BEES PLZ prepares for its first season of beekeeping

Beginning in the spring of 2017, our decision to enter into the world of beekeeping was haphazard at best. Starting with an online order for a FLOW beehive and nothing else, we jumped into the fray.

Ordering a hive online is easy. Opening the box when it arrives is easy. Removing the contents of the shipment is easy. What is not so easy…assembling a hive with no prior knowledge or experience of beekeeping…and…NO Instructions.

Now I can look online as easily as the next guy and try to make the final assembly “look” like the photo but what happens when the bees show up and they have to live there. Will it function close enough for them to get the idea that my intent was for them to have a solid home? Do they care?

Take a look at the photos of the assembly process and see if you think you could make your way through the pieces and parts without instruction. I will tell you the first one was rift with mistakes and miscalculations that had to be undone and redone several times.

The second and third hive assemblies we much more deliberate and informed:
Hive 1 – 6.5 hours (modified parts, some necessary, some not)
Hive 2 – 2.25 hours (wow this one went really well and it is right)
Hive 3 – 1.75 hours (same plan as hive 2 so very fast, will repeat this hive brand in the future)

Now that the hives are in and assembed, due to the recently gained knowledge from the “First Year Beekeeping” course provided by UNL, I now have to paint the wonderfully aromatic and visually attractive cedar with paint. That’s right, I am supposed to protect the wood with paint. Was not planning on that effort being added to the list of stuff needing done before bees arrive.

There are a lot of opinions on paint but the common agreed upon theme is light colored paint is best. Also if you have budget issues you should hit the “mis-tints” at your local hardware store being sold for extreme discounts on the retail price. Oil based, latex, no real preference was indicated.

I in my arrogance made a decision at that time to adorn and equip all of BEESPLZ hives in the same consistent manner. Oil based metallic silver chain link fence paint was my “brand” on the wood of the hive. I also opted for thermally superior plastic based hive covers. I think they look awesome. I do not think the bees care.

If you want to care for bees, even if only on a part time basis, please contact BEESPLZ. Share with them your availability and desired activity information. They can help accommodate your participation in this wildly interesting, growing in popularity and important activity in our world today. Sounds really impactful and it is. The world as we know it would not exist if it were not for the bees.