Two nights ago I picked up 170 linear feet of Cedar from Jeff at Treecycle Northwest (http://www.treecyclenw.com)-- now the exclusive provider of wood for Bee Thinking. Upon arriving home and stickering it it looked like this:

From Shop

After today's work it looks like this:

From Shop

Today I completed the body of the final top bar hive, in addition to 12 more Warre boxes, bringing the total to 31 boxes. This should be enough for the 10 Warre hives until the nectar flow is really going. At this point I need to focus on building roofs, floors, top bars, windows and other miscellaneous portions of the hives so that they are ready to be in place at the wineries by the first week of April. 

Today's images:

Soon to be 12 Warre boxes:

From Shop

Walla!: 

From Shop

The last top bar hive on the assembly line:

From Shop

A lot of warre boxes, most awaiting handles and bars:

From Shop

The first top bar hive in place at headquarters:

From Shop

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Yesterday afternoon was an unusually beautiful day. The sun was shining, the clouds were parting and the bees were billowing in and out of the hive, covered from head to foot in pollen. This, of course, gave me a great desire to open the hive and take the first peak in a couple months.

Not knowing how they'd take to the intrusion I suited up, smoked them and began dismantling their abode. The first few frames (Langstroth hive) were okay, though I had a few more dive bombers than usual in the summer/fall. I pulled the fourth frame and WHAM! Dozens of bees began a full-out assault on my face.  I calmly put the frames back and began sealing them back up and they became a tad more hospitable. 

I look forward to Spring when the nectar flow is on and they have not a care in the world but to increase their stores and, most likely, swarm. I will always have a soft spot for the first Langstroth hive of my apiary, and even though I don't plan to add any more, I certainly don't plan to get rid of this one!

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Vacations, work and other endeavors have kept me from spending much time with Bee Thinking. In the past month I've only had time to build one more Warre hive, leaving me with 8 to go before placing them at their respective wineries and backyards in early April prior to the arrival of the packages. The next three weekends and many evenings will certainly be spent covered in sawdust, making vigorous use of templates and mass production to build the remaining hives. In addition, I hope to have sufficient time to coat each of them in linseed oil and beeswax to extend the longevity of each hive in Oregon's wet environment, thus reducing maintenance in the years to come.

A few weeks ago I surveyed a number of wineries that have requested Bee Thinking hives in order to determine suitability for bees. I took into account seclusion from public, accessibility for management, available flowers for forage, water, protection from wind, exposure to sunlight and believe I've settled on 3-4 ideal locations for hive placement during the 2009 beekeeping season. Upon further discussion with the winery owners I will let you know the final hive layout plan.

Furthermore, Bee Thinking is now the first and only beekeeping-related website on the EcoMetro guide - a popular green and sustainable business directory covering a number of eco-friendly cities, including Portland, Oregon.

Pictures coming as soon as I return from San Antonio, Texas!

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