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SVBA President Brett DeLawter took
a few minutes at our December meeting to show how he has fashioned
robust wind protection for his beeyard located in Bellingham. Part of
Bellingham and other places in our region have some unusual, channeled
wind corridors in open locations where there are few buildings, trees,
or topography. Over the past few years, sustained winter winds of 60
miles per hour have not been uncommon. Those cold, nearly hurricane
force wind velocities can topple hives, tear off top covers, and make it
more difficult for the colonies to keep warm inside.
Moving hives to a nearby sheltered location is not a good option - this
can disorient the bees and lead to losing the entire colony. Brett's
solution has been to use steel T-posts, hog fencing, and salvage burlap
to surround the colony for the cold and windy winter months.
The lively follow-up discussion brought out a number of practices and
ideas for those who don't have a sheltered beeyard available. Some folks
run a strap or tie a rope around each hive and its supports - which
could be some concrete blocks at the base.
It all served to remind us that beekeeping isn't just region-specific, it's site specific too.
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