Hive-minded

April 23, 2008 6:14 PM

The barefoot beekeeper is Phil Chandler's blog about small-scale organic beekeeping. It offers videos and a forum, as well as a photo tutorial, How to Build a Top Bar Hive.

Top bar hives have been around since at least 1682.

posted by owhydididoit (16 comments total)

My brother keeps trying to turn me into a top bar beekeeper.

We have small kids.
posted by mecran01 at 6:27 PM on April 23, 2008

Ol' Phil is a pretty smart guy.
posted by Doohickie at 6:39 PM on April 23, 2008

I want to someday live in a house like Beorn's longhouse, with meadows and such, and keep bees. This is great -- thanks!
posted by chihiro at 6:54 PM on April 23, 2008

great post! Very interesting stuff and much simpler than I ever imagined.Thanks!
posted by HappyHippo at 8:38 PM on April 23, 2008

Great timing! I'm hoping to collect my hives from storage. I just saw that the neighbor has their hive out in the front yard.
posted by ikahime at 8:44 PM on April 23, 2008

Is it just me, or have top bars suddenly become the fixies of beekeeping?
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 9:11 PM on April 23, 2008 [1 favorite]

His knowledge of top-bar hives is much better than his knowledge of scroll bar placement.
posted by 7segment at 9:23 PM on April 23, 2008

Rather.
posted by owhydididoit at 9:27 PM on April 23, 2008

Is it just me, or have top bars suddenly become the fixies of beekeeping?

I also get the feeling that it's deliberately luddite. I have english National hives, and to my mind they're simple, easy to inspect, light to handle, and good producers of honey. I'm not sure I can see any real advantages to a topbar hive.
posted by roofus at 5:58 AM on April 24, 2008

/stunned to discover this much interest in beekeeping on here. Has this become a popular hobby and I missed the trend?
posted by Zinger at 6:24 AM on April 24, 2008

i want to move back to portland, or and have lots of stuff in my backyard, including bees, so this is very handy!
posted by snofoam at 6:32 AM on April 24, 2008

oooh, i want a transparent bee hive!
posted by snofoam at 6:46 AM on April 24, 2008

I've been thinking of hobby beekeeping once I land somewhere for at least a couple of years. This has been great info. Thank you.
posted by Juicylicious at 7:11 AM on April 24, 2008

"Is it just me, or have top bars suddenly become the fixies of beekeeping?"
- M.C. Lo-Carb!

Uh-oh. I get both references and find the question funny. I probably need cooler hobbies.
posted by lothar at 9:47 AM on April 24, 2008

Lothar - I'll cop to owning a fixie, but my bees roll langstroth!
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 10:06 AM on April 24, 2008 [1 favorite]

Check out this related previous mefi post I made about Voice of the Hive...
posted by illuminatus at 10:59 AM on April 24, 2008