Waiting for Swarms

Waiting for Swarms

Author: Henry J. Svec May 10, 2026 Duration: 14:11
Farm updates with thoughts on survival. Planning strategies for 2026 and more insight into hive loss. Is hobby beekeeping even possible without treating?

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
Did this Hive actually Make it? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:31
Back from the Edge?After I opened it up about a month ago and saw it was only two frames of bees, with no later activity, I gave it up. Didn't open it up again, but now the camera caught this. Orientation flight? Queen s…
Tractor Thoughts and Planning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:08
Cutting the dried wildflowers gives me a chance to think about how I want to keep bees as a hobby beekeeper. The 95% loss has been amazing for research, but not so great for hobby beekeeping. Here are some thoughts on fo…
Hive Autopsy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:11
I go through the painful task of opening and cleaning out the dead hives. It's likely the worst part of hobby beekeeping. What did I find and what did I learn?
95% of the Hives have Died [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:10
At first, it is tough to see that all but one of our hives on the farm have died, but it's actually an incredible opportunity. Here's the story and some ideas on how likely, when your hives fail it's not what you think t…
Coping with Hive Loss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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.
Hive Swarm Risk is Launched [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:00
Pleased to announce that our new tool, which helps with understanding Hive Swarm Risk, is now available. How to use it and how it helps is the focus of this podcast. You can sign up for the free 30-day trial at aibeeheal…
We Usually don't Know What Killed our Bees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:05
The risk of listening to others or experts who seem to think they know what may have killed our bees is a mistake. In this podcast, I discuss why, in hobby beekeeping, knowing your microclimate and your bees is all that…
I killed My Nova Scotia Bees [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:40
Stupid is Stupid does. I totally messed up and killed my Nova Scotia Bees. Here is the story.
To Treat or not to Treat? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:32
As hobby beekeepers, we consider the changing environment in which we introduce our bees to be important. Do we choose to treat or not? Finding a beekeeping philosophy that fits with our internal belief system is helpful…
Keeping Bees in Ontario and New Brunswick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:41
Part one of a two-part interview with a hobby beekeeper who has bees in Ontario and New Brunswick, Canada. What are the challenges and what philosophy of beekeeping makes sense.