> Bill: I suggest you try a top bar hive as the heaviest thing you will lift
> is one comb from waist level.
>

They do not do well in Maine. I am having the operations now because  I
will be in good shape come spring, which is far more important for bee
survival than now. I will not have to do any heavy lifting and my mentees
can do the OAV treatments easily. But come February and March I will need
to be on top of the hives condition. Since I will overwinter them with at
least two supers, they should be fine for stores, but you still need to
check.

In addition, by December I will be in good enough shape to snow blow
through he remainder of the winter- or have someone plow us out if
necessary.

I am in decent shape and even with the bad hips able to still move full
supers with little problem and deeps if I reduce the weight by removing
frames.

According to my surgeon, I should be able to resume those activities easily
by next spring, including moderate heavy lifting, which is what I do now.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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