Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Still in the Backyard
If having bees is legal where you live, but extenuating circumstances prevent them from
being kept in the backyard, there are alternatives that can work.
“Bee yards” can be on back porches, with the hives cleverly disguised as furniture;
on front porches, painted the same colors as the house and porch; and in storage sheds.
If you have a small yard, live on a corner, have a lot of foot traffic, or live near a
school, check your roof. You may have a flat garage roof accessible from an upstairs
window in your house. Problem solved.
Alternatively, place your bee hives in a garage (with at least one window). You may
work the hive from the inside, and your bees can easily come and go.
Cinder blocks are inexpensive, durable, and large enough to support your hives. Set
cinder blocks directly on the ground, then place stout 2″ × 4″ (5 × 10 cm) or 2″ × 6″ (5
× 15 cm) boards, as shown, between the blocks and the hive. By the end of the season,
this durable hive stand may be holding several hundred pounds of hive and honey.
Hive Stands
A hive sitting on damp ground will always be damp inside, creating an unhealthy en-
vironment for bees. To keep your hives dry on the inside, set them on an above-ground
platform, called a hive stand. Before you choose a hive stand, consider that the closer
your hive is to the ground, the more you'll have to bend and lift, and the more time
you'll spend stooped over or on your knees as you work. This is an uncomfortable way
to work, and it makes a good argument for using a raised hive stand. A 2' to 3' (0.6 to
0.9 m)-high stand, strong enough to support at least 200 pounds (91 kg) is ideal. You
can build a simple stand using cement blocks and stout lumber. Another option is to
make a stand completely from heavy lumber or railroad ties.
Build your hive stands large enough to set equipment and gear on while you work
with the hives. If your colonies are placed at the recommended 2' to 3' (0.6 to 0.9 m)
above ground, you'll need a spot to rest tools and equipment on during inspection. If
your hive stand is small, you will be forced to set the equipment on the ground. When
finished with your work, you will have to bend over and lift parts all the way to the
top of the hive to replace them. You will be better off creating an additional stand or
additional room on one stand on which to set equipment. There is an old saying that is
