The Walrus and the Honey Bee podcast

The Walrus and the Honey Bee

Steve Donohoe

A friendly, informative space for both new and seasoned beekeepers, offering practical advice, personal storytelling, and an emphasis on responsible care for honey bees. Steve Donohoe is a bee farmer, author, and magazine editor based in Cheshire, UK. He works alongside his son, Alex.

19 Episodes

Non-Treatment Sanity Check
9/24/2025
41:16
Steve Donohoe gives a quick review of the beekeeping season, then plunges into the topic of non-treatment beekeeping, that is , not treating colonies for varroa mite infestation. He tries to understand why so many beekeepers are following this trend, and sounds a warning. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
Open Mating Queens
7/17/2025
53:23
Whether you are raising queen honey bees or just dealing with colonies that have swarmed or superceded, the success of the mating of the new queen is a matter of some importance. Steve Donohoe talks about what can go wrong, and some strategies for increasing your success. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
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Walrus Wobbles (beekeeping blunders)
6/18/2025
14:03
Some of the many things that can and do go wrong when beekeeping, and what to do about them Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
Beekeeping: Myth Busting
5/29/2025
36:38
Steve Donohoe discusses the beekeeping season so far, as well as some beekeeping myths, and ideas on intensive versus extensive farming methods. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
Beekeeping Twilight Zone
5/18/2025
12:21
Some strange and unexpected things can happen in beekeeping - here are some of them Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
Swarming Hurts Your Honey Crop
5/4/2025
11:06
A little about how much honey you might lose if your bees swarm, and some ways to prevent swarming or reduce the honey lost. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
The Best Queen Cells
4/21/2025
14:56
Steve Donohoe walks through his method for making the best queen cells he has ever seen. It's the same method as used by Brother Adam, back in the day, and by Mike Palmer, and others. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
Varroa: Why Treat? by Kirsty Stainton
4/13/2025
22:59
A balanced and detailed look at the science surrounding the issue of non-treatment of honey bees, including a comparison between the two main approaches: selective breeding and using survivor stock. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
Beekeeping Essentials: The Critical Spring Period
3/25/2025
15:27
From Steve Donohoe's blog post of the same title, this covers all of the important beekeeping things that matter during the springtime. It covers feeding bees early on, then providing space, dealing with colonies of different sizes, equalisation, reversing boxes, difference between drawn comb and foundation, and even a little nod towards early queen rearing. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook
Interview With Jolanta
3/10/2025
21:16
Taken from a chapter in Steve Donohoe's book, Interviews With Beekeepers, this covers a conversation between Steve, Jolanta, and Murray McGregor in 2017. Jolanta is the head of the queen rearing unit at Denrosa Apiaries, and she explains how she makes her queens. Denrosa is the largest commercial beekeeping operation in the UK. Bluesky Threads Instagram YouTube Facebook

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