late autumn honey harvest

Time to harvest honey from the top box

26 MAY, 2015

Took both top and bottom boxes off to get an understanding of what was happening inside the hive.

Decided to harvest the top box only and put back the bottom box.

This one - with perfectly capped honey.

No brood in here.

The bottom box was a work in progress, so we put it back.

Here is the hive all ready for winter. They have a box of honey on the top and the brood is mostly in the middle box with plenty of room for them to expand into the bottom box. Leaving two or three boxes over winter is standard, when the bees are least active.

The Warre beehive is a great natural system which closely mimics the bees’ natural habitat, supporting healthier, low-stress colonies with minimal human intervention. Designed by Abbé Émile Warré, the hive promotes:

Natural comb building – Bees draw their own comb from top bars, just like in the wild.

Vertical expansion – Boxes are added from below, encouraging bees to build downwards, as they would in a tree cavity.

Thermal efficiency – The smaller box size and quilted top insulation help regulate temperature and moisture.

Minimal disruption – Inspections are less frequent and less invasive than with traditional Langstroth hives, reducing colony stress.

Simplicity – Ideal for natural or beginner beekeepers, Warre hives are easy to manage and maintain.

Overall, Warre hives support a more bee-centric approach to beekeeping which is why we love it.