An Autumn project

Latest Articles

An Autumn project

Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary

Author

Message

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 4:03 pm Post subject: An Autumn project
Our bee-keeping partners in crime bought 2 of these from a retiring bee-keeper. Divi-ed up to one each. Going to need some TLC ( aka polyfiller, roofing felt and paint) but should make a great autumn project. Haven't worked out whether to make it a purely decorative hive for the garden or repair it up to working status yet. What an icon though

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 4:09 pm Post subject:
We inherited a mouldering pile of these a few years back too, in the end they became planters and composters for odd corners of MILs garden, too much hassle to get ours functional. If you do put yours into use though, do say, I may still have ancient excluders and bits like that to fit the WBC

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 4:16 pm Post subject:

its got one brood box with glass quilt and one super and queen excluder but they again need work.

The most pressing bit needed to get it functional as a bee's home is to replace the little blocks the bottom lift sits on; the bees couldn't get in otherwise at the moment, bless. Which is probably good thing for now. There were even some frames but Steve said they were only fit for firelighters.

It would look rather good sat in the front garden with Honey For Sale painted on it

Or as a bit of pretty sculpture in the middle of the wildflower lawn in front of the arbour in the back garden.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 4:20 pm Post subject:
What about as a honey cupboard? Make each lift a tray that you can stand a layer of jars in?

chez

Joined: 13 Aug 2006
Posts: 35935
Location: The Hive of the Uberbee, Quantock Hills, Somerset

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 4:32 pm Post subject:
If you want to make it functional, you can get plastic legs from Thornes - fantastic idea as they don't rot.

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 5:26 pm Post subject:

Mrs Fiddlesticks wrote:

It would look rather good sat in the front garden with Honey For Sale painted on it

Or as a bit of pretty sculpture in the middle of the wildflower lawn in front of the arbour in the back garden.

So good, that the compost currently in my kitchen looks exactly like it. They're so pretty - I never thought of planting stuff in it. I've been deciding where to put mine - surrounded by wildflowers in the orchard sounds like a wonderful plan (it's too pretty to live by the back door, which was the orginal destination - I've put a plastic affair there) Or we could use it as a rubbish store (foxes etc get at ours, if we leave the bags out) but that seems a shame.

Mrs Fiddlesticks

Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 10460

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 5:45 pm Post subject:

wellington womble wrote:

or you could put bees in it

I realise yours is a composter and not a bee hive really

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Sat Aug 09, 08 5:54 pm Post subject:
Another thing on the divorce list, I'm afraid. He says if I can't keep up with the projects I have (he's thinking house and garden) then I'm not allowed any new ones. He does have a point, I suppose. A small one.

	Downsizer Forum Index -> The Apiary	All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

View Latest Posts