Learn to Build Round Hives Out of Natural Materials

Date: October 5-6, 2018

Time: Friday from 2pm-6pm; Saturday from 9am-5pm

Location:  Spikenard Farm Honeybee Sanctuary, 401 Hideaway Lane, Floyd, VA 24091

Learn to build round hives out of natural materials

Spikenard’s New Hive and Sun Hive

Since the very beginning, Spikenard has not only worked with traditional hive types, but has designed and worked with hives that support the vitality and health of the honeybee by utilizing natural materials with high insulation value and forms that approach roundness. We have been working on a round hive design, with the aim to pair the emphasis on honeybee health with optimum work-ability, allowing for the most beneficial relationship to develop between bee and beekeeper. In this workshop we will present our results and teach how to prepare the special paste needed to build this type of hive.

We will also demonstrate how to build the Sun Hive. All participants will have the opportunity to help weave the rye straw basket, which forms the main body of the Sun Hive

This hands-on hive-building in groups will be accompanied by lectures related to hive scent, warmth, wax, form, and hive-body materials. In this workshop, participants will gain the practical experience how to make their own round hive at home and will receive all necessary recipes and instructions. Beginning beekeeping topics will not be covered in this workshop!

This workshop is limited to 20 participants.

Presenters: Gunther Hauk, Alex Tuchman, Vivian Struve-Hauk