Friends and I have set hives (bottom boards) on shipping pallets. In
addition to raising the bottom boards away from the soil this method has
the advantage of discouraging skunks -- they can't protect their bellies
from bee stings should they decide on a bee dinner. The pallets are free
for the taking from various businesses and do need to be replaced every
couple of years.
 
On Tue, 10 Jan 1995, Jeffrey Young wrote:
 
.snip.
 
> One thing I have found makes the entire hive last longer is keeping the wooded
> components off the ground entirely.  I place four cement blocks partially
> buried in the soil (to anchor them) and sit the hive stand and bottom board on
> these.  This serves to raise the hive up about 10 to 12 inches, protecting the
> hive from the constant contact with the moisture in the soil. It also provides
> more ventilation around and under the hive to help keep it dry.  The cement
> blocks also serve to position the supers up a bit higher so you can work in
> them better without bending over quite so much.
>
> jeff young    One backyard hive in Upton, MA
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