Why Not Top Bar Hives?

Keeping bees in top bar hives is becoming more popular with amateur beekeepers and even with some commercial bee farmers - the latter especially in the United States. For those who choose to have just a few colonies because they are interested in the fascinated world of bees and wish to produce enough honey for themselves and their friends, it is an easy and economical way of entering the craft.

Many beekeepers today are beginning to question the way in which bees are kept. Those who follow J.R. Slade's method will find that his system is natural, sustainable and economical. It will also give a closer understanding of the colony itself.

Jim Slade purchased his local school's hives in the a 1950's. Whilst he kept his bees in the conventional way, he often thought that this was not preferable for the bees. So, when he retired from work and had more free time, Jim devoted his energy to designing a hive that was more suitable for bees.