The Wild Flower Bee Farm: Recent Episodes

Henry J. Svec

Turning a 50 acre cash crop farm back to a wildflower bee sanctuary and business. Join me as I explain each week what we are doing and why we are bee "helpers" and not bee keepers.

What were the two biggest mistakes I made when I started beekeeping?

In this episode, I share two lessons that changed the way I manage my hives. The first is why I now believe an inner cover is essential for managing winter moisture. The second is less about equipment and more about thinking—why having a clear beekeeping philosophy before you begin may be one of the most important decisions you'll make.

I also discuss stinging nettle and whether it has a place in mite prevention around the apiary.

If you're thinking about keeping bees or you're in your first few years as a beekeeper, this episode may save you from a few of the mistakes I made.

My complete online beginner beekeeping course is available for $99, where I cover the 10 biggest mistakes I made, along with hive management, equipment, swarming, queens, seasonal management, and much more.

Learn more at: TheThreeHiveMethod.com

Bee well.

Looking at combining a hive opening with perhaps two tasks and updates on today's last day to sign up for the free class.

For one week, I'm making my complete $99 Beekeeping Class available free.

If you've ever wanted to keep honeybees—or simply understand them better—this is a great opportunity to get started.

Register at:

https://TheThreeHiveMethod.com

Use coupon code:

FreePodcastClass

You only need to enroll during the promotion. Once you're registered, you can complete the course whenever it fits your schedule. Limited enrollment so sign up today.

I hope you enjoy the class, and I look forward to helping you begin your beekeeping journey.

The Hive Entrance Monitoring has revealed a stunning discovery. At night, some hives narrow or shut down their entrances while others do not. The second finding is that as soon as there is light, some hives break it up and return to normal quickly, while others take more time. Is this a sign of hive health or failure? I also discuss how my new way to be with bees is bringing me incredible hobby beekeeping joy.

Thoughts on the heat, missed treatment because of it as well as thoughts on perhaps missing a survivor hive?

Placed the first treatment on the swarm hive today. Took about a minute to do. Nope, didn't do any alcohol wash to kill some bees, just looking for ways to help them. The idea of 3 hives as a hobby beekeeper is a lot of fun.

This year's project is to see if I can be sustainable with just 3 hives. I have one swarm that moved in, as well as two nucs. Here's the story and the challenges. Will this work?

As a hobby beekeeper we often have swarms move into our empty hives. This one on the farm is strange to say the least. How do they choose the home and what should I do next?

Swarms are arriving and it's getting to be that time to make decisions on how to work with them. Some ideas and challenges as I move forward with my hobby beekeeping.

In looking at helping the bees I realized that the ApiLiveVar is open to heat issues. So what about this new oxalic acid treatment? Is it helpful for hobbybeekeeping?

This Science has been around for over 30 years, but this way to help honeybees with natural organic compounds wasn't something I talked about. I simply didn't know. I feel pretty stupid, but I am going to change what I do in this one important way. You may think about doing it too.

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 survived? At first thought it was just scouts, but now thinking I got lucky. What should I do now?

Farm updates with thoughts on survival. Planning strategies for 2026 and more insight into hive loss. Is hobby beekeeping even possible without treating?

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 forward planning, and some preliminary ideas on what killed the hives.

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?

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 that killed them.

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.

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 aibeehealth.ca.

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 matters. How does this model likely better explain hive loss?

Stupid is Stupid does. I totally messed up and killed my Nova Scotia Bees. Here is the story.

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. Here is part 2 of my interview.

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.

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 platform that may be helpful.

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. If we believe this, why do we put them together?

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.

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 science that supports provincial tariffs and border fees in Canada. It contributes to the escalated costs that hobby beekeepers face today.

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.

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 Green Goop, and how keeping or being around bees can lead to very different results.

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 sanctuary of my experience.

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 in 2026?

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.

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?

First time after viewing thousands of front entrance clips, we see this. It is in a 2-frame research hive spotted on October 26. The original hive is one of our 5-year survivors without chemical mite treatments. Could a certain strain of DWV actually help inoculate our bees?

With hobby beekeeping, I often wonder whether I should add a bit of thymol to help my bees. Treating for varroa seems to be something many of us think will help. But the science and the fact that tens of thousands of beekeepers no longer treat for Varroa tell us something else. Today, I discuss the powerful placebo effect on our actions with our bees. Does thinking it will help make it do so?

As we wind down the year a look at our failed and survivor hives with some Bee Lessons on life and money management.

I often think I can save them when I see the yellow jacket attacks, but it is really only a sign of a different problem. Here are my thoughts and Hive updates.

With just two hives failing so far, it's not enough to run the data. But some failed splits may help us better understand what may have happened to them. The other question is, if we open a hive now, what do we do with it if it still has bees?

It's sad on one side, but exciting on the other to have finally lost some hives. The lost hive data when compared to those that survived may help us better understand what is happening with our bees. The work starts this week.

As the bees wind down, so do I. Here are some updates as we move into late fall.

What a week. My eyes were opened wide as I learned of this fraud. Not surprisingly, I was a part of it. Here's the story.

In this rare interview on my podcast, I bring on Dr. Gary Brook whose article I recently discussed on the ability to have bees treatment-free. It's a fascinating look at the evidence and clearly begs the question, Why aren't we all doing this?

The evidence is pretty clear now that beekeepers need not treat for mites. In this podcast, I discuss the recently published article that says using these two strategies can get you treatment-free.

While the USDA wants us to believe mites and viruses killed our bees this year, it's not true. Listen while I explain some common researcher tricks and also some common beekeeping mistakes to avoid. Yes, I loved the Dave Letterman "stupid human pet tricks" segments.

I record this podcast from the Bee House and discuss the benefits of this approach plus hive updates.

A bit of this and that, plus special thanks for sending me your comments.

In this podcast, I discuss a presentation made by Dr. Thomas Seeley 11 months ago, and how it is an important and valuable training tool for hobby beekeepers.

The bad air has made the bees jumpy and swarms continue to keep moving in.

Eliminating the stress bees face is very beneficial to their health, ability to produce large amounts of honey, and overall survival. Here are some thoughts on why it seems our bees are pretty chill.

I finally figured it out, hence this bonus podcast. If you are one of the few, here's the link to more information on the class. Remember the discount code is POD7 https://hankbee.gumroad.com/l/zwzsp

Two months ago, a swarm moved into a Warre hive. It is exploding with bees. What should I do this late in the season? Here's the link to the class, remember the discount is POD7

https://hankbee.gumroad.com/l/zwzsp

We have reduced entrances on all of our hives. It's one of those rules that has helped them survive. But now at night, we see them reducing their entrances even more. It's not all of our bees, but mostly those with a history of survival. What could be happening, and another reason why continuous hive entrance monitoring is valuable for the hobby beekeeper.

As I look for a bit of honey, several new findings emerge. Bees move honey around the hive so the queen can lay eggs and a steady flow of nectar despite the drought.

With all these hives and bees, I'm not sure what to do next. Here's a farm update and some ideas on the summer splits.

Looking at how to select the hives to split again and why it's a good idea.

Transferring a nuc into a standard hive within the beehouse was an enjoyable experience—updates on this new project and a beekeeping myth that is hurting our bees.

Maybe things will work out after all.

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.

We have three different swarms that have chosen to live with us on the farm so far this year. Here are some hive updates and some thoughts about IPM.

Some of my 2 frame splits worked, many did not. What happened, what I did wrong, plus a new question and answer live session tonight at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

What happened when I checked out the mouse hive and an update on the progress of our other hives.

Here's a strategy I use and discovered by accident, that is ideal if you only have a few hives and want a split strategy that only takes a minute or two.

It took 150 years for health care professionals to wash their hands between patients. How long will we delay using proven practices to save our bees?

This morning, the temperature hit -5 C, with a wind chill of -10 C. Yesterday, some bees were flying at 7-9 C. What could this mean?

Under the Darwinian black box selection technique I'm supposed to let them die. But this isn't an easy thing to do. I talk through my thinking on this and ask you what would you do?

It's important to watch the hive entrance at this time of year to signal if the hive may be ready for splitting. Here are some of my plans, plus the problem with having a good winter survival rate.

Although the research proves that these strategies could help not sure why we don't do them.

How these 2 frame nuc's will help with sustainability.

Possibly the most futuristic, but helpful this strategy would be a no brainer for me to initiate if I were starting with bees today.

It was talked about some time ago, but should we not consider it today? The other important point is to ask the right questions when investigating the current issue with hive loss. This could help.

Here are two more hobby beekeeping strategies I would use if I started today. Splitting twice a year I think is the most important.

With the bees flying at 12 C, it was a good time to assess who had made it. We are at 14 out of 15 hives making it through the winter so far, and here's what I think happened.

I discuss the importance of knowing the type of hive you are getting to start your beekeeping career and some beginning steps for setting your goal of sustainability.

It was time for a name change to bring us all together to share regardless of how we keep bees. Here's the short explanation of why the name change.

Commercial beekeepers report this number of losses as they attempt to pollinate almonds in California. What is happening with those of us keeping bees for non-commercial reasons and how we can help better understand this problem.

Reports have circulated that 80% to 95% of bees have died. What could be causing this? What are the first two strategies for beginning beekeepers?

If I were starting today, here are the 10 things I would do to help my bees survive. I made all these mistakes, hoping you can avoid those as you get started.

It took 100 years or more for healthcare providers to wash their hands between seeing each patient routinely. When there are new findings in our beekeeping world, how long does it take us to try it seriously? I discuss this and why I think our new AI Hive Tool as we call it may help.

Pleased to announce that the app available at aibeehealth.ca is now available for use with Iphone and cell phone pictures or video.

The science is precise. If we stop opening our hives down to 4 times a year, we can increase honey production by 9 kgs. How can we start to do that?

We launch tomorrow, Monday January 20 at 8:00 a.m. EST. It is your last chance to sign up to be on the wait list and have access tomorrow. Join the close to 100 beekeepers that will be giving our application a ride tomorrow.

How I monitor my beehive survival without leaving the house.

Winter flights can teach us a lot. Here's a strategy for learning about your hive health without a winter opening.

While bees teach us many things about their hives and nature, they also provide many life lessons. Here's is what I'm reflecting on that the bees have taught me.

A look at everything we try to do to help our bees. But are we spoiling them? Are we contributing to their failure?

I'm hearing up to 65% of hives have been lost in North America by October of this year. What are some thoughts and why am I so optimistic for 2025.

My dad fed bees sugar syrup, and I did the same for my first few years of beekeeping. Now, with the new science on how that can harm bees and humans, I'm not sure. Perhaps it's time to stop this practice.

Drones being purged, bees with pollen and much more. I don't really understand this.

It's cold outside and not that warm in the hive so why are these bees fanning? This new strategy to fight mites might be the answer.

We are weeks away from our launch and are opening a wait list for those wishing to use it. At launch it will count bees in pictures or a video you download of up to 15 seconds in length for bees, bees with pollen and drones. It takes a lot of server power to do this, so we need to understand the demand, and it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Go to our website, wildflowerbeefarm.com, and click the Join the Waitlist button.

Got on the tractor a bit today and also continuing to work on the AI platform. Some thoughts as we hunker down for winter.

I discuss why we count bees, bees with pollen, drones, and wasps at the hive's entrance. I also briefly discuss the challenges of using AI to evaluate varroa mites.

Going into the fourth year with this genetics treatment free, here are some of the characteristics starting to make sense.

We are a week or so away from launching and here is the update.

A surprise find turned out to be another lesson in the brutal ways of nature. What happened and how this may be helpful to our other hives.

I have no idea. Perhaps you have an explanation. We expect deep freezes in a few weeks at night so not sure if there is a reason to need more foragers. Here are some ideas.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Here is why we believe drones will be very valuable in September. What do You think?

You can smell it, and it's supposed to be good for you. What could this goldenrod surplus mean for the bees?

I take on the mystery of wash boarding and explain why I want my hives to be honey-bound this time of year.

Checkup on the farm and our research findings.

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.

I think so and here's why.

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.

Here's an update on how the hives are doing.

The 2 frame nuc idea for queen rearing was an initial hit. It is a hybrid walkaway technique I guess, where I placed one frame of eggs and brood in a 2 frame nuc with some food. Seven days later I was able to create 3 hives from these frames. Here's what happened.

If pollen is coming into your hive does that mean your hive is healthy? Maybe yes maybe no. Here is the discussion.

If you see pollen coming in does that mean your hive is healthy? Not sure, but here is a look at that question.

Looking at trying the Queen Castle for the first time and with following boards creating 2 frame nucs. First time trying this, but hoping it will reduce the workload and increase the success rate in doing July splits.

After a few delays I was able to get out and have a look at the hives. Here is the report for July 6.

Can the 2 frame Nuc help our bees create better queen cells? I discuss upcoming research on trying to see if there is a way to use the 2 frame nucs to improve the quality of the walkaway split.

I didn't think these two hives would survive with just a handful of bees coming out of winter. What a pleasant surprise and perhaps some traits we need to see in our survivor hives.

This was a surprise.

This topic has caused a great deal of conflict between beekeepers and the general public. How do I define it, how do you?

A look at preparations for the new strain of bees and a farm update.

In this second podcast on this topic, I discuss how queens lay different eggs based on environmental situations and what that means to our usual practice of splitting hives. I also briefly discuss an experiment inspired by these new findings.

It appears that queens change the type and size of their eggs based on environmental conditions. It also appears to be true that queens lay different eggs into queen cups than the regular eggs she would lay in a worker cell. I explore how this could be a game changer to beekeeping and understanding what may help bees survive.

It's a busy time as we organize the research projects for the year. Survivor hives are still hanging on but not sure they will make it.

In the United States since 1997 and Canada since 2000, Russian Bees are reported to be resistent to mites and other diseases. Is it time to add them to the farm?

I take a look at this new opportunity to introduce new bees to the farm. Would you consider them to be treatment free?

Things are getting close for splits, the wildflowers and clover thriving.

Censorship appears to be alive and well in the Beekeeping Industry. Here are the three types of censorship we face and some strategies to help.

In this podcast I review the book by Mel Disselkoen and his OTS Queen Rearing Technique. It's a must read for those wanting to better understand ways to help our bees in a more natural way.

Inversion is a term popularized by Charlie Munger the great investor from Berkshire Hathaway. You look at a problem by going in reverse. Instead of saying what can I do to help my bees survive, ask, what can I do to make them fail. By engaging in that type of thinking a real solution may come to you. I go through this exercise and how it is helping me move on in the recovery stage here on the farm.

It's a sad day to accept that 80% of your hives didn't make it. What caused this and what to do next.

A brief discussion on the hive beetle life cycle and other happenings around the farm.

It's the goal not the process. Is it ok to use treatments for mites when you get started? It may surprise you to know that many successful strategies do start with some limited mite treatments including the Darwinian black box technique.

Bee's are often placed for reasons that have nothing to do with the food available within a 2 mile circumfrence of their home. Maybe this idea could help?

Something strange is going on in the hive. Bees are carrying out some objects that look like mites. I discuss this rare event as well as updates on the model to predict hive survival or failure.

What impact will this have on the bees and I look at planning hives for this year.

Some 900 or so years ago, Aborginal cultures began making decisions based on the outcome that would impact their people and planet, some 7 generations into the future. The 7th Generation Principle has been interpreted many different ways since then. Can we adapt this wise Principle to Beekeeping?

As I prepare for this coming year, I wonder if queen excluders are harmful or helpful to bees. I know they seem to help with the honey harvest. What are your thoughts?

It can be a tough decision if you think your bees are running out of food because of the cold weather. What should we do?

Most of us today want to help natural bees, honeybees and nature. Here is a breakdown of the 3 different types of beekeeping that likely you are doing.

In this recently released study, I discuss the incredible finding of what happens to honeybees when microbiota from children with autism is placed in the gut of honeybees. What are the lessons we can take away from this for our own physical health and that of the honeybee hives.

Raising bees without treating them for mites has been happening for many years in the UK. Over 3,000 beekeepers and counting. What a great discovery and helps me wonder why aren't we doing this in Canada and the US?

For years I've been trying to understand how new drones know where to go to be able to find a drone congregation area and hook up with queens. This recent research solves that puzzle.

This latest research points to the fact that if we have booming hives in the spring or even fall they are more likely to fail when compared to weak or medium ones. What could be going on? This new study gives us some ideas and may guide what we do this spring.

We were able to complete our first research paper and through our experience and the science, this new model is born. I explain it a bit and urge you to go and read the article and give us your comments. You can find the article here. http://dx.doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.31126.73283

It's simple to do but most of us don't do it. How this strategy is guarantted to help you increase your hive survival.

Pesticides in and outside of your hives impact hive survival. This latest research and our farm experience help explain the problem.

With the extended warm fall, the stronger bees are taking down the weaker. Here's my discussion of this part of nature that is tough to watch.

The hostile takeover in late summer has lead to the death of this hive. What do you think?

Vaccinate your bees? Why do we follow these stupid ideas and just fall into line. As early as 1999 a solution was found to Foul Brood. Stop the madness.

We all do this but likely we are hurting our bees. Also, why aren't more beekeepers using this simple technique to help with winter survival?

I take a look at the peer reviewed literature that all seems to point in the same direction. Treating bees for mites might kill the mites but also harms the bees. So why do we do it?

From acid treatments to mite strips back to back, I'm trying to understand the business of Livestock beekeeping. it's not easy but we have to try to listen to perspectives that really don't fit our approach. We can all learn from each other.

It's a great time of the year to look back and get clear on what I've learned from our project thus far. Some pretty surprising but common sense strategies that you can start using today.

In an amazing discovery scientists have discovered that honeybees develop traits to fight mites while in capped brood. In this podcast I discuss this new finding as another reason we should ask ourselves are we helping or hurting bees by using chemicals to control mites.

This fact propels the evolutionary impact of how different strains of bees if left alone will adapt to the environmental strain they are facing. We humans are also evolving. This fact is also why the bees are able to adapt to mites quickly, if we just let them.

This one is hard to believe. What would you do?

You don't need to open your hive to see if they are healthy. Here are 3 simple signs your hive is doing well.

I'm hoping these few ideas could help in the fight to stop some of the rediculous government ideas.

It's not cold or mites that is the greatest risk to kill your bees this winter. Learn how we use this tool to help with that battle.

I'm amazed the bees survive. It truly is an environmental mess.

A different look at what might be damaging our honeybees and natural pollinators.

It's been a busy couple of days. Good news for us on the helicopter spraying so far and weed police updates.

The weed police complainer is identified and more farm news.

From depression, to happiness to aggression, do bees tell us how they feel with their sound?

No cutting or spraying yet as we head to an appeal.

Yup we are at it again. Can't believe this but listen to the story of what we are going to do. Could I end up in Jail?

Can we just all get along?

The video hive swarms and other farm events. Looking to add sheep wool to our winter blankets.

Today I discuss the recent research that proves we have the solution to the mite and disease problem with our bees. I can't believe this is being ignored.

Perhaps if we leave the bees alone, taking a break or swarming due to the hive being full of honey could help with mites. Here's my thinking.

Today we are in a haze from the smoke and while the bees are still working they seem off as most humans are today. Also updates on the status of this year's splits.

More swarms and farm developments with a discussion on livestock beekeeping. Maybe it's natural, or livestock beekeeping and nothing in the middle?

Could we have too many bees? Today we picked up our 5th swarm. Now we are actually at 47 hives. What to do now?

We're not doing it on purpose, but it looks like it's not mites, the environment or spray from farms that are killing our bees. We are doing it ourselves. Here's definitive proof from a country that is doing it right.

Farm updates and next steps on the farm.

What a week as I describe how we worked to make 16 new hives on the farm.

I ask some questions and wonder on the need for more transparency when we buy honey.

Updates on how we are using this technique on the farm.

As Servant Beekeepers we spend a great deal of time watching the entrance to hives. Here are the 7 things to look for when watching your bees.

Cold wet days means things continue to be delayed. Hope the bees make it.

Working out the strategy to split the healthy hives in April.

It's about survival and nature demonstrates how brutal it can be. I know this, so why does it bother me so much?

Looks llike the hives are blowing up with bees, but isn't it too early?

Some thoughts after my 3 days at a world environmental conference. Some well meaning great ideas, but just the same some information on some concerning trends in the Environmental movement.

The scientists have finally proven that getting covid creates as good or better antibodies than vaccination. A met-analysis funded by the Bill and Malinda Gates foundation proved this fact. Nature and our bodies can help us overcome disease and illness. What does this have to do with mite treatments? Listen and learn my thoughts on this important topic.

This time of the year it's common to feed the bees to get them to spring. We have 5, 5 frame nuc's that have survived the winter so far. It's tempting to give them a little boost of honey or sugar water. But I'm not going to do that. Here's why.

Summary of a walk around the farm and some concern in that conditions may just be too forgiving.

Some updates on the new podcast and spring planning.

In this podcast I take a deeper dive into how the beneficial adaptations of worker bees may be passed on to the next generation and how beekeepers may be stopping that from happening.

If you have been following the Wasp Week on Instagram, you will note in the last video, a bee uses the tuck and roll technique to get rid of a wasp. I've seen this at many hives. This could be how it happens.

Now that winter is here, how can we continue to watch our bees without disturbing them? My covid experience updates.

Where could they find pollen this time of the year? One hive goes missing. Where could they be?

I really want to do this but I know I can't because it will harm my hives. If you have bees you also likely want to do the same. Here's why you shouldn't.

We are excited to be launching our free services including our live web cam, school and parent resources for schools and video library. Check it out at wildflowerbeefarm.com

It's a brutal task but feeling the need to write a couple of books with Bees as the theme. One of the titles may surprise you.

Lots going on around the farm including a hive that decided to build wax comb outside of the hive. Smart bees or just plain dumb.

As a Servant Beekeeper we don't save weak hives. Here's why.

Helping too much or not enough? You decide.

In this podcast I discuss my interactions with the local weed police who threatened to cut down our honeybee habitat if we didn't. Some hive updates as well.

What have we learned from the 24/7 webcam.

New Queens arrive and the bees are excited.

Here's the details on what I did with this hive.

Some thoughts after looking at some hives and talking to some beekeepers. Do you really think it's the mites?

What lessons did we learn from the recent discovery that all of our hives have died.

Where is spring? Snow on the ground today. Bees must be getting restless.

It's about time for the queen to start laying more worker eggs. The temp and humidity sensors are telling us so. I also provide a simple starter monitor you can use close to your home.

What is going on in the hive and updates on our live at the hive webcam.

An update on farm happenings and why I think I need some more diverse genetics.

We are very excited about the recent interest in our Bee Science Club. I talk about that plus an update on the state of our bees on the farm.

It's a constant battle to try to think of traditional weeds as wildflowers and being good for the bees and nature. I talk through that process and give you an update on the frustrations with the bees.

While I think I have hives that haven't been treated for 2 years flourishing, maybe the bees are just tricking me.

The Bees seem very busy to get the most out of the farm before snow flies. Urgency is everywhere.

Today I do a walk around the farm, talking about our 17 healthy hives as they get ready for winter.

Bees are more flexible on where they live then we originally believed. This log hive is a perfect example.

Why I have to stop listening to Master beekeeping podcasts.

I'm not understanding this strage bee behavior during these hot summer days. Can you help me?

This late in the summer what on earth are all the drones about?

Darwinian beekeeping means to have more of a hands off approach when helping bees. I'm finding it a hard thing to do.

A number of beekeepers are reporting that hives have failed after a swarm. What could be going on?

For the past 10 years beekeepers in Europe have been using this technique to raise treatment free bees. What a surprise to learn it's a lot like what we are doing.

This week we came to grips on how we want to help our bees. It's not going to be about treating for mites anymore.

A tough week talking about 2 hives that didn't make it and the idea of treatment free beekeeping.

Can being Honey Bound be a good thing?

We really don't know much about swarms. This past week proves that point.

Updates on some of our swarms and a new mite prevention plan.

After reading Keeping Bees with a Smile by Lazuton, I'm not sure there are any Natural beekeepers out there. What do you think.

Busy week on the farm with splits, swarming and forward planning decisions on mite treatment.

We all have been told that catching a swarm is a good thing to do. Find out why I'm thinking that's not the case.

There is a lot of instruction from "experts" telling beekeepers to stop their bees from swarming. Is this helping or hurting the bees?

Some initial data on the micro habitat of the living tree hive and other happenings around the farm.

I talk some more about my attempt to build a hive in a live tree and a fascinating book you need to read.

Hive and farm updates with some thoughts on an accidental, new way to split a hive.

Farm updates and what's in store for toady.

Farm updates plus a thought about different ways to raise bees.

An update of what is happening at the farm and some issues with Swarming.

Treating for mites, final conclusion on the hive that didn't make it and a launch of "Hank Live at the Hive".

Updates on hive activity and getting set for the first mite treatment.

How many bees survived the winter so far?

New monitoring equipment, spring planning ideas and a new web site launched to help teachers.

How are these bees doing it?

Updates on the hive and my attempt to use Propolis personally.

Is this possible?

What my community is doing to destroy pollinator habitat and what can you do about it.

Why not take an online class to learn our new methods of Bee Helping?

Discussion about current happenings on the farm and next steps.

I talk about a "conscious state of incompetence" and how all beekeeping efforts are helpful. New announcements about the website and an exciting new ELearning class "New Beekeeping-Part 1" is announced.

A look at the impact of bee clusters on the internal temperature of the hives.

An important discovery from this week's video blog.

Hive observations from the outside.

What the bees teach us about covid.

Farm updates-what happened when I helped the bees with their moisture problem.

The Home Except hive monitor told us that the humidity was 91% in this hive. Likely saved this hive from hypothermia.

Farm updates and we have finished planting the tall grass prairie and wildflowers.

What is a healthy level of humidity?

Seeds are delivered and winter is getting close. Activities on the farm plus the weekly hive report.

The hive report, an update on our electronic monitoring, this week's virtual field trip and Covid Decision Making.

Hive Report plus an update on our installation of digital monitoring of the hives.

Hive updates and next weeks activity.

Farm updates and wildflower summaries.

Hive updates and our new virtual experience is launched.

Updates on the moisture quilt project and the flowers on the farm.

Yes it's true. Time to start getting the hives ready for winter with moisture blankets.

The hive report and another need to help a queenless hive.

Hive report plus a discussion on if we should help bees or sometimes just leave them alone

I walk you through my day yesterday and a surprising finding with wax comb production? Have the bees lost the ability or knowledge to build comb?

The bees are loving the habitate we are creating. Updates on our splits and flowers.

Mite control and splitting hives. Does it fit?

Updates and the hive report.

How we tried to catch this swarm yesterday.

Time to get ready for 5 new queens to join us.

Instead of opening the hives learning hive health through observation. Also an exciting announcement on new technologies at the farm.

Social distancing for bees does that make sense?

Updates of what's happening with the bees at the farm.

The bees arrived yesterday and I was told to split them immediately. What is a split and how did I do it?

Updates on the clover planting and splitting a hive.

What varieties of clover are best for the bees and what is in our Tall Grass Prarie mix of seeds?

An introduction of what we are doing here on the farm to turn it back to wildflowers and the bees. What does it mean to be a Bee Helper?