Hi, I’m Stewart Spinks and welcome to Episode 89 of my podcast, Beekeeping Short and Sweet. With winter upon us, it’s time to talk oxalic acid treatments. So let’s look at what it is, how it works and the options available for beekeepers to take care of their bees this Winter.

Links discussed in this week's podcast:

https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/veterinary-medicines-directorate

Research Paper discussed: sgap.ch/kalender/OxalsaeureVergleich_JApiResearch2015.pdf">Towards integrated control of varroa: 2)comparing application methods and doses of oxalic acid on the mortality of phoretic Varroa destructor mites and their honey bee hosts 

Welcome back once more to my weekly podcast, we’re back on track now after my recent absence and we’ve lots to talk about over the coming weeks as we head into Christmas and the New Year. I reckon we’ve got about 12 weeks before we might be able to have a first sneaky peek into the hives at the start of the new season, somewhere around the middle of March. But of course that all depends on the weather, this year I was looking at giant colonies being moved onto the oilseed rape fields in the middle of March whereas in 2018 we had just seen the last of the snow melt away so if we are able to open hives it won’t be full inspections of course, just a quick look to make sure all is well and the bees have been able to see off the long winter months. I say long Winter months but the time seems to be sprinting through, here we are at the beginning of December, there’s a crisp frost outside, the skies are a pale, Wintery blue colour and for once there’s not a cloud in the sky. What’s that dead pool expression, It’s beginning to look at lot like Christmas!

So my last week has been a busy one, I’ve been getting a few large honey orders ready to go out but have been slowed up a little by a lack of labels. I’ve been redesigning labels and trying out a new label supplier, the first batch, a special Christmas hamper label was a great success and so I’ve decided to switch all of my labels to this printers. I’m just waiting for them to arrive and then I have several hundred jars of honey to label and deliver. I’ll probably be out delivering honey as you listen to this podcast if you’re listening to it hot off the press as it were.

The rest of the week has been spent dealing with a lot of online enquiries for next year’s experience days that I run. Lots of beginner beekeepers will be getting a trip to my apiaries next season and I’m always really excited to share my beekeeping knowledge with them and help them start their beekeeping journey.

On the subject of Experience Days, I have a special offer for all of my Patreon supporters.

I’m going to run Experience Days specifically for patrons who have signed up to my $5 or $10 for at least six months prior to the date of the experience day which will be held in June and July.

The dates, which I’ve yet to add to the diary, will be specifically designed to answer question you might have regarding your beekeeping. So depending on the topics you’d like covered we could look at queen rearing basics, more advanced queen rearing techniques, disease inspections, setting up an apiary, honey production, the list is endless really.

The days will include lunch and all refreshments, all you will have to bring is a spotlessly clean bee suit and your wellies or stout boots. They are going to be held at my fishing lakes apiaries where you will be able to see how lucky I am to have such a beautiful location to keep bees.

I shall restrict the number of beekeepers that can attend each day so you can get the maximum amount of time with me in front of the bees and we’ll finish the day wi