In Issue 33

Dear friends

One of the best moments that beekeeping has to offer is finding freshly built comb, beautifully constructed by the bees. There is something deeply satisfactory about the evidence of the great skill and industry which the comb reveals, with neat brood and pollen stores or honey provisions in place. People who keep bees in top-bar hives perhaps enjoy this pleasure more, as bees are free to build comb without the constraint of frame, although of course hives with frames do have other benefits.

Maybe the pleasure of seeing bees behave more naturally explains why more people seem to be trying top-bar hive beekeeping, even where frame hives are easily available. This is good for top-bar beekeepers

Everywhere as it is only after years of use that the best styles and methods for top-bar hives will emerge: the design and use of frame hives have evolved considerably since their introduction in the 1850's

With many people testing top-bar hives with different bees and in different regions, and publishing the idea that work well, low-technology beekeeping will surely advance. This journal has published many different approaches to low-tech beekeeping: in this edition we are pleased to feature method for queen rearing in top-bar hives developed by an American beekeeper, and a new approach to entirely cost-free beekeeping being encouraged in Africa.

Nicola Bradbear

Bees for Development

1 Agincourt Street, Monmouth NP25 3DZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1600 714848 info@beesfordevelopment.org www.beesfordevelopment.org