Hi Rebekah,
   I had 5-20 hives for about 10 years in Bothel and then in Monroe.  They
overwintered as 9-10 frame double deeps, notched inner covers and
telescoping metal over wood covers. Inner cover notches were up and at the
back.  I never reduced entrances.  Hives sat on cinder blocks, tilted
forward just enough so's you'd notice.  No insulation, winter feeding,
pollen sub.  Nothing fancy.  No problems.
   We did have a hot wire up.  Winters were wet enough that I drove the
grounding rod about 2" or just laid it on the ground.  If hives needed to
be worked Oct-June, a second person would hold an umbrella.  Bottom boards
rotted after a couple of years.
   We used Apistan or Checkmite for varroa and menthol for tracheal mites.
   Main flows were blackberry in May-June and Japanese knotweed Sept.  In
July there's fireweed in the mountains if you can be mobile. Alder and
maples provide good spring pollen.
   It was a good place for bees!
Cheers,
Kristina Williams
Boulder, CO

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