraging bees find their way to the new hive? won't they just go back to the original site of the hive the same as if you move it half a mile away? thank you

[@TheMadGesticulator]

Hello Stuart, you say you can move the bees within your garden only three feet at a time. How often can you move them to get to the desired space you eventually want your bees?

[@jerrymerrick8608]

Thanks you for the videos, they are very helpful. Two questions, concerning early spring Nucs, would your recommend pollen substitute along with the syrup until I see real pollen coming in? And should I treat for mites after a few weeks to allow them time to adjust to their new home? I don't want to chase them out, but I'm not a fan of Mites. Thanks again. Jerry (NJ, USA)

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Jerry, Thanks for stopping to comment. If this is a nuc you are purchasing then I would leave the purchase until there are enough flowering plants for pollen, any sooner and it might just be too cold for them. A lot depends on your exact location and the timing of the nuc purchase. If it is an overwintered nuc I feed pollen substitute in early Spring for sure. Get the queen building up and once the weather is warmer get them into a full size box. I do treat nucs for varroa but you need to be very careful about overdosing them, adjust the treatment to the size of the colony so a half size nuc gets approx. half the dose. I would stay on the side of less than more with treating a nuc. Stewart

[@jakobmccandles717]

Looking at starting a couple of hives probably next year. Any thoughts on the flow hives? Just researching now

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Jakob, Where about's are you? I have no personal experience with the flow hive here in the UK but I do have someone locally that has a flow hive so we are going to be filming how they progress with it. I think they will work really well in the right environment, I have a lot of Oil Seed Rape honey that granulates really quickly in the hive so imagine that would be a problem here but I'm always open to seeing how it works. Stewart

[@jakobmccandles717]

The Norfolk Honey Company Thank you

[@jakobmccandles717]

Located in northeastern Indiana. USA

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

So you have cold Winter's and warm Summers?

[@jakobmccandles717]

Yes, normally

[@darrenlaw2599]

Can you use a super to extend the brood area by moving the queen screen up ?

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Darren, Yes, that's what a lot of beekeepers do to allow for an increased brood area. It's know as a brood and a half. Stewart

[@darrenlaw2599]

Stewart, Thanks for the quick reply. I am sure you mentioned the brood and a half in the video :-) Daz

[@jasc2724]

I'm purchasing my first nuc in hive this April. What is your experience of these? Am in Andover and hive will be placed in open area in woodland surrounded by fields? Thanks!

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi Jasmin, A nuc is an excellent way to get started in beekeeping. Its size means it's less demanding when handling initially but will grow fairly quickly into a full sized colony and, providing conditions are favourable, will give you a crop of honey in your first season. As long as the location is open, woodland apiaries can be excellent. Good luck with your beekeeping. Stewart

[@jasc2724]

@@TheNorfolkHoneyCo Thanks Stewart! Have watched all your videos to help me they have been great an very informative 😁

[@manutd19999]

Hi this it too late now to start a hive. Thank you

[@TheNorfolkHoneyCo]

Hi, No, it's not too late but it would be better to learn lots about keeping bees from this point through the Winter and start in the Spring next year. Stewart

[@manutd19999]

@@TheNorfolkHoneyCo yeh i think you are right! Love your videos and thank you.