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7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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8
JCHVUD] 8
Ulp-MhrCnvds
Rnke mdds wnkk knvd no hoy clkklw sphjd tcdy jho oe. N chvd thado clo-
dymdd jlklonds lut l` trdds, whkks, httnjs, llrs, rll`s, khrbd wlledo
spllks, hoe dvdo h klob-uousde lutclusd tlnkdt. Hkk lvdr tcd wlrke, pdlpkd
l` ghoy en``drdot jukturds chvd jrdhtde envdrsd cnvd stykds tl clusd tcdnr
mdds. Er. Dvh Jrhod, no cdr mlla Ucd Hrjchdlklby l` Mddaddpnob,edsjrnmds
tcd ghoy wloedr`uk hoe novdotnvd whys tcht mddaddpdrs chvd clusde mdds
tcrlubclut tngd. Dhjc cnvd edglostrhtds nts lwo uonqud sdt l` hevhothbds
hoe enshevhothbds lr tcd mddaddpdr.
Hktclubc ghoy sphjds ghad od clgds `lr mdds, mddaddpdrs whot cnvds
tcht jho md ghonpukhtde tl sdrvd lur purplsds. Nedhkky, tcdsd cnvds chvd h
uon`lrg schpd hoe snzd, sl tcht wd jho glvd jlgms rlg lod cnvd tl holtcdr
wntclut h prlmkdg, hoe jho trhosplrt cnvds n` oddede. Mddcnvds jlgglokyhrd ghed wntc tcdsd cugho noeustrnhk oddes no gnoe hoe tcrlubclut cnstlry
rdkhtnvdky knttkd rdsdhrjc chs mddo edenjhtde tl tcd prd`drdojds l` clodymdds.
Ucd Khobstrltc cnvd ns h `hnrky jlgpkdx cnvd novdotde no tcd gneekd
phrt l` tcd onodtddotc jdotury my h gho ohgde Klrdozl Khobstrltc, hoe
nt chs mddo tcd sthoehre edsnbo usde no tcd Tontde Zthtds snojd tcht tngd.
Khobstrltc cnvds wdrd khuede `lr tcdnr rdvlkutnlohry jhphjnty tl sthoehrenzd
tcd mddaddpnob noeustry. Vrnlr tl Er. Khobstrltcs novdotnlo, mdds wdrd adpt
no h vhrndty l` sadpknad hoe clkklw klb strujturds, ghoy l` wcnjc rdqunrde
tcd mddaddpdr tl edstrly tcd cnvd no lredr tl chrvdst tcd clody. Khobstrltcs
novdotnlo whs h ghilr noolvhtnlo lr tcd wlrke l` mddaddpnob, hs nt whs h cnvd
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr mddaddpnob
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@NBT]D 8-8.
wntc glvhmkd jlgms tcht jluke md ghohbde dhsnky, tcus phvnob tcd why tl
jlggdrjnhk clody prleujtnlo.
Rntc tcd ghilr noeustrnhknzhtnlo l` hbrnjukturd tcht chppdode no tcd
gneekd l` tcd twdotndtc jdotury, mddaddpnob mdjhgd phrt l` tcd trdhegnkk
l` jcdgnjhks hoe gdjchonjhk sthoehrenzhtnlo tcht khrbd-sjhkd hbrnjukturd
dothnkde. Lvdr tngd, tcd Khobstrltc systdg chs mdjlgd hssljnhtde wntc tcd
usd l` hotnmnltnjs, gntnjneds, jlgm `ugnbhots, mdd rdpdkkdots, hoe jlro-,subhr-, hoe sly-mhsde `ddes. Rlledo hoe whx phrts chvd sklwky mddo
rdpkhjde wntc pkhstnj phrts, hoe tcd jlst l` sthrtnob h jlggdrjnhk lpdrhtnlo ns
khrbdky edpdoedot lo tcd purjchsd l` dxpdosnvd pndjds l` dqunpgdot. Zghkk,
`hrg-mhsde lpdrhtnlos sklwky chvd mddo rdpkhjde my khrbd gnbrhtlry truja-
nob lpdrhtnlos tcht usd khrbd quhotntnds l` `lssnk `udks hoe rdky lo h stdhey
suppky l` gloljrlp odjthr.
Ucd Khobstrltc cnvd, clwdvdr, elds l``dr mddaddpdrs jdrthno hevhothbds
lvdr tlp-mhr cnvds. Zlgd l` tcdsd hrd nojrdhsde clody prleujtnlo, pltdotnhkky
kdss ghnotdohojd tcrlubclut tcd sdhslo, hoe brdhtdr dhsd l` klhenob hoe trhos-
plrtnob cnvds `lr jlggdrjnhk plkknohtnlo. Ucdsd hevhothbds jho md jrujnhk `lr
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr cnvds
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tcd jlggdrjnhk mddaddpdr, tl wclg djlolgy hoe d`jndojy hrd h prnlrnty. @lr
tcd rst `tddo ydhrs l` gy mddaddpnob jhrddr, N wlrade wntc Khobstrltc cnvds.
Hrluoe 8>36 N rdhe ho hrtnjkd lo Adoyho tlp-mhr cnvds. Ucd hrtnjkd`hsjnohtde gd, hs nt plnotde tl tcd plssnmnknty l` ghanob cnvds ht clgd wntc h
sngpkd edsnbo. Ht tcd tngd, tcdrd wdrd h ougmdr l` tcnobs hmlut tcd Khobstrltc
systdg tcht N ene olt knad, hoe N whs notdrdstde no edvdklpnob h cnvd tcht whs
glrd hehptde tl gy blhks l` lrbhonj ghnotdohojd hoe sdk`-su`jndojy.
Ucdrd wdrd ol spdjnj engdosnlos prlvnede no tcd hrtnjkd lo tlp-mhr
cnvds, kdhvnob tcd snzd hoe schpd l` gy odw cnvds up tl gd. N dxpdrngdotde
wntc vhrnlus schpds hoe snzds, hoe luoe h edsnbo tcht wlrade wdkk (sdd @nburd8-8). No 8>>4 N slke gy cuoerde Khobstrltc mlxds hoe mdbho addpnob mdds
dxjkusnvdky no tlp-mhr cnvds. Znojd N chvd mddo h tdhjcdr l` tlp-mhr mddaddpnob
`lr ghoy ydhrs olw, gy edsnbo chs jnrjukhtde tcrlubclut Odw Gdxnjl, hkklw-
nob tcd tlp-mhr jlgguonty cdrd tl dxjchobd jlgms `rddky wntc lod holtcdr.
Vrls hoe JlosL`tdo N hg hsade wcy N ghed tcd trhosntnlo hwhy `rlg Khobstrltc cnvds tl
tlp-mhr cnvds. Nt ns ngplrthot tl oltd tcht gujc l` wcht wd el hs mddaddp-
drs wnkk md tcd shgd ol ghttdr wcht anoe l` mddcnvd wd usd, mut tcdrd hrd
snbonjhot en``drdojds no ghohbdgdot, edpdoenob lo cnvd edsnbo.
Gy prnghry notdrdst hs h mddaddpdr chs mddo tl addp mdds lrbhonjhkky.
Ucd hbrnjukturhk wlrke chs mdjlgd nojrdhsnobky plnslolus, mltc tl tcd dhrtchoe tl tcd pdlpkd jlosugnob tcd prleujts. Hktclubc lrbhonj sthoehres `lr
mddaddpnob en``dr `rlg lod jluotry tl holtcdr, tcdy bdodrhkky rdjlggdoe
tcht mddaddpdrs usd cnvds ghed `rlg ohturhk ghtdrnhks tcht hrd olt trdhtde
wntc hoy jcdgnjhks. Ucdy hksl jlggloky rdjlggdoe tcht mdds munke tcdnr
lwo jlgms, `lrhbd no ho uosprhyde dovnrlogdot, hrd olt `de subhr syrup lr
plkkdo sumstntutds, hoe hrd olt trdhtde wntc jcdgnjhk noputs l` hoy anoe. Ucd
tlp-mhr cnvd dhsnky hjjlgglehtds lrbhonj rdqunrdgdots. Nt jho md munkt my h
mddaddpdr `lr hmlut $:6 tl $56 lut l` uotrdhtde wlle, lr dvdo ghed lut l`
wnkejrh`tde ghtdrnhks sujc hs wnkklw lr mhgmll. N chvd dvdo ghed h cnvd lut
l` helmd gue. Ucd notdrnlr l` h tlp-mhr cnvd gngnjs h clkklw klb, hoe tcd
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr mddaddpnob
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mdds jho erhw lut tcdnr jlgms no wchtdvdr ghoodr tcdy jcllsd. Ucd tlp-mhr
cnvd ns klob khstnob hoe 866 pdrjdot mnledbrhehmkd.
Lod l` gy nontnhk rdhslos `lr trhosntnlonob hwhy `rlg Khobstrltc cnvdswhs tcd odde tl stlrd jlgms lvdr wnotdr. Khobstrltc cnvds chvd mlxds jhkkde
supdrs tcht hrd pkhjde hmlvd tcd mrlle mlx `lr clody stlrhbd. Lojd tcd
clody chrvdst ns lvdr `lr tcd sdhslo, supdrs hrd stlrde `lr tcd wnotdr no tcd
clpd l` prdsdrvnob tcd jlgms lr tcd `lkklwnob sdhslo. Ucd stlrhbd l` supdrs
ns h prlmkdg mdjhusd whx gltcs hoe gnjd wnkk dht hoe edstrly tcd jlgms. No
jlggdrjnhk lpdrhtnlos, supdrs hrd `ugnbhtde wntc phrhenjcklrlmdozdod tl
addp tcdsd pdsts hwhy. Vhrhenjcklrlmdozdod, tcd jcdgnjhk usde no gltcmhkks,ns h aolwo jhrjnolbdo tcht ns hmslrmde my mddswhx. Ucd jlgms no tcd supdrs
hrd trdhtde wntc tcns jcdgnjhk hoe tcdo pkhjde mhja notl tcd mddcnvds no tcd
sprnobtngd tl md rdkkde wntc clody. No h tlp-mhr cnvd, clwdvdr, tcdrd ns ol
odde tl stlrd jlgms tcrlubc tcd wnotdr, wcnjc dkngnohtds mltc tcd prlmkdg
hoe nts jcdgnjhk slkutnlo.
Khobstrltc cnvds hrd usde no jloiuojtnlo wntc scddts l` whx lr pkhstnj
jhkkde`luoehtnlo. Ucdsd scddts hrd ngprnotde wntc h edsnbohtde jdkk snzd, lod
tchts edsnbode tl ghxngnzd clody prleujtnlo. Hktclubc luoehtnlo usde tl
md ghed loky `rlg mddswhx, noeustrnhk mddaddpdrs hrd turonob tl tcd pkhstnj
`luoehtnlo hs h klobdr-khstnob hoe tcdrd`lrd glrd djlolgnjhk jclnjd lr tcdnr
musnodssds. To`lrtuohtdky, tcns pkhstnj does up hs ho noeustrnhk whstd prleujt
wcdo nt ns ol klobdr usd`uk. Ucd prdedtdrgnode jdkk snzd l` `luoehtnlo hksl
prdsdots h ghttdr l` edmhtd wntcno tcd lrbhonj mddaddpnob jlgguonty.
No h ohturhk dovnrlogdot, clodymdds wnkk erhw lut vhrnlus snzds l` jdkks
edpdoenob lo tcd oddes l` tcd cnvd, l`tdo usnob h vhrndty l` jdkk snzds lo lodjlgm. Mdds jlggloky wnkk munke khrbdr jdkks ht tcd tlp l` h jlgm hoe sghkkdr
jdkks ht tcd mlttlg l` tcd jlgm. Ucd mrlle jdkk snzd hksl jchobds sknbctky
lvdr tcd jlursd l` h sdhslo, hoe tcd rdsuktnob pcysnlklby l` tcd dgdrbnob
mdds scn`ts tl jlrrdkhtd wntc tcns jchobd. Mdds mlro `rlg khrbdr jdkks hrd
jlrrdsploenobky khrbdr hoe chvd glrd `ht mlends. Ztuends chvd sclwo tcht
sumsthojds no tcd `ht mlends h``djt wlradr klobdvnty hoe tcht tcdsd sumsthojds
notdrhjt wntc mrlle pcdrlglods.8Mdds mlro `rlg sghkkdr jdkks, no jlotrhst,
hrd sghkkdr hoe sclw brdhtdr rdsnsthojd tl vhrrlh gntd.=No tlp-mhr cnvds, tcd
mdds hrd rdd tl vhry tcdnr jdkk snzds tl gddt tcd jchobnob edghoes l` tcd cnvd,
hoe tcdrd ns odntcdr tcd dxpdosd olr tcd whstd l` pkhstnj `luoehtnlo.
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr cnvds
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Ucd ghohbdgdot l` cybndod hoe ensdhsd whs hksl ho notdbrhk phrt l` gy
jclnjd tl usd tlp-mhr cnvds. Rntc tcd Khobstrltc systdg, clody ns dxtrhjtde
`rlg tcd jlgm my jdotrn`ubhk `lrjd, wcnjc kdhvds tcd mddswhx jlgms nothjt.Ucns hkklws tcd mddaddpdr tl put tcdg mhja notl tcd cnvd tl md rdkkde my
tcd mdds. @lr ghxngug clody prleujtnlo, tcns dxtrhjtnlo prljdss ghads
h brdht edhk l` djlolgnj sdosd. Ucd mdds elot chvd tl rdmunke tcd jlgm,
wcnjc usds up h klt l` tcd rdslurjds l` tcd cnvd. Ucd mddaddpdr tcus prlts
`rlg chvnob glrd clody ht h `hstdr rhtd l` chrvdst. Clwdvdr, tcd tdoedojy no
khrbd jlggdrjnhk lpdrhtnlos ns tl addp puttnob jlgms mhja notl tcd cnvd h`tdr
tcdyvd mdjlgd h pltdotnhk cdhktc rnsa `lr tcd mdds no ho d``lrt tl bdt hs gujcusd `rlg tcdg hs plssnmkd md`lrd tcdy hrd ensjhrede.
Dhjc tngd tcd quddo mdd khys ho dbb no h jdkk, tcd mdd khrvh knods tcd
jdkk wntc nts jljllo eurnob puphtnlo. Rcdo tcd odw heukt mdd dgdrbds, tcd
jljllo rdghnos nosned tcd jdkk, ns jkdhode lut, hoe h odw dbb ns khne. Rcdo tcd
odxt heukt mdd edvdklps, h sdjloe khydr l` jljllo ns kd`t mdcnoe, ns hksl jkdhode
lut, hoe tcd prljdss jlotnouds. Hs tngd blds lo, tcd jdkk snzd bdts sghkkdr hoe
sghkkdr, hoe tcd jlgm bdts mkhjadr hoe mkhjadr eud tl h munkeup l` jljllos,
prlplkns, hoe `djhk ghttdr nosned tcd whkks l` tcd jdkks. Ucd mdds mlro nosned
tcdsd ehradr jdkks hrd sghkkdr, hoe tcd cybndod l` tcd cnvd dvdotuhkky mdjlgds
jlgprlgnsde eud tl h brdhtdr kdvdk l` phtclbdos. Ucd tdgpthtnlo `lr jlg-
gdrjnhk Khobstrltc lpdrhtnlos tl jlotnoud tl usd lke mkhja jlgms ns brdht,
hs tcd jlst l` rdpkhjnob jlgms gdhos tcd jlst l` muynob glrd `luoehtnlo, hs
wdkk hs klsnob tngd hoe glody lo chvnob tcd mdds munke `rdsc jlgms.
No tlp-mhr cnvd ghohbdgdot, h brdht edhk l` httdotnlo hoe jhrd ns bnvdo
tl jyjknob lut lke ehra jlgms. Ucdy rlutnodky hrd glvde tl tcd mhja l` tcdmrlle odst sl tcht tcdy ghy md kkde wntc clody hoe jukkde. Ucd clody ns
chrvdstde my thanob tcd wclkd jlgm l`` tcd mhr hoe jruscnob nt, hkklwnob
tcd clody tl erhno lut tcrlubc h jlkhoedr. Ucd mdds tcdo chvd tl erhw lut
`rdsc jlgm tl rdpkhjd tcd jlgm tcht chs mddo chrvdstde. Hktclubc ghoy
Khobstrltc cnvd hevljhtds mdkndvd tcht nt ns edtrngdothk tl rdqunrd tcd mdds tl
ghad glrd mddswhx jlotnouhkky, tcd mdds mdodt rlg tcd rdbukhr jlovdrsnlo
l` clody tl mddswhx. Nt dxdrjnsds tcdnr whx-ghanob bkhoes, wcnjc addps tcdnr
bkhoeukhr systdgs hjtnvd hoe cdhktcy.
Mddswhx hmslrms hoe clkes lnk- hoe `ht-slkumkd tlxnos, wcnjc hrd uo`lr-
tuohtdky hmuoehot no lur jurrdot dovnrlogdot. Hs tcdsd tlxnos munke up nosned
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr mddaddpnob
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tcd cnvd, nt mdjlgds ho nojrdhsnobky tlxnj dovnrlogdot `lr tcd mdds tl knvd no.
Jlotnoulusky rlthtnob hoe jukknob jlgms addps tcd cnvd cdhktcy mdjhusd nt
rdglvds whx-slkumkd tlxnos hoe jkdhosds tcd cnvd tcrlubc rdbdodrhtnlo.Mhja no =663, N tlla h ilm nospdjtnob mdds `lr hkgloe plkknohtnlo no
Jhkn`lronh. Nt whs eurnob tcd tngd tcht Jlkloy Jlkkhpsd Enslredr (JJE) whs
cnttnob tcd mdds chre. N shw jluotkdss edhe lr dgpty jlklonds, `ukk l` mkhja
jlgms hoe wntc guktnpkd strnps l` gntnjned chobnob no tcdg. Gntnjnehk strnps
hrd gdhot tl md hegnonstdrde `lr h spdjnj hgluot l` tngd hoe tcdo rdglvde
hoe ensplsde l` hs chzhrelus whstd. Glst pdlpkd elot aolw clw tl bl
hmlut ensplsnob l` chzhrelus whstd, sl tcdsd strnps usuhkky iust doe up notcd khoekk. Eud tl h khja l` rdslurjds hoe tngd, mddaddpdrs wdrd odbkdjtnob
tl rdglvd tcdg ht tcd rdjlggdoede tngd, hoe nostdhe wdrd puttnob strnp
h`tdr strnp nosned tcd cnvd. Rcnkd N whs tcdrd, mrllejlgms tdstde no Jhkn`lronh
sclwde kdvdks l` gntnjnehk munkeup tcht che mdjlgd kdtchk tl tcd mdds.
Gntnjneds hrd iust lod l` tcd ghoy jcdgnjhks tcht hrd whx-slkumkd. ]djdot
rdsdhrjc lo tcd jhusds l` JJE sclw h wned spdjtrug l` jcdgnjhks no mddswhx,
olt iust gntnjneds.:Ucdrd ns h odw jkhss l` pdstnjneds mdnob usde jhkkde odl-
onjltnolnes. Mdds jhrrynob plkkdo `rlg h pkhot trdhtde wntc odlonjltnolnes jho
no`djt tcd cnvd wntc h pltdot odurltlxno.5 Hktclubc nt eldsot ankk tcd mdds nggd-
enhtdky, tcdnr hmnknty tl `lrhbd olrghkky ns ngphnrde. Rcdodvdr wd sdd sygptlgs
l` JJE no h cnvd, wd nggdenhtdky rdglvd hkk l` tcdnr plkkdo stlrds hoe glvd
tcd cnvd tl h sh`dr dovnrlogdot no tcd clpd tcht nt jho rdjupdrhtd brheuhkky.
Khstky, tcd Khobstrltc systdg rdqunrds slgd jlstky dqunpgdot. No
lredr tl prleujd clody no hoy vlkugd, ho dxtrhjtlr ns h rdqunrde dxpdosd.
Dxtrhjtlrs hrd sthnokdss stddk ghjcnods edsnbode tl pukk tcd clody bdotky lutl` tcd jlgms tcrlubc jdotrn`ubhk `lrjd. Hktclubc dxtrhjtlrs shvd tngd eurnob
clody chrvdst hoe prdsdrvd tcd jlgms, tcdy chvd tcdnr erhwmhjas hs wdkk.
Mddaddpdrs wcl usd ho dxtrhjtlr tdoe tl put l`` clody chrvdst uotnk tcdrd
ns h khrbd mhtjc l` clody tl dxtrhjt. Ucd khmlr rdqunrde tl usd hoe jkdho tcd
ghjcnod sngpky nsot iustnde wntc sghkk mhtjcds l` clody. No jlotrhst, hs h
prleujdr l` vhrndthk clodys, nts no gy mdst notdrdst tl chrvdst clody h`tdr dhjc
pkhot lw, ol ghttdr clw khrbd, sl tcht N jho mlttkd hoe sdkk uonqud hvlrs.
Ucd tlp-mhr systdg jdrthnoky chs slgd enshevhothbds, tcd ghno lod
mdnob tcht tlp-mhr cnvds rdqunrd h cnbc kdvdk l` sankk hoe jloedojd `rlg tcd
mdbnoonob mddaddpdr. Ucd plssnmnknty `lr jrlss-jlgmnob ns brdht, hoe lojd h
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr cnvds
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tlp-mhr cnvd chs mdjlgd jrlss-jlgmde, nt jho md h vdry ehuotnob thsa tl jkdho
up. Jrlss-jlgmnob chppdos wcdo tcd mdds erhw tcdnr jlgms ht lee hobkds
tl tcd tlp mhrs, slgdtngds sphoonob ghoy mhrs ht lojd, wcnjc jhusds tcd
jlgm tl erlp hoe mrdha wcdo tcd cnvd ns lpdode. Ucd ghno sankk l` tlp-mhr
cnvd ghohbdgdot novlkvds sphjnob tcd jlgms sl tcht tcd mdds el olt chvd h
jchojd tl jrlss-jlgm. Lo cdhvy clody lws no khtd suggdr, wcdo tcdrd hrd
h brdhtdr ougmdr l` mdds no tcd cnvd, nt jho md en`jukt tl sthy lo tlp l` gho-
hbdgdot, dspdjnhkky n` h mddaddpdr chs h khrbd ougmdr l` cnvds. Ucns ghads
tlp-mhr cnvds h pltdotnhkky ensjlurhbnob jclnjd `lr jlggdrjnhk mddaddpnob.
Nt ns hksl en`jukt tl klhe hoe sthja tlp-mhr cnvds `lr khrbd-sjhkd plkknohtnlo.
@NBT]D 8-=.Ulp-mhr cnvds el olt rdqunrd ho dxtrhjtlr. No tcd clody-mlttknob hrdh, tcd jlgms hrd choe-
jruscde lvdr h thoa wntc h strhnodr lo tlp. Ucd dqunpgdot jho md hs sngpkd hs h jlkhoedr hoe h gnxnob
mlwk lr sghkk mhtjcds prleujde ht clgd.
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr mddaddpnob
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Holtcdr jkdhr erhwmhja tl tlp-mhr cnvds ns tcht tcd mdds chvd tl munke
mrhoe-odw jlgms dvdry tngd clody ns chrvdstde, wcnjc rdeujds clody prleuj-
tnlo. Ucd mdds jlosugd > tl 88 pluoes (54 ab) l` clody tl prleujd dvdry 8pluoe (6.54 ab) l` mddswhx, sl tcd jlostrujtnlo l` odw jlgms edtrhjts rlg tcd
hgluot l` clody tcht bdts stlrde no tcd cnvd. N dxpdrngdotde wntc vd tlp-mhr
cnvds hoe vd Khobstrltc cnvds lod ydhr hoe `luoe tcht, lo hvdrhbd, tcd tlp-mhr
cnvds prleujde =6 pdrjdot kdss clody hoe snx tngds hs gujc mddswhx hs tcd
Khobstrltc cnvds. Ghoy tlp-mhr mddaddpdrs utnknzd tcdsd cnbcdr whx yndkes my
ghanob jhoekds, shkvds, hoe mhkgs tl envdrsn`y tcdnr musnodssds. Ucd djlolgnj
hevhothbd l` brdhtdr whx yndkes ghy wdkk l``sdt tcd enshevhothbd l` klwdr clodyprleujtnlo, edpdoenob lo clw mddaddpdrs jcllsd tl ghradt tcdnr whx prleujts.
Ucd ohturhk tlp-mhr glvdgdot chs hppdhkde ghnoky tl clgd hoe clmmy
lpdrhtlrs wcl chvd tcd tngd hoe notdrdst no addpnob mdds notdosnvdky. Hktclubc
tcdrd hrd slgd jlggdrjnhk tlp-mhr lpdrhtnlos hjrlss tcd Tontde Zthtds, tcdy
hrd h sghkk gnolrnty jlgphrde wntc tcd ougmdr l` Khobstrltc lpdrhtnlos.
Glst mddaddpnob pumknjhtnlos hrd edsnbode tl sdrvd tcd Khobstrltc jlg-
guonty, hoe tcdrd ns h brdht edhk l` supplrt `lr mdbnoodrs. Hktclubc tcdrd hrd
supplrt systdgs `lr tlp-mhr cnvd dotcusnhsts, tcdy tdoe tl md sghkk brlups
lrndotde tlwhre knvdky ensjussnlos l` cnvd edsnbo hoe clgd-munkt systdgs `lr
chrvdst hoe whx utnknzhtnlo. Uchoa`ukky, tcns ns sklwky jchobnob, hnede my tcd
Notdrodt hoe h brlwnob mley l` rdslurjds `lr tlp-mhr cnvd mddaddpdrs (sdd
tcd ]dslurjds sdjtnlo ht tcd doe l` tcns mlla).
Ulp-Mhr Cnvd EdsnboMdds hkwhys bl tl tcd tlp l` tcd sphjd tcdy hrd blnob tl knvd no hoe munke
jlgms `rlg tcd tlp elwo. No h tlp-mhr cnvd, tcd tlp mhrs hrd tcd rll` l` tcd
cnvd hoe tcd luoehtnlo uplo wcnjc tcd mdds munke tcdnr jlgms. Hs mddaddp-
drs, wd odde tcd mdds tl munke lod jlgm jdotdrde lo dhjc tlp mhr sl tcht wd
jho ghonpukhtd tcd jlgms dhsnky.
H tlp mhr scluke md iust tcd rnbct wnetc tl clke lod mrllejlgm wcnkd
ghnothnonob mdd-sphjd lo dntcdr sned l` tcd jlgm. Mdd-sphjd ns tcd sphjd
mdtwddo jlgms tcht mdds usd tl el tcdnr wlra. N` hkklwde tl munke jlgms no
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr cnvds
>
h tlthkky uoedode sphjd, mdds hkwhys wnkk munke tcdnr jlgms wntc h uon`lrg
hgluot l` mdd-sphjd mdtwddo tcdg. Ucd tlp-mhr cnvd ns edsnbode tl ghnothno
tcns sphjd mdtwddo dhjc l` tcd jlgms.Ucd wnetc tcht clodymdds munke tcdnr jlgms ns `hnrky jlosnstdot, hktclubc
tcdrd ns slgd vhrnhtnlo edpdoenob lo tcd rhjd l` tcd mdd. @lr glst Durlpdho
hoe Hsnho clodymdds, tcd tlp-mhr wnetc l` 8nojcds (:4 gg) wlras wdkk tl
prlvned tcd rnbct hgluot l` sphjd. No hrdhs wcdrd tcd H`rnjhonzde clodymdds
hrd mdnob adpt, cnvds wntc h sknbctky sghkkdr tlp-mhr wnetc l` 8 nojcds tl 8
nojcds (:: gg) ns su`jndot. No h wdkk-ghnothnode tlp-mhr cnvd, tcd jlgms
wnkk md khne lut hklob tcd jdotdrknod l` dhjc tlp mhr, hoe tcd mdds wnkk mdrdkhtnvdky uoensturmde hs dhjc mhr ns kn`tde. N` tcd wnetc l` tcd tlp mhrs ns tll
tcno, tcd jlgms wnkk lvdrkhp lotl glrd tcho lod mhr, hoe sllo tcd phttdro l`
lod jlgm pdr mhr wnkk md klst. Ucd shgd ns trud l` tlp mhrs tcht hrd tll wned.
No lredr tl bdt tcd mdds tl chob tcd jlgm lo tcd jdotdrknod l` tcd tlp
mhr, h jkdht lr rnebd jho md htthjcde. Enppnob tcd tnp l` tcd jkdht notl gdktde
mddswhx jho cdkp tl dotnjd tcd mdds tl mdbno munkenob tcdnr jlgms hklob tcd
jkdht knod. N` tcdrd nsot hoy mddswhx hvhnkhmkd, rummnob tcd jkdht wntc clody
hksl jho cdkp tl httrhjt tcd mdds tl tcns rnebd. Rcdo rst puttnob mdds `rlg
h phjahbd lr swhrg notl h tlthkky dgpty tlp-mhr cnvd, nt ns h blle nedh tl
prdphrd tcd rst snx lr sdvdo tlp mhrs wntc jkdhts. Lojd tcd rst snx lr sdvdo
jlgms chvd mddo munkt, cnvd ghohbdgdot tdjconquds edsjrnmde khtdr no tcd
tdxt jho md usde tl dosurd tcht hkk l` tcd jlgms hrd munkt strhnbct lo tcd mhrs.
Rcdo htthjcnob whkks tl h tlp-mhr cnvd, tcd hobkd tcd whkks ghad wntc
tcd llr chs h jlosnedrhmkd d``djt lo clw wdkk tcd cnvd lpdrhtds. Ucns hobkd
dntcdr dojlurhbds tcd mdds tl htthjc tcdnr jlgms tl tcd whkks lr olt. Ucdmddaddpdr whots knttkd lr ol htthjcgdot tl tcd whkks, sl tcht dhjc mhr jho md
kn`tde dhsnky wntclut mrdhahbd lr tcd uoodjdsshry wlra l` juttnob jlgms.
N dxpdrngdotde wntc sdvdrhk edsnbos, nojkuenob odhrky vdrtnjhk whkks hoe
chk`-rluoe tlp-mhr cnvds ghed lut l` wnjadr hoe pkhstnj mhrrdks. N `luoe tcht
tcd glrd vdrtnjhk tcd whkks wdrd, tcd glrd tcd mdds htthjcde tcdnr jlgms tl
tcdg. Ucd prlmkdg wntc tnppnob tcd whkks lut ht h vdry wned hobkd whs tcht
tcd jlgms blt tll klob hjrlss tcd tlp hoe tcd cnvd mdjhgd glrd hoe glrd
schkklw, odjdssnthtnob klobdr tlp mhrs `lr snbonjhotky kdss jlgm. Mdds knad
tl jurvd tcdnr jlgms wcdo tcdrd ns h brdht kdobtc tl jlvdr mdjhusd tcd jurvd
jrdhtds h strlobdr jlgm. H klobdr tlp mhr tdgpts tcd mdds tl el tcns.
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr mddaddpnob
86
No tcd sdgnjnrjukhr cnvds, tcd mdds stlppde htthjcnob tcd jlgms tl tcd
whkks ht tcd plnot ht wcnjc tcd whkk whs hmlut :6 edbrdds `rlg clrnzlothk, lr
wcdo tcd hobkd mdtwddo tcd whkk hoe tcd llr whs 8=6 edbrdds. N whotde tlaolw wcht notdrnlr llr-tl-whkk hobkd bnvds h trhpdzlnehk cnvd tcd glst vlkugd
hoe ene tcd ghtc jhkjukhtnlos, loky tl oe tcht tcns hobkd whs hksl 8=6 edbrdds.
Ucdo N rdhknzde tcht tcdrd whs h wloedr`uk jlrrdkhtnlo mdtwddo tcns bdlgdtry
hoe tcd cdxhblohk jdkks tcht mdds usd tl jlostrujt tcdnr jlgms. Dhjc lod l` tcd
notdrnlr hobkds l` h cdxhblo ns 8=6 edbrdds. N jlojkuede tcht tcd nedhk tlp-mhr
cnvd edsnbo, prlvnenob tcd kdhst sned htthjcgdot hoe tcd glst vlkugd, wluke
dxhjtky gngnj tcd hobkds l` h chk`-cdxhblo. N chvd ghed hkk l` gy tlp-mhr cnvdsusnob tcd mdds shjrde bdlgdtry l` tcd cdxhblo dvdr snojd (sdd @nburd 8-:).
Ucd odxt qudstnlo tl slkvd whs clw eddp tl munke tcd cnvd. N `luoe tcht
khrbd jlgms wluke bdt cdhvy hoe mrdha l`` tcd tlp mhr dhsnky. Ucns ghads h
gdss hoe ankks mdds. N` tcd jlgms hrd rdhkky sghkk, tcdy htthjc tl tcd tlp mhrs
wdkk, mut tcd cnvd chs tl md dxtrh-klob no lredr `lr tcd jlkloy tl gddt hkk l`
nts sphjd rdqunrdgdots `lr mrlle hoe clody. Dvdo tcdo, h klob, sanooy cnvd
eldsot prlvned tcd mdds wntc ho hedquhtd hrdh tl jkustdr no tl addp tcdnr
tdgpdrhturd wdkk rdbukhtde. Hs h phrt l` gy dxpdrngdothtnlo prljdss, N usde
sthoehre-snzde uotrdhtde kugmdr hoe munkt cnvds wntc 3-, 86-, hoe 8=-nojc
(=6-, =4-, hoe :6-jg) mlhres. Ucd cnvd wntc 3-nojc whkks oddede tl md glrd
tcho 0 `ddt (= g) klob, hoe tcd mdds hmhoelode tcd cnvd. Nt sddgs tcdy eneot
knad mdnob no sujc h klob, sanooy mlx. Ucd 86-nojc cnvd wlrade `hnrky wdkk,
hoe tcd 8=-nojc cnvd jluke md ghed sclrtdr, mut nts khrbdr jlgms adpt mrdha-
nob. N helptde tcd 86-nojc cnvd hoe chvd sthyde wntc nt. Ucd wdnbct hoe snzd
l` tcd jlgms hrd dhsy tl ghonpukhtd hoe jhrd `lr.Ucd kdobtc l` tcd cnvd whs tcdo jhkjukhtde tl hjjlgglehtd mrllejlgms
hoe clodyjlgms wcdo h jlkloy ns ht nts ghxngug plpukhtnlo. N nontnhkky
munkt vdry klob tlp-mhr cnvds mhsde lo tcd vlkugd l` gy Khobstrltc cnvds.
Ucdy prlvde tl md khrbdr tcho tcd mdds jluke dvdr kk. N ghed slgd sclrtdr
cnvds, hoe dvdotuhkky slgd tcht wdrd sl sclrt tcht tcdy dojlurhbde swhrgnob
md`lrd tcdrd whs h surpkus l` clody `lr chrvdst. Lur sthoehre cnvd ns olw 55
nojcds (8.8 g) klob. Rd oe tcht tcns kdobtc ns h blle gnongug. Cnvds hoy
sclrtdr l`tdo kk up no tcd suggdr wntc mrlle mut khja tcd rllg tl stlrd
dxjdss clody. Rd el olt ghad tcd cnvds 53 nojcds (8.= g) klob mdjhusd wd
odde tl glvd mddcnvds no trujas dvdry olw hoe tcdo, hoe twl 55-nojc cnvds
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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88
DOE DOE ZNED ZNED ZNED
=6 8/5" > 8/5" 4 8/=" : DXTHK KDOBUCZ HU HVV]LSNGHUDK 55" DHJC
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8" 86" 85' MLH]ELOD VNOD, JDEH], L] ]DERLLE MLH]E ]DXTN]DE
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DOE PNDR ZNED PNDR
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MLH]E MD^LOE
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:. JLOZU]TJU H CNPD JLPD] RNUC GHUD]NHKZ HU CHOE. JLOZNED] H 8 =RLLE @]HGD RNUC =" ]NBNE NOZTKHUNLO NO@NKK HOE BHKPHONYDE GDUHK
ULV. ZDJT]D ULV UL V]DPDOU @]LG MKLRNOB HRH . MD NOPDOUNPD!!!
@NBT]D 8-:. Ulp-mhr cnvd edsnbo.
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr mddaddpnob
8=
t onjdky mdtwddo tcd wcddk wdkks. Holtcdr erhwmhja tl klobdr cnvds ns tcht,
lvdr tngd, tcd mlhres tdoe tl mlw lut no tcd gneekd.
Holtcdr edsnbo jlosnedrhtnlo whs tcd snzd hoe plsntnlo l` tcd cnvdsdotrhojd. N hkwhys che hssugde tcht nt scluke bl lo tcd doe. Mut ho uordkhtde
dxpdrngdot jhusde gd tl put mddcnvds no h brddoclusd. Ucd cnvds che tl md
muttde up hbhnost lod holtcdr no lredr tl t, sl N put heentnlohk dotrhojds lo
tcd sneds l` tcd cnvds. Rcdo N tlla tcd cnvds lut l` tcd brddoclusd, N hssugde
tcht tcd mdds wluke rdsugd tcdnr usd l` tcd dotrhojds ht tcd does. Ucdrd wdrd
loky `lur cnvds, mut tcdy hkk jlotnoude tl usd tcd sned dotrhojds hoe jklsde
l`` tcd doe dotrhojds wntc prlplkns. N trnde lpdonob tcd doe dotrhojds sdvdrhktngds, hoe tcd mdds adpt jklsnob tcdg. Nt ljjurrde tl gd tcht tcd kljhtnlo
l` tcd dotrhojd jluke ghad h snbonjhot en``drdojd no tcd why hnr jnrjukhtds
tcrlubc tcd jlgms. Ho dotrhojd lo tcd doe ghads tcd mdds pukk hnr uoedr tcd
rst hoe sumsdqudot jlgms, wcnkd h sned dotrhojd hkklws tcd mdds tl pukk hnr
no mdtwddo sdvdrhk jlgms ht lojd.
N tcdo munkt slgd cnvds wntc sned dotrhojds no guktnpkd kljhtnlos hklob
tcd kdobtc l` tcd cnvd. N `luoe tcht no lur Odw Gdxnjho sdgnedsdrt jknghtd
tcd mdds hvlnede puttnob mrlle no tcd jlgms kljhtde my tcd dotrhojd. (Nt ghy
md tcht tcd ery hnr ghed nt en`jukt tl addp tcd mrlle cugne.) N` tcd dotrhojd
whs kljhtde ht tcd jdotdr l` tcd cnvd, tcd mdds put tcd mrlle odst lo lod sned
l` tcd dotrhojd lr tcd ltcdr, mut tcdrd whs ol prdenjtnob lo wcnjc sned tcd
mrlle odst wluke md. N` tcd dotrhojd whs kljhtde ht lod doe, tcd mdds put
slgd plkkdo hoe clody no tcd rst `dw jlgms hoe tcdo dsthmknscde tcd mrlle
odst jklsdr tl tcd gneekd l` tcd cnvd. Ucns plsntnlonob hkklws tcd mddaddpdr
tl lpdo tcd doe l` tcd cnvd hwhy `rlg tcd dotrhojd, wntc tcd hssurhojd tchttcdrd wnkk md dgpty tlp mhrs lr clodyjlgm rhtcdr tcho tcd cdhrt l` tcd mrlle
odst. Ucns ns ngplrthot, hs nt ns uoedsnrhmkd tl ensturm tcd mrlle odst hoy
glrd tcho odjdsshry, hoe l`tdo wcdo lod ns wlranob mdds, loky tcd vdry mhja
l` tcd mrlle odst oddes tl md lmsdrvde.
Khstky, tcdrd whs tcd qudstnlo l` clw mnb tl ghad tcd dotrhojd.
Khobstrltc cnvds chvd ho dotrhojd hs mnb hs 80 nojcds (56.0 8.> jg)
hoe ho dotrhojd rdeujdr tcht jklsds nt elwo tl nojc (6.>4 8.> jg).
]dsdhrjc elod my Er. Dkmdrt Ihyjlx no 8>38 ht tcd Tonvdrsnty l` Nkknolns
noenjhtde tcht mdds tcht wdrd hkklwde tl jcllsd hglob ghoy mlxds hkk wntc
tcd shgd engdosnlos hoe slkhr lrndothtnlo sclwde h prd`drdojd `lr mlxds
7/31/2019 Top-Bar Hives - An Excerpt from Top-Bar Beekeeping by Les Crowder and Heather Harrell
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tlp-mhr cnvds
8:
wntc dotrhojds hmlut 5 tl 3 nojcds (86=6 jg) no hrdh tcht wdrd kljhtde odhr
tcd mlttlg l` tcd mlx.4Mhsde lo gy edsnrd tl munke cnvds wntc engdosnlos
tcht nojlrplrhtde clodymdd prd`drdojds, N chvd jclsdo dotrhojds l` hmlut 0 nojcds (6.>4 84 jg). Nt ns iust thkk dolubc `lr h erlod tl dotdr, mut
addps lut prdehtlrs sujc hs gnjd.
Ghoy cnvds olw hrd l``drde wntc sjrddode mlttlgs no lredr tl cdkp wntc
vhrrlh gntd jlotrlk. Ztuends chvd sclwo tcht n` h gntd `hkks l`` l` h clodymdd
hoe khjas trhosplrt mhja up notl tcd cnvd, nt wnkk end. Zjrddode mlttlgs tcus
addp gntds ht mhy my addpnob tcdg `rlg rdhtthjcnob tcdgsdkvds tl mdds
wcl hrd whkanob lo tcd mlttlg l` tcd cnvd. Rcdo h cnvd mlttlg ns gheddotnrdky l` sjrddo, tcd mdds chvd h chredr tngd jlotrlkknob tcd tdgpdrhturd
hoe cugnenty wntcno tcd cnvd. Clwdvdr, n` h sjrddode mlttlg ns pkhjde hmlvd
h wlledo mlttlg mlhre, tcd gntds wnkk d``djtnvdky md adpt `rlg tcd mdds, hoe
tcd tdgpdrhturd hoe tcd cugnenty l` tcd cnvd jho md ghnothnode. N el olt
hevljhtd sjrddode mlttlgs hoyglrd, hs tcdy ghad `lr h glrd dxpdosnvd
hoe jlgpkdx cnvd edsnbo ht h tngd wcdo `drhk mdd plpukhtnlos hrd sclwnob
strlob rdsnsthojd tl vhrrlh gntds. Nt chs mddo ghoy ydhrs snojd N chvd mddo
jlojdrode wntc tcd prdsdojd l` vhrrlh gntds hglob gy mdds, hoe oe tcht
bdodtnj sdkdjtnlo ns tcd mdst ed`dosd hbhnost tcns pdst.