Another Kenyan Hive!

Was born last Sunday

Introduction

Last weekend marked another exciting milestone in our natural beekeeping journey as John and Sharon Champagne from Brogo Permaculture Gardens welcomed their new ‘Let it Bee’ Kenyan Top Bar hive. It’s always a special moment when a new hive finds its home, especially with folk who understand the importance of natural beekeeping practices in permaculture gardens. 

Bee Hive Set Up

A small group of us bee enthusiasts spent about an hour carefully positioning the hive. When it comes to bee hives, location is absolutely crucial. We want:

• Good morning sun to warm the hive
• Natural shelter from harsh afternoon heat
• Protection from strong winds
• Clear flight paths for the bees
• Easy access for the beekeepers

The Champagnes’ permaculture garden offered plenty of perfect spots, and after some discussion, we found just the right position that ticked all these boxes.

Installing the New Colony

Once we had the hive positioned and leveled (very important with top bar hives!), it was time for the exciting part – transferring about 2kg of honeybees into their new home. I’m happy to report the transfer went incredibly smoothly, with only one sting taken by yours truly – and I probably deserved it for being a bit too quick with my movements!

The Critical First Few Days

One of the most crucial aspects of establishing a new colony in a Kenyan Top Bar hive is ensuring they build their comb correctly along the bars, not across them. This is where the “checker-boarding” technique comes in handy – alternating empty bars with bars that have starter strips or guides.

I popped back today to check on our new friends, and I’m pleased to report they’re doing beautifully. The bees are building their comb exactly as we want them to – straight along the bars rather than across them. This is absolutely critical for future hive management and inspections.

Why Early Inspection Matters

If you’re new to Kenyan Top Bar hives, you might wonder why we’re so focused on these early days. Here’s why it’s crucial:

• Comb Direction: Once bees start building comb in a particular direction, they’ll continue that pattern
• Easy Management: Straight comb means we can inspect the hive with minimal disruption
• Colony Health: Being able to inspect each comb separately for colony health
• Natural Building: Letting bees build their own comb allows them to create cells of various sizes as needed

While some hives come with windows that let you peek in without opening the hive, John and Sharon’s doesn’t have this feature. This means we’ll need to do careful physical inspections, especially in these early days.

Natural Colony Growth

Over the summer months, I’ll be dropping by regularly to check on the colony’s progress and add more bars as needed. One of the beauties of the Kenyan Top Bar design is how it allows the colony to expand laterally, growing naturally to reach its ideal size.

This gradual expansion mimics how bees would develop in a natural cavity, and it’s fascinating to watch the colony organize itself. They’ll typically keep their brood nest near the entrance and store honey towards the ends of the hive.

Beekeeping Success

It’s always exciting to see another Kenyan Top Bar hive established, especially in a permaculture setting where the bees will have access to diverse forage throughout the seasons. The Champagnes’ understanding of natural systems makes them perfect guardians for these remarkable creatures.

Remember, when we work with bees naturally, we’re not just keeping bees – we’re caring for an entire organism that will become an integral part of the local ecosystem which closes the gap with this holistic approach. Here’s to many years of happy, healthy bees at Brogo Permaculture Gardens!