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
A New Tool to Help with Swarm Prediction [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:13
Knowing when a hive is starting the first steps in possible swarming can be very helpful to hobby beekeepers. It may also signal when it's time to consider splitting a hive. I explain a new statistic using our AI platfor…
If Bees Hate Each Other Why do We Put them Togehter? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:37
As a hobby beekeeper, I wonder about the scientific evidence that shows bees choose to live far apart in nature. We know that drifting, robbing, and general dislike of each other make hives choose to establish far apart.…
How would I Start Beekeeping Today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:01
Someone asked me a few questions about starting beekeeping as a hobby today, so here is my short list. I also talk about the need to interact with bees that make sense to YOU.
Hobby Beekeeper could go To Jail for Taking Bees Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:24
Hard to believe but true. Here in Canada, if you take your bees from your home to a cottage that may be in another province, you could be fined $10,000 and serve up to 6 months in jail. The rules are based on faulty scie…
Hands off Drones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:41
In a new study, Drones are reported to transmit gut microbes to queens during mating. It opens up a whole new world and appreciation in understanding why, likely, we hobby beekeepers need to leave drones alone.
Green Goop on a Beekeeping Podcast? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:29
Hobby beekeeping is more than working with bees. It's a way to understand all of the things that can connect to our passion of bees and as well nature. In this unique interview, I sit down and talk with the founder of Gr…
Doing Less in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:25
Beekeeping used to be a relaxing hobby where it was a safe place to off load some weight or pressure. Now keeping bees seems to add to that weight. I'm deciding to do less in 2026, not more and make sure I protect the sa…
Will you Become a Citizen Scientist in 2026? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:01
Your Hobby beekeeping can get to the next level if you are ready. We are upgrading aibeehealth.ca to include a way you can analyze your front entrance bee activity to help better understand hive health. Will you join me…
Winter Time to do Nothing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:21
While the temptation is to keep helping our bees in the winter, this may be the wrong thing to do. here is why for me, it's a time to leave them alone.
Why do You Keep Bees? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:05
I asked myself that question, and the answer has nothing to do with honey or general beekeeping. When three of my worlds collided this week, maybe I'm starting to get it. What about you?