Time to Leave them Alone

Time to Leave them Alone

Author: Henry J. Svec June 2, 2025 Duration: 12:10
We take the month of June and refrain from touching our hives. It's tough, as we want to go in and look at things. Here's why we leave them alone with some split and swarm updates.

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
Drone Purge Day [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:49
Just like the movie I guess, yesterday October 18 was Drone Purge day. What could have triggered this sudden purging of drones? Here are my thoughts.
Is Fall Pollen Necessary for Strong Winter Bees? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:10
After watching our bees bring in pollen yesterday, I took a look at the science to answer this question. You might be surprised what I found.
Will You Help Us with this New Free AI Tool? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:12
In two weeks, I'll be beta-testing our new platform to analyze honeybee activity at the entrances to a hive from pictures or video clips. Here's how you can help.
New Easy Way to Build Hives and help Them Survive [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:27
This new project for 2025 is based on our work and others in beekeeping. I will only open the hive twice during the year, making it very much a hands-off approach. Will it work?
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.