Back in 2007, I took an apiology class with Dr. Dewey Caron at the University of Delaware. I thoroughly enjoyed the course, managed an A, and could not wait to get a hive of my own. Unfortunately, I had 2 years left to my degree, little money to start an apiary, and nowhere to put the bees.
Now, I am a naturalist at a local non-profit nature center. I plan on staying in the area for a while as my wife, Catie, and I like life here so far. It seems I have the time for beekeeping all of a sudden after years of moving from one seasonal job to the next.
The nature center already has several hives of bees and even produces a modest amount of honey for sale. It sits on 116-acres of former pasture land and secondary growth forest. It would be easy to keep a hive here without disturbing the public or the bees. I have the space.
Then I discovered a low maintenance, inexpensive hive called the top bar. These hives are used in many countries around the world but have been forgotten in the U.S. for centuries due to the success of the Langstroth hive. They have been resurrected by amateur beekeepers for the ability to make and manage them cheaply, the idea that they are a more "natural" way to keep bees, and that they are rather attractive in a back yard (when made well). I have the money!
And so begins my adventure in beekeeping and managing a top bar hive colony.
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