Coping with Hive Loss

Coping with Hive Loss

Author: Henry J. Svec April 8, 2026 Duration: 18:30
As hobby beekeepers, we all face the losses from the winter this time of year. Here are some ways to get through it with practical strategies, and the dangers of listening to a single solution.

Henry J. Svec is on a quiet, radical journey, transforming fifty acres of conventional farmland into a thriving wildflower bee sanctuary. In the Hobby Beekeeping podcast, he narrates that process week by week, digging into the hands-on work and the philosophy behind it. A key part of the conversation is his deliberate shift in terminology-he doesn’t call himself a beekeeper, but a bee "helper," a distinction rooted in specific scientific perspectives that guide the entire project. Each episode feels like a candid field report, where Henry explains the latest developments on the land, the reasoning behind various methods, and the ongoing research that informs their approach. This isn't about presenting perfect solutions, but about fostering an open and honest dialogue. The podcast serves as a meeting place for anyone curious about supporting pollinators, where diverse experiences and all aspects of beekeeping practice are welcomed and discussed. You’ll hear the realities of building a business in harmony with nature, the challenges and surprises of ecological restoration, and a deep respect for the complex lives of bees. It’s an educational listen that grounds itself in the dirt and blooms of a real, evolving sanctuary.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Hobby Beekeeping
Podcast Episodes
Servant Beekeeping Example of 3 Hive Entrances [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:55
We spend a great deal of time watching the entrances to our hives. Here are 3 examples of different activity. What do you think is going on? We will check back in October to see who survived and thrived.
Valuable Drones in September [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:57
Here is why we believe drones will be very valuable in September. What do You think?
Stinky Goldenrod and Other Farm News [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:13
You can smell it, and it's supposed to be good for you. What could this goldenrod surplus mean for the bees?
Weed Police Decision [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:06
It's been a long battle to balance the need to convert the farm to nature with the constant complaints from Agent Orange farmers. Here's the solution.
Very Late Season Split [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:44
In this little experiment did a walk-away split into a 5 frame nuc with a Russian Hive. I have a feeling this just might work.
Farm Summary for July [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:32
Here's an update on how the hives are doing.

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