No Risk Work Bees

[Nyboy]

I just got a certifed letter from house across the street from me. They are applying for a use permit for home occupation of maple syrup and honey !! They will be puttng hives and caring for them. I am sure the bees will make it into my flower beds and orchard All of the benfits none of the work

 

[journey11]

Yea! Couldn't get a sweeter deal, that's for sure. You'll notice a big difference in your fruit set. You may see some swarms land in your yard too. Neighbor should be able to fetch them. They are valuable. They are totally gentle when they swarm, since they have nothing to protect.

 

[Nyboy]

I wanted bees but was worried about overwintering them

 

[catjac1975]

I just got a certifed letter from house across the street from me. They are applying for a use permit for home occupation of maple syrup and honey !! They will be puttng hives and caring for them. I am sure the bees will make it into my flower beds and orchard All of the benfits none of the work

Will the nosey old lady fight it? I cannot believe they need a permit.

 

[Nyboy]

I would bet my last dollar

 

[lcertuche]

I've been thinking about trying to start a top-bar hive but my menfolk are such wimps about buzzing critters.

 

[valley ranch]

Tell them, the men folk, the bees get to know you, and like you. It's true!

 

[valley ranch]

Over wintering bees is no problem, in colder areas, wrapping the hive with insulation. Just that foil faced bubble wrap does well. But they can take quite cold weather without it.

 

[valley ranch]

http://www.backyardhive.com/article...keeping/winterizing_and_insulating_your_hive/


Winterizing Your Top Bar Hive for the Colder Months
Here in Colorado we experience very cold winters. Most of the content in this article is directed toward those who live in cold winter climates. Insulating the beehive, and keeping a full hive of honey is important in areas where you will experience below-freezing temperatures for many days at a time. Obviously, if you live in a very warm climate like Florida it will not be necessary to winterize your hive. Understand that you may need to adjust this information for your specific climate and area.


Because of how the bees use honey over the winter, we have changed our thoughts on when the best time to harvest honey actually is. We find that it is more supportive of the bees to harvest honey in the spring instead of in the fall in colder climates because the bees will need the honey for warmth. Not only do the bees eat the honey, but they also take advantage of the honeys’ incredible heat storing properties as thermal mass. During the day, the honey absorbs warmth from the radiating sun, stores it, and slowly releases that warmth back into the hive throughout the coolness of the evening and night. That being the case, we feel the last honey harvest in the fall should only be to prevent the bees from attaching their comb from the false back. Do not remove more than 1-2 honey combs. Labor Day is a good reference date to keep in mind as around the last time you want to harvest honey.

There are four fall “chores” to prepare your hive for the winter:

1) Move the false back forward

2) Install a feeder cup if your bees don’t have enough honey stored

3) Reducing down the entrance of the hive

4) Insulate the hive

 

[valley ranch]

You mentioned Top Bar Hive. This fellow does a decent job, except for using the Crescent wrench backwards, don't you do that!

The angle cut can be done with a circular saw if you don't have a table saw, and are careful and you can tack where he uses a staple gun.