It started out as an idea which Frank threw into the air “I’d like to have a beehive some day”.
This year, as I’ve been reading up on trying to get our tomatoes to produce earlier than others in the vicinity, the subject of bees popped up again.
We were going to build a “Langstroth” hive, but as we were watching various YouTube videos on the subject of beehive building, we came across the Top Bar Beehive, which Frank ended up building in a weekend from cabinet grade ply that we had laying around.
See this example of a Top Bar Beehive plan.
A relative of mine mentioned having lost two colonies to mites, but I read that menthol or neem can be used twice a year in combat against the various mites which afflict bees.
Two links which were a great resource of information on caring for bees:
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/honey-plants.html
Lists flowers which bees love:
Various types of clover (sweet and/or white), aster, goldenrod, sunflowers, fruit trees, dandelions, snap dragons, honeysuckle,
http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/bee-keeping.html
Gives good general information on caring for bees, along with the recommendation of using Neem as a combat against mites.