My Hives
My hives incorporate some improvements by beekeepers
in Europe. Some of these were not included in the Abbé's
original plans for a "people's hive" because they require
skills or tools he regarded as beyond the reach of the
typical French farmer, and one is a modern response to
the problem of Chinese varroa mites, which were
unknown in the West in Warré's day.
Although Warré's design has
been in use for almost a
century, it has been until
recently largely confined to
Europe and the British Isles.
The reasons for this have to
do with the large scale of
American farms and
orchards and the greater
efficiency of the Langstroth
hive system for
industrialized honey
production.
Recently, there has been a
growing interest in
sustainable beekeeping and
considerable increase in
small-scale family
homestead farming
whichhave brought the
advantages of the Warré
design to a larger audience
of first-time, backyard
beekeepers.
Growing interest in
alternatives to the
commercial Langstroth
system have focused on the
so-called top bar hive, the
use of a one-piece wood bar
from which bees hang their
honeycomb instead of the
pre-formed frames with
plastic foundation used in
Langstroth hives.
The term "top bar hive" has
resulted in some confusion
as there
are two very different systems using top bars instead of frames gaining popularity in America
today. The ancient and eminently practical top bar is a feature of both the Warré system and
the Kenyan hive, so called from its African country of origin. The confusion results as many
people refer to the African design as a top bar hive, which it is but certainly not the only top
bar hive. The Kenyan hive has a number of advantages for the backyard beekeeper; however,
as one might guess from its name, protection from our New England winters is not one of
them. The Warré design, with its unique roofing system is particularly well adapted to long,
cold winter and the requirements of backyard beekeepers. Bees adapt to local conditions and
the home beekeepers provide for their bees must do so as well.
I constuct my hives is strict
accordance with the crucial
dimensions and components
of the original, French
design. However, I have over
time and with
experimentation,
incorporated a number of
modifications and
enhancements which extend
the capabilities of the Warré
system. Some of these come
from the work of beekeepers
in the U.K. and Europe and
one or two are my own
invention. My gratitude
toward all those beekeepers
whose help and advice have
guided me is great indeed.
Building a better beehive is
a step towards building a
better world.
