

In the open position, the lid protects theīrood nest from both sun and wind. The beekeeper can easily work the bees from the back. Stable in the face of wind and predators such as raccoons, so it doesn’t In addition, the propolis layer promotes colony health. Canvas cover: A canvas cover placed directly over the top bars keeps the bees calm during inspections. The workers propolize the cloth, thereby adding an antibacterial barrier justĪbove the brood nest. When Naomi is working the bees, the canvas can be gently folded backįrom one side or the other, keeping the rest of the bees calm and in the dark. A heavy canvas cloth placedĭirectly on the top bars keeps the bees from building burr comb above theįrames.

Valhalla hive - another feature that was impossible with most top-bar systems.Ĭanvas Frame Cover. Other hard surface without damaging combs, a feature missing in top-bar hives.īut most importantly, a standard nucleus colony can be inserted directly into a In addition, four-sided frames can be rested on the ground or The frames provide space for honey storage that would normally go in a super.įrames, Naomi could easily exchange equipment between her long hives and Near her central Oregon home and the colony’s winter clustering needs. Naomi selected the number of frames based on the nectar flow All photos © Rusty Burlew.Ĭonsiderations were incorporated into the prototype hives, including the New comb: Honey bees have started building a new comb on this foundationless frame. Lifting, carting, and storing hive components. Require extra tools and equipment, and one that would be winter-ready without Stopped there because Naomi needed to incorporate special features which wouldĪllow for the ease of access she needed. Instead of using supers that stack on top of the brood box, the beeĬolony expands horizontally, much like the bees in a top-bar hive. Langstroth long hive made popular by Georges de Layens in his book, Keeping Bees in Horizontal Hives.īasically, a long hive is a horizontal hive that uses standard Langstrothįrames. Rendition of her hive design - christened the Valhalla - was a variation on the The finished product exceededĪll expectations and many of the original hives are still in use.

The practical limitations of building with wood. A skilled woodworker withĪ passion for beekeeping, Richard was able to incorporate Naomi’s vision within Prineville resident, built the prototype long hives. Finally, she factored in her ownīeekeeping experience, including the special features she needed for successfulĪnd enjoyable beekeeping. After that, she looked at the history of hive design, takingĬareful note of what worked and what didn’t. She studied foraging, brood rearing, food storage,Ĭommunication, ventilation, winter clustering, pests, and even her local

Put aside the codes and regulations and began to investigate the honey bees’ ¼-inch space can be equally empowering to me,” she explained. “Just as a 3/8-inch space can be empowering to a honey bee, a She understood that small things make aīig difference. The Americans with Disabilities Act and the Oregon Structural Specialty Code, Spent years performing accessibility site surveys for various entities under Starting with a visionĭetermination, Naomi set out to make her beekeeping dream a reality. “Accessibility is all about attitude,” she said. Simply put, she wanted the freedom to tend her bees withoutĪssistance from others. Naomi knew she wanted a hive that would meet the needs of her bees as well as aįew of her own. Naomi Price of Prineville, Oregon did exactly that. This article first appeared in American Bee Journal, Volume 159 No 8, August 2019, pp.
