This is for the purchase of a digital copy, a PDF, of my book: "Overwintering Top Bar Beehives: Guidelines, timelines, & recipes to help you bring your first hive through a cold winter."

You may also buy this as an ebook on Amazon.com for the same price. 

Overview

Every new beekeeper should have a mentor. However, it can be hard to find a mentor with top bar hive experience. This book is meant to support those who do not have a mentor, supplement those who do, and be a guide you can have on hand to review. Winter preparation and monitoring is a process that starts months before winter begins. You will not only find helpful timelines to follow, but you'll also find recipes to feed your bees. We outline when and WHY you may choose to feed. We discuss when to inspect and what to do based on those inspections.

The principals of this book can be generalized to fit the needs of conventional hives as well. Although the focus is on top bar hives, this should serve as a primer for any first year beekeeper with any hive type. The recipes, timelines for inspections, what to look for and what the bees need will all be universal among all hive types.

Horizontal top bar hives are not like conventional box hives; so they require a special set of preparations. Feeding and protecting the hive from the elements than other hive types. This contains a helpful list of materials to gather and has descriptions and pictures to show how to prepare and install them. As well, the author explains WHY each component is used so you can make an informed decision to include or forgo parts of the process, dependent on your local winter conditions. For those who tend towards more balanced, bee-centered beekeeping, this book will ring true to your beliefs.

The author keeps bees in USDA zone 6 in Central Connecticut. You should be able to generalize what you learn to fit your local conditions.

Contents

Preface

Contents

Why Use This Book? & What To Expect From This Book

A Collection of Notes to Consider: Before Viewing & Using My Guidelines

Notes On Survival

Notes On Treatments & Genetics Notes On Hive Design

Notes On Sugar

What Happens Inside A Winter Hive?

Population Changes

Pollen Patties: Unnecessary

The Cluster Line Up

The Winter Buffet

The Bees’ Roof

Moisture: Not Necessarily A Problem

The Weather

Winter Preparation Guidelines

The Big Day

Inspections & Feeding

Mouse Guards

Insulation

Wind Protection

Ground Anchor

Emergency Feed Preventing Starvation - Restoring Bands Above the Brood

Sugar:Water - Recipes

1:1 Syrup - 1 lb sugar per 1 pint water

2:1 Syrup - 1 lb sugar per 1 cup water

4:1 Hard Candy - 2 lbs sugar per 1 cup water

4:1 Fondant - 2 lbs sugar per 1 cup water

1:0 Dry Sugar

Postscript