Wymeswold Honey is having a crack at some (even more) sustainable beekeeping in 2021. Whilst I like to think our practices are already at the more sustainable end of the spectrum (we don’t endorse bee imports, don’t use miticides, don’t feed unless required and try and avoid unnecessary / aggressive interventions and inspections), I am being drawn to an ever-more bee-centric approach to apiculture.
To this end, I purchased the following volume, which I can wholeheartedly recommend. David has written a very accessible book; engaging, and written in plain english. Top man.
The Bee-friendly Beekeeper; A sustainable approach - David Heaf
If you choose to buy it, please consider getting it from Northern Bee Books, here - rather than lining the pockets of Jeff Bezos. Don’t get me going!
Anyhow, off the back of this, I’ve decided to try my hand at top-bar beekeeping this year, in a Warré Hive. You can, of course, buy these hives, but, in the true spirit of sustainability (and indeed, the Warré philosophy of the simple ‘people's hive’), I decided not only to build my own, but also to do so by machining some locally sourced UK timber - pretty much straight from the tree. For anyone wanting to try their hand, construction plans are in the above book, but can also be downloaded from here: https://warre.biobees.com/plans.htm
The promised land to which I am trying to migrate is a totally symbiotic relationship with my stock, involving the sole use of locally adapted bees, who are not constrained in their innate behaviours, and are naturally able to tolerate - and thrive in - their environs; including an ability to cope with the endemic varroa mite.
Given that I’m just putting the final flourishes on it, the next post is going to be about my hive construction, just so you can see what I’ve achieved … but from that point (given that it’s already April), the updates should then hopefully come thick and fast, as I populate and manage the hive through the season.
Hopefully, you’ll follow me on this journey, and we’ll all learn something.
Wish me luck!
Craig.
