From: Dina and Don Hess <ddhess@bellsouth.net>
Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 19:35:07 -0500
To: BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: hive update and more pics

Peter Schmoeker wrote:

> ..., however, how will the bees fare in a temperate
> climate like St. Louis, Missouri where we get very cold temperatures in the
> winter?

Actually, open mesh floors fare quite well over winters and are kept in
the northern US, Canada, and northern Europe. The improved ventillation
is actually beneficial as it prevents the damp conditions that can
increase heat loss and encourage mold and disease. (Cold and wet is a
lot more miserable than cold and dry.) Hm, I seem to have a glaring gap
in my links collection regarding the floors, but Dave Cushman shows an
article (http://website.lineone.net/~dave.cushman/kenhomf.html) that
talks about them, and searches of Bee-L and elsewhere (for OMF or open
mesh floors) can bring up a good bit of information about the topic.

I imagine, though, that I'll put in something of a dividing board to
reduce the chamber size to closer to the size of the brood nest in order
to cut down on internal draughts. I may also put on a layer of
insulation between the top bars and the tin roof to maybe cut down any
condensation further and help the bees require less food.

-Don