__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.
_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? ;)
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I'm curious -- why did you use a 'ladder' frame across the cinder blocks and not simply the 2x4s or 4x4s? I'm planning to do something similar, but I was simply going to put a couple of either 4x4s or railroad ties across (kind of like in this picture: http://fllw.me/1QJGa7l).
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Hey, Andrew. For added strength. The problem with this setup is the use of cinder blocks. They will always sink. Every year I had the same problem. I no longer use them in the bee yard and use a simple box stand. Just use an old super, or take lumber new or old and cut to size. SUPER easy to level, doesn't sink, and you have freedom of movement on all 4 sides. Also doesn't promote robbing like row stands do.
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![]() Tom Davidson is the owner and beekeeper at T's Bees.
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