Comments on: The Arctic Blast and Overwintering Honey bees https://www.brightonhoney.com/arctic-blast-wintering-honey-bees/ Raw natural local honey Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:40:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Ward https://www.brightonhoney.com/arctic-blast-wintering-honey-bees/#comment-6 Fri, 24 Mar 2017 00:40:00 +0000 http://www.brightonhoney.com/?p=806#comment-6 In reply to Samuel Thompson.

Hi Samuel,
It all depends on available flora and the bees ability to gather enough carbohydrates for winter storage. With climate change the North Slope may become at some point more amiable to support honeybees. Honey Bees are cavity dwellers and prefer hollow trees in nature as such I am not a big fan of top-bar hives. The Langstroth hive seems to emulate the cavity and the frames are more suited for harvesting honey. The hive itself is shelter from the elements and winter it is a struggle for beekeepers to provide enough ventilation to mitigate moisture and yet provide some protection from the cold. There are beekeepers in Alaska and sourcing local stock would increase chances for survival. Hope this helps. Good luck! Ward

]]> By: Samuel Thompson https://www.brightonhoney.com/arctic-blast-wintering-honey-bees/#comment-5 Thu, 23 Mar 2017 22:47:14 +0000 http://www.brightonhoney.com/?p=806#comment-5 I always wanted to give beekeeping a try in the far north like the North Slope, Alaska. I was a child then and I came to think about doing it as an extreme to the African hybridization of the western honey bee. I am well aware of the modern methods of beekeeping. What do you suggest? Langstroth or Top Bar? Will a smaller hive be easier to keep warm that a larger langstroth hive? Will the propolus sealant in the Langstroth hive keep the cold out better than a top bar hive? How far north can the hive go? Can it go all the way to Point Barrow? Will the hive swarm and adapt wild to the area? Well that is most of the questions I have. Thanks for the article? Good Bye 🙂

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