Episode-259 – Feeding Top Bar Beehive

What a good time for me today as I checked in on the top bar hive.  That's colony D and the survivor of 5 hives in 5 years. Not good odds but a chance for survival is underway. This video shows the top bar hive cluster and it was time to top them up. I was concerned they don't have enough honey so I mixed up some sugar and Honey B Healthy and a pinch of pink salt. The benefits of this type of...

Episode-251- Time For Top Bar Beehive Update

I have been showing a lot of the fruit, flowers and vegetables growing around the property permaculture style but I need to emphasize at times the animals that all play a part of the systems I have built. Featured in this episode is honey bee colony D from June 2014. This hive began in April 2013 and seems to be doing well. The present colony is possibly the result of a new queen and young bees...

Episode-240- Installing Bees The Fun And Easy Way

Here is part 2 of the latest honey bee installation. This one in a top bar hive. Using a top bar hive as the home for this fifth colony of honey bees I am anticipating a yard full of animals. Hive 4 is going strong and I must heed any signs of swarming but for the time being all is good. That means there's room for bees and this package of Russian honey bees from KelleyBees.com has made it's way...

Episode-239- The Easiest Way To Install Bees Into A top Bar Hive

I begin this video with the actual installation of the honey bees. With I hope to show you Easiest Way To Install Bees Into A top Bar Hive. I am also careful and cautious about their condition. The video will show the importance of having respect for animals. They have just traveled 650 miles from the Walter T. Kelley Bee Company in Clarkson, Kentucky. They rode on trucks, mail cars and my car....

Episode-234- Insulate The Top Bar Hive For Winter

As winter drags on through month four it seemed like a good idea to reflect on how I prepped the top bar hive back in October. In the warmer fall weather it was easy to avoid tasks such as this one but experience and knowledge of Mother Nature;s tendencies prevented me from being lazy. I am glad I took the steps to insulate this hive because it has been a rough winter for this area. The other...

Honey Bees Get Some Sun Before Snow

January 20, 2014 outside the thrive hive top bar hive and there is a lot of activitiy. The temperature went up to 12 degrees Celcius (54 F) just ahead of another snow storm coming our way. This one looks like a keeper although the ice from last December lasted a week after the snow melted. The busy bees are a great sign as they are getting some fresh air before tis too late. Newbees are taking...