Although bee hives can be made out of anything hollow, building a
standard box hive makes it possible to harvest the honey without
needing to destroy the structure. The hive consists of open boxes
called supers (from superhives) in which the frames are hung. As bee
populations grow and more room is needed, extra supers are stacked on
top, building upwards.
BUILDING A BEE HIVE
HIVE
LOCATION
As bees feed on forage plants and flowers, select a location within a
1-2km radius of plants. Bees like alfalfa, clover, dandelion and sage
blossoms.
In setting up, prevent mold and disease from a damp environment by
placing the hive in a spot with good drainage, such as on a gentle
slope. Avoid hollows or low spots where water can collect. It can help
to raise the hive above the ground on bricks as well.
The hive should be sheltered from wind, as even a mild breeze can chill
the bees. An effective windbreak for the winter months is important. At
the same time, the hive requires enough sunlight to keep warm,
maintaining a temperature of 34oC. In excessive heat, the hive needs
shade to prevent overheating.
GATHERING AND TENDING TO BEES
Wear protective clothing when tending to bees. A broad-rimmed hat with
wire veil will protect the head, face and neck. Light-coloured
coveralls and long-sleeved shirt will protect from stings and not
agitate bees. Wear loose-fitting gloves and stout boots to protect
hands and feet. Equipment needed includes a smoker for quieting bees, a
hive tool to pry open frames, and a large kitchen knife. To extract
honey more effectively from the frames, you can build a centrifugal
extractor to spin the frames within a metal drum to collect honey from
the sides.
Begin with a small swarm of bees either captured in the wild or
acquired from one of the city’s existing apiaries. The queen
bee should be in her own small cage box, lodged between frames near the
top of the box. Remove a few frames from the box to allow bees to enter
the hive. Pour the package of bees over the queen cake and the opening
from the removed frames.
Use a smoker to control bees by blowing smoke where you want them to
move from. Also, late afternoon and early evening is when bees are most
docile.
HARVESTING AND STORING HONEY
Plants yield nectar in two main flows. The spring flow starts with the
blossoming of dandelions and fruit trees and lasts into July. The fall
flow begins around September and ends when hard frost kills the last
flowers. Honey can be extracted after each flow, especially at the end
of autumn.
Honey
can be extracted from the frames by letting it drip into a clean pan.
For greater efficiency, build a centrifugal extractor to spin the honey
out of the frame (see diagram). Harvest honey from the frames on sunny,
windless days. Drive the bees away from the honeycombs by blowing a few
puffs of smoke through the hive. After a few minutes, pry loose the
outer cover and then the inner cover using the hive tool or crowbar and
lift it off. Use more smoke as needed.
Gently pry a frame loose and remove carefully without crushing any
bees. Gently brush off bees that cling to the frame. The comb is ready
to be harvested if it is 80% sealed over. Take the frame to a tightly
screened “room” and slice off the comb surfaces
with a large, sharp kitchen knife that’s been pre-warmed in
hot water. Place the frame in a pan for dripping, or use in a
centrifugal extractor.
STORING
HONEY
Newly extracted honey must be strained through cheesecloth to remove
wax and impurities. Let the strained honey stand several days. Scrape
off the air bubbles that will rise to the surface. Pour the honey into
clean, dry containers with tight seals, such as mason jars. Store honey
in a warm, dry room.
To prevent fermentation and slow crystallization, heat the honey to
60oC in a water bath before bottling it. Check temperature with a
thermometer to prevent overheating. Note however that raw,
unpasteurized honey has enormous health benefits but will crystallize
in time. Crystallized honey can be liquefied by heating the jar in warm
water and stirring.
WINTERING THE HIVES
Over the winter, cold and lack of food can kill the bees. Leave one
deep super filled with honey and polled for the bees. Supplement with
syrup as needed when checking the feeder regularly. Open a 1-inch hole
in the top of the super for ventilation. Wrap the hive in a layer of
tar paper, fastened with tacks or staples. Leave a vent hole, stapling
wire mesh over the opening and vent holes to keep mice out of the hives
over the winter.
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