What’s PermApiculture, you ask? Well, its like Permaculture, which is permanent agriculture, for beekeeping (apiculture). So, PermApiculture is a chemical-free, frame-free, foundation-free method that focuses on making things healthy for the bees, rather than interfering for the comfort of the beekeeper. Most notably, PermApiculture uses a super-hive to allow the bees to develop a large, and thus, super-healthy hive, which naturally protects the hive from pests such as varroa mite and hive beetles. In addition to a larger-than-normal size of the hive box, PermApiculture specifies a particular space (9mm) between the bars in the comb grid, which correlates to a hotter temperature in the hive, which is hotter than the varroa can tolerate. And finally, PermApiculture hive design creates a bees’ space and a beekeeper’s space, which gives the bees the privacy to raise brood without being disturbed by constant opening of the hive – you harvest honey by removing the smaller combs in the upper beekeeper’s space, which does not disturb the bees. This results is very friendly bees! In fact, most beekeepers using this method have no need for smokers or protective clothing when harvesting honey or otherwise working the hive!!!

The name of the hive design is Perone MK-2, with plans available HERE.

Hive-making will commence this weekend, Lord-willing. In case you are interested in making your own hive, here’s my lumber list for one Perone hive. I plan to double the list to make two hives and sell one. Supposedly, one Perone hive is the equivalent of about four Langstroth hives (in number of bees and also harvestable honey). More info on this type of hive and beekeeping practice can be found HERE.

Lumber List

• 5 or 6 small boards 57cm long (skinny like dowels, but square) to add support in the bees brood comb (or can use sticks/branches if not going to move hive)
• 17 – 9mm bars for spacers (and some lumber approx 57cm x 57cm) for a comb grid guide piece
• 49 – 24mmx24mm bars 57cm long for making comb grid
• 12 – 24mmx24mm bars 59.5cm long (or 55cm plus the thickness of wood) for 3 comb grid boxes
• 4 – 57cm long square bars for corner triangles
• 12 – 1″x4″ boards 59.5cm long for beekeeper supers
• 20 – 1″x4″ boards 59.5 cm long
  OR 4 – 59.5cm x 59.5cm boards for bee’s space box
  as long as internal measurements are exactly 57cm x 57cm x 57cm
• 5 – 1″x4″ boards and
  1 – 1″x6″ board for the floor
  OR any size boards to cover the floor and leave a lip under the entrance
• boards for gabled roof
• 57cm x 57cm board for inner cover (inside roof)

My bees (2 packages) arrive in a few weeks – we are so excited!!!

 

You can read all about our beekeeping adventures HERE.