In case you are wondering, I have two Kenyan Top Bar Hives. I have a lot of reasons for choosing it because of the more natural environment. I have previous posts that explain it in further detail here about beekeeping.
Being May again I am monitoring those hives like a hawk. I'm ready with the third hive if needed.
This is a brood comb where bees are raised The brood comb will be darker and the wax harder. The raised cells are drones. The flat will be workers. No queen cells here. |
This is an actual honey comb that is just starting to be filled. In a Top Bar Hive it is behind the brood combs. The wax is light and they will add more combs as the season progresses |
Every bee has a job and these are a couple of undertaker bees removing one that has died. |
Honey harvesting here starts at the end of June through July. And last year's honey was delicious!
I've always wondered how much space you need to keep a hive. Living in a city I'm not sure my neighbors would appreciate/understand if I kept a hive being so close to their backyard and where their children play.
ReplyDeleteThere is a big trend right now for urban beekeeping. Bees don't need as much space as you would think. Here's a link for some guidelines - http://outdoorplace.org/beekeeping/citybees.htm
ReplyDeleteA lot of people who call themselves urban homesteaders keep bees. Also, NYC does a lot of beekeeping on rooftops. They have amazing gardens/parks there and I know its because of the bees. :)