At BackYardHive, we are committed to information and hive technologies that encourage and enable backyard beekeepers to be successful. Our primary focus is on improving bee ecology and beekeeping methods that respect the honeybee. Our hope is that by introducing new hobby beekeepers to the rewards of beekeeping that there will eventually be backyard beekeepers worldwide that will help bring back the feral bee population and improve the genetic diversity of the honeybees. This diversity is critically important to the survival of this most precious natural resource. Thank you for being a part of the
solution and being a part of the growing community of backyard
beekeepers we are helping to create at BackYardHive.com.
Since we started Backyard Hive over
seven years ago, we’ve conducted many beekeeping workshops, sold
hundreds of hives, attended beekeeping conferences all over the world
and answered thousands of questions from beekeepers just like you.
In that time, we’ve learned a lot!
We’ve honed our technique and evolved in our approach to
beekeeping. We created the Bee Guardian movement
(www.beeguardian.org) and crafted better hives as we observed our
bees’ behavior. We’ve solved challenges faced by ourselves and
our fellow Bee Guardians. And as we looked back, we realized it was
time for that knowledge to be compiled and passed on to you.
How can I help prevent the decline of the honeybee?
Become a Bee Guardian
What is a Bee Guardian? A Bee Guardian is interested, in aiding bees as a species in order to recapture their genetic vitality and diversity. Bee Guardians utilize beekeeping methods that respect the honeybee and oversee the local environment, ensuring it to be safe for the bees.
The Backyard Hive is an Easy Way to Keep Healthy and Productive Bees Without the Need for Special Equipment or Invasive Practices
The Backyard Hive has many advantages to the backyard beekeeper. This hive is easier to use, inexpensive to purchase, and it requires much less equipment and expertise to get into the adventure of bee keeping.
It was a misty morning and Karen, Corwin and I were all bundled up inthe car chitchatting about honeybees, life and random ideas on ourway to DIA. Corwin and I were heading to Tucson, AZ for the organicbeekeeping conference. As we cruised through DIA and security with a number of rather odd objects packed among our clothes - including 18top bars - my mind was reeling on fast-forward mode thinking about the upcoming conference. I’ve only ever had conversations about natural beekeeping with people who have top bar hives in the Boulder area and here we were, heading to Arizona to meet a whole variety ofbeekeepers who all practice or are interested in an input and chemical-free approach to working with honeybees.
This is a video interview with Corwin Bell and other local Boulder beekeepers conducted by Gaiam (one of the largest resources for green living and fitness lifestyle products). Click to view the video: Gaiam Interview
My bee-wrangling journey began very simply, with a call to a bee supply company in a neighboring town. I was looking for a swarm to purchase; the woman I spoke with informed me that they were out of swarms (I called in June, too late in the season), but that she could put me on their “swarm list” if I wanted. (A “swarm list” is a list of people who volunteer to remove bee swarms that show up in people’s yards.) I had no experience with swarms whatsoever—I’ve never even seen one in person—but I had a friend who had told me about catching swarms and who I knew I could call for advice...
I want to share with you a very simple method of harvesting comb from a top bar hive.This should give you an idea of the potential yield and the relative simplicity of working with the top bar hive.The best part of this single comb harvesting method is that it can be done in less than 30 minutes and you will still get to the office on time!
Are you an accomplished woodworker with some time on your hands? If so, you may want to build your own topbar hive the BackYardHive way.
We now offer Top Bar Hive plans for both our Golden Mean hive and the Original BackYardHive. The plans provide all of the measurements, specifications, and materials you will need. Of, course, we can't supply the time, tools, and expertise, but if you are ready to tackle the project, these plans will help.
You can view our Top Bar Hive Plans by clicking here
If you are just starting beekeeping or thinking
about starting, then this is the time to catch the wave to get setup for bee season. The first year of caring for bees in the top bar hive is a simple
setup.
You will need to:
1) Purchaseor build a hive 2) Find a resource and order bees 3) Find a location for your hive 4) Purchase protective clothing
5) Coat the top bars with beeswax
6) Install the swarm or package of bees
