Year 2 December - Winter Reflections 🖊️
-My poor bee equipment is on its last legs.
Going to Pieces
It’s been a whopping 13 years since I splurged on new equipment for an experimental yard. Back then, I embarked on a journey experimenting with mite treatments and survivor selection. From formic acid to essential oils, mineral oil, Russian queens, powdered sugar, oxalic acid, small cell, and eventually natural cell—my hives have seen it all. I’ve painted and repainted the equipment four times, and now, the corners and lids are suffering from a serious case of dry rot. The paint is the only thing holding most of it together. So, it’s high time for a fresh set of equipment.
I thought, why not take this as an opportunity to bid farewell to the mishmash of equipment that tends to accumulate over time? Time for a clean slate, a new beginning. Out with the Langs, and in with the top bar hives. Well, easier said than done. Despite planning this shift last year, it’s proving to be a more extended process than I anticipated.
The Big Move
Migratory beekeeping is a must in these parts. There are only a few locations that promise adequate bee forage for proper nutrition throughout the season, or at least I hope so. Finding the right spot will take time, and I’d like to test it out for several years. However, that might be longer than the equipment will hold up.
Top bar hives were the dream migratory hive when I had a full-size pickup, hand cart, and ramp to assist in their relocation. They were:
- Low to the ground.
- Stable on the cart.
- Low center of gravity.
- Bee-tight.
- Easy to seal.
- Didn’t break apart when tipped.
The three deep story Lang hives were the complete opposite in every respect. But they had one advantage that the top bar hives didn’t—they could be smoked and split apart to reduce weight if needed.
Now, all I have is a toy truck, a cart, and no ramp. The narrow, short 6′ truck bed can’t accommodate a cart with more than two top bar hives. So, it’s back to the good old days of hefting them by hand. That’s an impossible feat when they’re laden with honey, ready for winter, and I’m all by myself.
Moving might be inevitable, regardless of whether I can secure a permanent beeyard location or not. For the past decade, almost all my beeyards have followed the same pattern. I discover a secluded location, protected from the wind, with a water source and as much biodiversity as I can get. I carve a path there with the truck, and before I know it, the land becomes a sought-after spot. Next thing I know, I’m relocating bees, and a house is popping up on the very spot I’ve leveled off for a beeyard.
Several options loom ahead:
- Get a bigger truck or trailer.
- Trim down my hive count.
- Settle on a hive that’s moving-friendly.
Food for thought as the next winter storm blankets the valley with about 10 inches of snow in the next 24 hours. Here in the foothills, I’ll likely get double that. It’s the fourth major snowstorm this year.
Stay warm and dry. And just bee natural. ✨
-Cheers, D 🐝🤠
