Axe & Root Homestead

  • Home
  • Blog
  • SHOP
  • social
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • Meet The Animals
    • The Ducks
    • The Clydesdales
  • Resources
    • Printables
    • Classes
    • Recipes
  • PODCAST
  • Home
  • Blog
  • SHOP
  • social
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
  • Meet The Animals
    • The Ducks
    • The Clydesdales
  • Resources
    • Printables
    • Classes
    • Recipes
  • PODCAST

The Quilt Box

12/7/2022

 
Picture
A pivotal piece here on my homestead for winter survival of my honeybee hives. When I first started beekeeping here in NJ, I lost my hives three seasons in a row. Since then, I’ve overwintered successfully. Here’s what’s worked for me:

1. Feed sugar cakes.
I leave my bees with the majority of their honey (90% to be precise). This is plenty to get them through winter. But as an insurance policy, I place sugar cakes directly on top of the frames for access in case it’s too cold for them to move between frames. It’s easier for a cluster of bees to move up instead of over.
​

2. A Quiltbox.
I place a spacer right under the outer cover, on top of the inner cover. This spacer is lined with a screen on the bottom and has screened air holes on the side. Inside are pine shavings. Any condensation that builds up from the warm colony on a cold day accumulates under the outer lid. But a quiltbox prevents it from dripping onto the bees. Bees can survive cold. They can’t survive wet and cold. I check my shavings about once every few weeks to make sure they’re dry. The bees are never exposed to cool air while doing so.

Have you tried a quilt box? I have a video on my Guides tab under beekeeping on how to build one if you’re interested. 🐝

Comments are closed.

    Picture
    Angela is the farmer and content creator behind Axe & Root Homestead LLC. This historic six-acre permaculture farm is home to two Clydesdale horses, ten honeybee hives, five sheep, two guardian dogs, barn cats and a flock of 40 geese and ducks. The farm produces maple syrup, fruit from a small orchard and loads of garden produce for consumption, preservation and donation to the local food pantry.

      Let's Keep in touch

      Be the first to hear any big announcements or exciting offers from Axe & Root Homestead!
      Type your email address in the field below. Then click submit.
      ​Your information will not be sold or shared with any other party.
    Subscribe to Newsletter

    The Sustainable Homestead, is out for pre-order NOW!

    Categories

    All
    Animal Husbandry
    Beekeeping
    Growing
    Holiday
    Horse Care
    Permaculture
    Sheep Keeping
    Simple Living
    The Flock

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    January 2021
    December 2020

    Let's keep in touch

    Be the first to hear any big announcements or exciting offers from Axe & Root Homestead!  Your information will not be sold or shared with any other party.
    Type your email address in the field below. Then click submit.
Subscribe to Newsletter
Email inquiries can be sent to
​AxeAndRootHomestead [at] gmail.com.
©2022 Axe and Root Homestead LLC. All rights reserved.