Time To Level & Reorganize (again)

Looking at Natasha's incorrect lean since last year, I knew I had to go in and level off that hive some how. I'd levelled off the hives using my new configuration of two cinder blocks and a 2x3x8 hive stand atop them for my two full hives. Or, so I thought. But Yvonne was alarmed at how "off" one of the cinderblocks was underneath Natasha's new stand. The hives were even but their support wasn't. Yep, I had to redo the long process I'd done just a week ago. I got smarter this time, thank goodness. The older I get the more I see that "smarter" almost always is simpler and less work in the long run.

__This was true here. I simply decided to move the hives a few feet forward on more level ground while I was at it. This meant I wouldn't have to stand behind my hives on a hillside while I work the hives, going forward. I dug out the space for the cinder blocks and hive stand, and used my level app on my smart phone until the stand was just right. I took apart the supers and then the brood boxes, stacking each atop one another.

They hadn't drawn any further comb in the supers, by the way. :( I moved the bottom board and slatted rack in place and re-assembled in reverse order. Then I did the same for Boris. The bees were surprisingly calm, compared to just a week earlier when I'd leveled off the hives originally with my new hive stand configuration. (It uses a single 2x3x8 piece of lumber and 5" lag screws underneath each end to allow for the imperfect ground beneath each cinderblock. If additional settling occurs I simple will adjust the lag screws when needed.) Then I repeated for Boris.

_With both Boris and Natasha leveled off, I did the same for the nucs. I left a beautiful space for the future colony that I was trapping out at Cory & Nolans. I'll make another hive stand and set up my other nuc that I'd started off in a deep brood box. I like the consolidation that this plan allows for. I may end up removing the telescoping top covers for my first two nucs and replace them with homemade migratory covers, so I can get all four nucs on a single stand. Actually, I think that's what I'll do, moving my lone nuc off to the left to join the others. I already feel better, with a tidier apiary where I can put even more nucs and hives. I now know that planning up front, and doing the work correctly the first time actually IS simpler and eventually means less work and frustration, and happier bees and beekeeper. After all, T's Bees is a happy, organic wonderland. Now, I'll have to get to painting those nucs and adorning them with their cartoon characters for easy reference and to help the bees recognize their hive from their neighbors. Hmmm, I wonder what characters I use as I continue beautifying the apiary? ;)