Building the Foundation: A Day of Hive Assembly
Rekindling My Passion for Beekeeping After Five Years Away
Building the Foundation: A Day of Hive Assembly
Today marked a significant milestone in my return to beekeeping—I spent the entire day assembling three new hives, each one representing a promise of renewal after five years away from the apiary.
The morning air was crisp as I laid out all the components on my deck: bottom boards, brood boxes, honey supers, queen excluders, entrance reducers, inner covers, and telescopic covers. The scent of hot-dipped wax permeated the air, a familiar and comforting smell that brought back memories of seasons past.
Each hive would follow the same structure: a solid bottom board as the foundation, topped with two brood boxes where the queen would lay eggs and the colony would raise their young. Above that, a queen excluder to prevent Her Majesty from laying eggs in the honey stores, followed by two honey supers where the workers would deposit their sweet bounty. Finally, an inner cover and telescopic cover would protect the colony from the elements.
I chose hot-dipped waxed components for these hives rather than painted ones. There's something authentically beautiful about the natural wood finish, protected only by wax. These boxes will weather and age with character, developing a patina that tells the story of seasons passed. The hot-dipped wax offers sufficient protection while allowing the hives to breathe naturally and blend harmoniously into the landscape.
As I fitted each piece together, I couldn't help but reflect on how different things are now compared to five years ago. Each frame placed, each box stacked felt like another step toward reclaiming something I had lost—not just the physical practice of beekeeping, but the connection to the natural world it provides.
By late afternoon, three complete hives stood proudly on the deck, ready to welcome their new inhabitants. They stand as testament to resilience—both mine and nature's. These structures, simple as they may appear, represent new beginnings and the sweet promise of honey seasons to come.
Now all that remains is to welcome the bees to their new homes. The empty hives won't stay silent for long.
April can’t get here fast enough!
-Dan
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