Steppler Honey
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In December of 2008 we started to renovate a
32 x 48 Machine shed. This would be our
wintering shed for the years to come. The
shed was in pretty decent shape. The In
December of 2008 we started to renovate a it
was first built. The front wall was removed; it
suffered the most deterioration over the
years. We figured it would be easier to
replace it and install a new overhead door.
We should have just enough room for 700
hives if stacked properly!
32 x 48 Machine shed. This would be our
wintering shed for the years to come. The
shed was in pretty decent shape. The In
December of 2008 we started to renovate a it
was first built. The front wall was removed; it
suffered the most deterioration over the
years. We figured it would be easier to
replace it and install a new overhead door.
We should have just enough room for 700
hives if stacked properly!
It is always a plus having a brother who is certified
journeymen carpenter.
journeymen carpenter.
The shingles were original and have lasted since 1968. That's 40 years of
service. The plywood under the shingles were in much better shape than we
expected. With a new tin roof this old shed should be a winter home for bees for
another 40 years!
The shed was built with no overhangs. Over time water leaked into the building,
rotting out the framework. The rear wall faired well, requiring only minor repairs.
The front wall didn't do so well. We had to replace the whole wall.
In fact to remove the front wall, we only had to remove 5 or 6 nails. Then just like
in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, the whole wall flopped over onto the ground, leaving
Ian standing on a step ladder holding a hammer over his head.
So far it has been a mild fall. When we started to rip off shingles, there was no
snow on the ground. But after one day of work we were hit with the first winter
storm.
service. The plywood under the shingles were in much better shape than we
expected. With a new tin roof this old shed should be a winter home for bees for
another 40 years!
The shed was built with no overhangs. Over time water leaked into the building,
rotting out the framework. The rear wall faired well, requiring only minor repairs.
The front wall didn't do so well. We had to replace the whole wall.
In fact to remove the front wall, we only had to remove 5 or 6 nails. Then just like
in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, the whole wall flopped over onto the ground, leaving
Ian standing on a step ladder holding a hammer over his head.
So far it has been a mild fall. When we started to rip off shingles, there was no
snow on the ground. But after one day of work we were hit with the first winter
storm.
Here are a couple shots of the hives waiting patiently in the yard. They are banded down, usually four to a pallet. We will be
moving them into the wintering shed with our New Holland Skid steer.
Only one snow fall on them all winter and only a few nights of -15C. Now they will be held steady at a temperature of 2C, even
though we had a solid week of -35C in January.
moving them into the wintering shed with our New Holland Skid steer.
Only one snow fall on them all winter and only a few nights of -15C. Now they will be held steady at a temperature of 2C, even
though we had a solid week of -35C in January.
The thermostat is below the red lights. This controls
the temperature to 2 Deg C with two ventilation fans.
They are programed to run at variable speeds to
regulate the temperature while also providing
constant air flow. When 2 Deg is achieved, the fan
runs at a low idle.
This keeps a constant airflow throughout the building.
If supplementary heat is required there is a small
construction heater hung above the hives.
There isn't much room between the rows, just enough
for a broom. We need to sweep the floor every so often.
The bees here are no more than a centimeter thick. It
looks like a lot of bees.
Seeing so many dead bees makes you wonder if there
will be any left in the spring. But we have wintered
indoors before and have had healthy hives with similar
looking dead stock.
Wintering outdoors would typically have the same
amount of dead bees. You can't see them because
they get covered up with snow.
for a broom. We need to sweep the floor every so often.
The bees here are no more than a centimeter thick. It
looks like a lot of bees.
Seeing so many dead bees makes you wonder if there
will be any left in the spring. But we have wintered
indoors before and have had healthy hives with similar
looking dead stock.
Wintering outdoors would typically have the same
amount of dead bees. You can't see them because
they get covered up with snow.
Above are the ventilation fans. The one on the left
is running at low idle. The secondary fan is off.
The temperature at a steady 2 Degrees C.
Both fans are surrounded by a plywood box
designed to keep sunlight out.
is running at low idle. The secondary fan is off.
The temperature at a steady 2 Degrees C.
Both fans are surrounded by a plywood box
designed to keep sunlight out.
Here is an outside view of the ventilation fans. The primary
fan is wrapped with insulation.
When the fan ran at idle we had a problem with very humid
air icing up the inside of the shroud. Frost and ice would
build up enough to stop the fan from running. In one case it
shattered the fan blades. Not very good for the motor. With
the insulation it has not been a problem.
The secondary fan dose not ice up at all. It runs at full boar
when it turns on. We think that the volume and speed of the
air warms up the shroud enough that ice does not form.
fan is wrapped with insulation.
When the fan ran at idle we had a problem with very humid
air icing up the inside of the shroud. Frost and ice would
build up enough to stop the fan from running. In one case it
shattered the fan blades. Not very good for the motor. With
the insulation it has not been a problem.
The secondary fan dose not ice up at all. It runs at full boar
when it turns on. We think that the volume and speed of the
air warms up the shroud enough that ice does not form.
Three Ceiling fans constantly circulate air inside
the wintering shed. The quonset gives a lot of
room for air circulation. It is important to have
high quality air.
the wintering shed. The quonset gives a lot of
room for air circulation. It is important to have
high quality air.
On either side of the over head door are air inlet vents.
The air travels from the bottom of the vent, up the
chamber, and into the building. This set up allows no
light to enter.
The front and rear walls of the shed are going to have tin.
This job will wait until summer or next fall.
The air travels from the bottom of the vent, up the
chamber, and into the building. This set up allows no
light to enter.
The front and rear walls of the shed are going to have tin.
This job will wait until summer or next fall.
| Now we just have to wait until spring. |
You can see the area were the freezing rain stuck on
the wood. It took a while to scrape it off. Luckily the rest
of the shed still had the shingles on when the storm hit.
With the strapping started for the tin, we needed to hurry
up. Cold weather was forecasted for the next week.
We have to insulate, put up vapour barrier and plywood
the inside wall. Then we have to wire in ceiling fans,
ventilation fans and lights. It is going to be tight, but we
should have enough time.
the wood. It took a while to scrape it off. Luckily the rest
of the shed still had the shingles on when the storm hit.
With the strapping started for the tin, we needed to hurry
up. Cold weather was forecasted for the next week.
We have to insulate, put up vapour barrier and plywood
the inside wall. Then we have to wire in ceiling fans,
ventilation fans and lights. It is going to be tight, but we
should have enough time.
The pallets of bees are stacked one on top of another. When we
stack the hives on the pallets, we try and make the top as
even as possible. This makes the stack stable enough to stack
3 or 4 pallets high.
stack the hives on the pallets, we try and make the top as
even as possible. This makes the stack stable enough to stack
3 or 4 pallets high.
The building is kept at 2 Degrees Celsius. Any
warmer and the bees will be more active in the hive
consuming more feed, risking starvation. Any colder
you will have moisture problems with formation of
frost.
The building is kept pitch black. Light stimulates the
bees to leave the hive and fly to the light. They will not
come back to the hive resulting in starvation.
warmer and the bees will be more active in the hive
consuming more feed, risking starvation. Any colder
you will have moisture problems with formation of
frost.
The building is kept pitch black. Light stimulates the
bees to leave the hive and fly to the light. They will not
come back to the hive resulting in starvation.
If our calculations are correct, the heater shouldn't
run very much.
On warmer days the first fan will gradually run faster
as the temperature rises in the building. If the
temperature rises above 4 Deg, the secondary fan
will kick in at full blast.
There have been a few warm days and the set up
has worked just fine.
run very much.
On warmer days the first fan will gradually run faster
as the temperature rises in the building. If the
temperature rises above 4 Deg, the secondary fan
will kick in at full blast.
There have been a few warm days and the set up
has worked just fine.
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