Spikenard Top Bar Hive
There are many versions and designs for a Top Bar Hive. The original Spikenard Top Bar Hive was developed by Gunther Hauk while Luis Feliciano was on staff.
I was exposed to the Top Bar Hive while attending a class by Gunther Hauk five years ago. I met Chris Harp and Grai Rice at the class. Since then Chris and Grai have been great friends and Chris, the Bee Doctor, has been a fantastic Top Bar Hive beekeeping mentor and a general sounding board for bee problems on our honeybee farm and sanctuary.
Over the last three years Chris Harp and I have been monitoring the use of the Spikenard Top Bar Hive (STBH) at several locations. There have been several adjustments and design modifications with a combined effort by Gunther, Chris and myself.
The STBH was designed so that a beekeeper could put a shallow, medium or deep Langstroth style super on top. The purpose could be feeding, honey production or swarm management.
New England Farms manufactures additional bars, multi-function outer covers, feeders and customized accessories. Because we manufacture each unit one at a time, a beekeeper can request modifications when ordered. For instance our research hives have rear doors for observation and photos. We have two STBH with no wood floor, just screen for our research.
Custom shipping cartons were ordered so the STBH can be shipped completely assembled and needs no other equipment except foundation start strips and of course honeybees. We have one STBH where no starter strips were used and the Ladies were allowed to create. Photos of the Honeybee Architecture will follow in the spring.
New England Farms also mixes propolis stain for the Natural Beekeeper who does not want to use paint on the hive.
The Honeybees seem to enjoy residing in the STBH. The honey produced is superb. The wax is very white and soft as it is harvested several times a season with no chance to become brittle or darkened with travel stain from the workers. No extractor for expensive equipment is needed to harvest honey or wax from the STBH. I use an old apple press. Press out the honey, pull the wax out after the honey drains off. Heat wax in a double boiler and pour into molds. Fun stuff.
Happy Ladies on fresh drawn top bar comb. These are
my Russian Ladies, from Kirk Webster Survivor Stock. I
made packages from my Langstroth hives and installed
with Northern Queens raised in our Honeybee Sanctuary
in Washington County New York.
Using the Spikenard Top Bar Hive allows the honeybees
a more natural environment in which to build their home.
The same management techniques in traditional
beekeeping are employed here. There are no frames
to purchase and assemble, oh boy. Strips of brood
foundation speeds comb building up but can be
accomplishes without the foundation starter strips.
Please email us with Top Bar questions.
Chris Harp comments on the Spikenard Top Bar Hive
Top Bar Hives require less intervention than standard Langstroth Hives. The bees do most all the work and the human job is to ensure their health and strength.
The Spikenard Top Bar (STB) Hive allows the beekeeper to incorporate the pluses of the standard hive with the strengths of the natural health of the bees observed in top bar hives. The bees are able to utilize their instincts to build comb without conforming to a man-made frame, allowing them to place the different brood comb, pollen food and honey where they desire for their community and utmost efficiency.
The STB Hive has a built-in Varroa screen which allows the beekeeper to monitor Varroa mites and other activities in the hive, with the screened bottom and observation tray. This design also facilitates the ability to treat the mites if they become a threat. The STB is designed to allow the use of Standard 10-frame Supers for additional honey storage, honey extraction and Winter feeding.
The optional window allows additional monitoring, and can be used as an educational tool to share a glimpse into the hive with others. (Note: a piece of foam or insulation placed against the window is advisable during cold months.)
New England Farms, custom manufactures the STBH and accessories in Granville, New York. A
percentage of the fee is donated to the Spikenard Farm Apiary to assist with the research that Gunther Hauk directs on the Spikenard Farm in Virginia.Currently I have 6 STBHs in their Honeybee Sanctuary in Adirondack Territory, Washington County, New York. 6 additional STBHs will be added n the spring. So far, Russian Bees from Kirk Webster’s survivor stock have performed well residing in the STBHs. Two of the hives were stocked with Italian Honeybees, this past spring. The Italians looked good going into winter. We are looking forward to seeing how the Italians fair in the STBH.
In January 2010, New England Farms sponsored the first Spikenard Top Bar Hive seminar. Several more STBH Seminars will be scheduled, stay tuned at www.honeybeecsi.com and the events menu at www.newenglandfarms.com for future dates and announcements.
