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CCD is characterized by the disappearance of foragers, not all bees.

Absence of bees in the hive is indicative of absconding.

Only comparable if you ignore the elements of hive capacity and comb re-usability.

Calgary is an affluent city, and a lot of the top bar interest has been driven by a bee-trepreneur who also happens to sell top bar hives.

In fairness, they are nice, not junkyard specials.
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Given the thread drift, readers may find the following interesting. It deals with many of the issues discussed:


An analysis of the Kenyan Top Bar Hive in Calgary Alberta.pdf

One could achieve the same with a Skep or a Gum.

With the bar set so low, it is no surprise that "....there seems to be a bunch of very successful beeks with TBHs. "

Given the subjectiveness of success, such a broad statement is problematic.

What is a "successful beek with a TBH"?

I generally feel bad for the KTBH folk, but don't mind them unless they're annoying about it.

In my neck of the woods, there's a certain precocious self-righteousness characteristic of KTBH...

What a fantastic question.

Whatever the answers, I think it recognizes a significant point: The issue of delayed feedback.


Given the amount of variables at play, it would be difficult to...

Please do not take criticism of a movement as criticism you - You have done so much, and deserve nothing but credit.

It is not my place to criticize anything you've done - Only to offer...

Heartily agreed.

95% of "Treatment Free beekeeping" seems to consist of preaching to others the ills of treatments, and very little is about sharing actionable methods to get there. Actual...

Sounds like there is an opportunity here to add some curriculum. Why don't you create some content, and submit it for their consideration?

Alternately, you could put on your own bee workshops...

Does the cert require that you to treat, or simply to be knowledgeable about treatments?

Part of the value of Certifications is that they ensure breadth and depth, regardless of one's specific...

It's a start, but any hive can survive for 2 years, or a bit more without treatment. That is roughly the amount of time it takes Varroa to kill a hive.

The scores of people that say "I'm a first...

It is unfortunate that this thread had created conflict between the practices and supporters of a handful of simply great beekeepers.

It need not be either/or.

Like Bruce Lee said: Take what...

Your response seems unnecessarily unkind to Randy, D.

Upon a re-reading Randy's words, it's clear to me that the "Beekeeping Taliban" refers to the dogmatic elements that a beekeeper will...

Success is what you want it to be. For some new beekeepers, success is simply forgoing the use of "treatments" regardless of whether or not their bees die. For others, it's survival at any...

It's my observation that beekeeping guided misinformed idealism will lead to unsatisfactory results.

Here's some relevant insights from Randy Oliver:
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Agreed. Going treatment-free requires a huge depth of knowledge, but it can be difficult to attain that depth if one has to keep replacing dead bees.

My own path was much like Solomon's: ...

Agreed.

Attempting "treatment free" without experience and hard work is just well intentioned neglect.

I cannot help but cringe when I see the words "first year beekeeper" and "treatment...

My own:

3350

The design uses 1 1/2" thick wood, instead of 7/8". Build includes the use of quilts. Partitioning into two colonies provides overwintering fault-tolerance and heat sharing. Also designed...

Horizontal hives have a long tradition in Eastern Europe, and were partially the inspiration for the KTBH.

Last year, after writing an analysis of Top Bars and Langs, I concluded that a Long...

Given that Maddox has said he keeps both kinds of hives, the accusation of parochialism seems inappropriate.

It is my observation that KTBH keepers become very defensive about any criticism of...

Your observations are very consistent with my own, as documented in my article referenced previously in the thread. If you havn't read it, please do - I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.

I'm...