Year 3 January - Winter Thinking Ends 🖊️

Year 3 January - Winter Thinking Ends 🖊️

-Enough pondering! It’s time for some answers.

Well, I’ve gone and done it.

After two years of tinkering with things, I’ve finally settled on a plan for my beekeeping gear and placed the order. So, did I opt for a traditional top bar hive for its simplicity and cost-effectiveness? Or did I go for Warre’s, known for their modularity and minimal management? Perhaps I decided on my next top bar hive for its flexibility? Or stuck with conventional equipment, embracing natural comb and managing in a natural way?

I always hoped that someday I could standardize my bee equipment. I had a hunch that I’d gravitate toward a top bar hive or my next top bar hive in particular because they’re:

  • Flexible.
  • Functional.
  • Minimize heavy lifting.
  • Maximize production.
  • Easily moved with a hand truck.
  • Ideal for a trailer.
  • Cost-effective.
  • Friendly to natural comb.

But here’s the catch. Neither the top bar hive nor my next hive is dipped without considerable effort and cost. The size of the tank and the amount of paraffin needed are beyond my capabilities or desires.

During my days as a commercial beekeeper, I painted tens of thousands of hives, multiple times throughout the previous decades, and I hated it! I’m no longer keeping bees for a living, and I refuse to revive the worst part.

So, that leaves me with the Warre’ or conventional equipment. With no real experience with the Warre’, conventional equipment wins out. Last week, I ordered a pallet of conventional 10-frame Langstroth hives to replace crumbling wooden ware.

The Results

Oh my gosh! Am I going to trouble myself with all those frames? Lift those deeps? Use a hand truck to move top-heavy, toppling hives that split apart on a whim? Yep!

My beekeeping will resemble the time before the top bar hives. Three-story deep Langstroth hives will form the core of my beekeeping. They’ll be complemented by a few other hives that I find interesting.

Brood frame widths will be reduced to 1 1/4″. I’ll run them without foundation and manage them in a natural way.

I’ll paraffin dip or use stain on those boxes! I might use beeswax instead of paraffin. And maybe they’ll even look almost as good as those Warre’ hives!

I’ll keep scouting around for a good used trailer. But until I find one, I can move hives by breaking them apart and carrying one box at a time if necessary.

Emotion or Reason?

I find it interesting to ponder my decision-making process. With all the testing, trials, research, and experience, one would think that such a decision is based more on reason than emotion. But emotion wins! After all, once the minimal needs of the bees are met, a hive is all about the beekeeper’s needs.

And maybe there is more emotion involved in the art of beekeeping, and the beekeeper’s needs, than many beekeepers would admit. At least for this beekeeper, there is anyway.

Remember, just bee natural. ✨

-Cheers, D 🐝🤠