Hello Chris and others.  A few thoughts...
 
On Mon, 18 Nov 1996, Chris Allen wrote:
 
>
> When Atholl Desmond (from Zimbabwe) told us about this hive on his recent visit,
> he pointed out that it was intended for the poor beekeeper who only wants a
> bit of honey for himself and cannot afford a modern langstroth.
 
Though intended for poor beekeepers perhaps, the tbh works just as well
for hobby beekeepers who enjoy simplified beekeeping that is educational
and fun.  It also produces honey for them and their neighbors.  Many hobby
beekeepers enjoy the challenge of using recyclable material to do their
beekeeping, and the tbh certainly encourages that.
 
> He added that Zimbabwe also has several commercial beekeepers.  They all
> prefer langstoth hives.
 
This is understandable, though I haven't seen any good data on honey
production in tbh's that are managed for maximum honey production.
Langstroth hives undoubtedly provide many advantages for commercial
beekeepers as well as hobby beekeepers.  But there are also many
disadvantages for hobby beekeepers in my opinion.
 
I don't think that anyone with tbh's suggests that they be used for
commercial honey production, supplanting modern langstroth operations.
The mobile operations, etc. of many operations preclude that.  If Wyatt
Mangum's pollination service with Kenya TBH's is any sort of yardstick,
then the tbh may offer some commercial potential for pollination
contracts...if the growers wouldn't view the strange hives with too much
suspicion. :)
 
Cordially yours,
 
Jim
 
  ---------------------------------------------------------------
  |  James D. Satterfield        |  E-Mail: [log in to unmask]       |
  |                              --------------------------------
  |  258 Ridge Pine Drive         Canton is about 40 mi/64 km   |
  |  Canton, GA 30114, USA        north of Atlanta, Georgia USA |
  |  Telephone (770) 479-4784                                   |
  ---------------------------------------------------------------