Shadow's Bees are Happy Bees!

At Shadow's Bees, we are passionate about sustainable beekeeping. We use Warré hives, also known as the "People's Hive," a vertical hive design that closely mimics a hollow tree, the natural habitat of bees. We keep our interventions with the bees as minimal as possible, allowing the colonies to grow, thrive and reproduce as naturally as possible. Here are just some of the sustainable, bee-centric practices we follow:

Mimicking Natural Bee Habitats: Warré hives are designed to resemble the hollow trees that bees naturally inhabit. The vertical top bar design and the process of "nadiring" (adding new boxes below the existing ones when more space is needed) allow bees to build their combs downwards, following their instinctual behavior. This promotes natural comb construction and allows bees to create a hive structure that suits their needs, fostering a healthier and more natural environment.
Natural Comb, with no Frames or Foundations: In natural beekeeping, we prioritize the use of natural comb with minimal interference. Rather than using pre-made foundation sheets, which often contain chemicals and can disrupt the bees' natural comb-building process, we provide bees with top bars made from untreated wood. This encourages the bees to build their own comb according to their needs and preferences.
Avoidance of Harsh Chemical Treatments: Natural beekeeping promotes the well-being of bees without relying on harsh chemical treatments. Instead of using synthetic pesticides, miticides, or antibiotics, we prioritize proactive methods to maintain bee health. These include promoting strong genetic stock, providing a healthy environment, and managing mite populations through non-chemical means, such as integrated pest management (IPM) techniques.
Respect for Natural Bee Biology: In line with natural beekeeping principles, we refrain from artificial queen replacement or killing drones. Instead, we allow the bees to manage their own colony dynamics. This means allowing the bees to raise their own queens without artificial replacement, and allowing colonies to reproduce through natural swarming, which ensures genetic diversity and colony vitality. Drones, essential for successful mating, are valued and allowed to fulfill their natural roles. We never use queen excluders, meaning the queen is free to move anywhere in the hive.
Sustainable Hive Management: Warré hives offer a low-intervention approach to hive management. The design promotes minimal disruption by avoiding inspections except in very rare cases. This reduces stress on the colony and allows the bees to maintain their natural behavior and hierarchy. Hive management practices focus on providing suitable space, proper ventilation, and monitoring for external signs of health or pest issues.
Bee-Friendly Interactions: Any manipulations of the hives are done gently, focusing on killing as few bees as possible, and often none at all. We never use tests that require the killing of bees, and never use a smoker during our interactions. The hives are left outdoors all year long.
Bee-Centric Harvesting: We harvest honey only once per year, in the Fall, and only take the excess honey beyond what the colony needs to survive the winter; we never use sugar water or other feeds to replace naturally gathered honey. We never harvest propolis or pollen; these substances are left for the bees to use for their own purposes, such as insulation and raising their young. Our honey and wax extraction is done by hand, and our honey is never heated nor frozen, retaining all its healthy properties.

Utilizing Warré hives and embracing associated natural beekeeping techniques, we are creating an environment that closely aligns with the needs and instincts of bees. This promotes colony vitality, healthy comb construction, and a sustainable approach to beekeeping. Together, we are fostering a harmonious relationship between bees, humans, and the environment.