The Gallatin Valley Beekeeping Club met at Allison's house this afternoon for a year-end celebration and to check out her Warre hives. She and Andy have a wonderful urban farm. Chickens, raised bed gardens, woodshed, solar food dehydrator, and three beehives.
It was fairly mild this afternoon, so Allison removed the foam insulation from around one of the Warre hives so we could get a peak into one of the observation windows. The bees were moving around and a few brave souls were out flying.
Warre hives (aka "The Peoples' Hive") are essentially vertical top bar hives that are supered from the bottom and feature a 'quilt' on the top of the supers. The quilt box is filled with sawdust and has a breathable floor that lets water vapor pass through. The think layer of sawdust also provides insulation for the hive.
Their backyard is ideally suited for urban bees. Notice the tall fence to provide screening from the west wind and neighbors. The hives have eastern and southern exposure for sunlight and water is provided by a modified chicken waterer.
In addition to the tour, Allison and Andy roasted a turkey for the potluck meal and we toasted the bees with her homemade plum bounce. A fine celebration for the one year old Gallatin Valley Beekeeping Club.
