In a message dated 97-10-27 09:04:21 EST, [log in to unmask] writes:
 
<< I am a novice beekeeper using bees for apitherapy for my wife with M.S.
 I would like to have bees available during the winter months for this
 purpose and am asking for any advice on the best method to accomplish this.
 We live in Vermont, so the winter will be fairly long with temps reaching
 -20 F. The alternatives that I have come up with so far are:
         1) Prepare the hive for winter and open it periodically when
            the weather cooperative.
         2) Place the hive outside adjacent to the house, with a tunnel
            thru a wall to allow the bees to be collected indoors.
         3) Place the hive inside the house, with a tunnel thru a wall
            for the bees to get out of the hive when needed.
 The first alternative seems a little risky, in that the colony would be
 exposed to a fair amount of cold over the winter. The issue with the
 third is whether this disrupts any natural cycle by remaining fairly warm
 during the winter.
 As I said these are just the thoughts of someone with very limited
experience
 so I would appreciate any suggestions, comments, or ideas. Thanks in
 advance for any help you might have.  >>
 
We have friends who are doing the same thing. I hope the therapy is very
successful. Our friend says she is alive today because of the stings.
 
Your first alternative is probably the best. If bees receive a source of
artificial warmth it tend to induce flight, which as you know, can be fatal
in winter.
 
I would pick a spot for the bees where there is not likely to be deep
snowdrifts, but has as much shelter from the north and west as possible.  You
won't be able to wrap the hive, but lots of hives make it through winter with
no wrapping.  Make sure you protect them from mice with some kind of mouse
guard.
 
I would winter the bees on a candy board if possible. That means that you
will not have supers of honey over the brood nest, though there should be
some honey in the brood nest. The cluster will be directly below the candy
board. therefore lifting it will give instant access to the bees. Their
evaporation will condense on the candy, keeping it fairly wet and keep them
continously feeding. This will help alleviate some of the stresses you will
be adding to their lives
 
Open them on days when there is little wind and as much sunshine as possible.
Get the live bees directly from the top bars or the bottom of the candy
feeder, then close it up. You don't need to pull brood frames. By late
January, even though it is cold, the bees will be beginning to raise brood.
 
If all else fails, hollar at us guys in the south. We have access to our bees
pretty much all winter, and there are many ways to move them. There are lots
of beekeepers running up and down I-95 all winter, too.
 
[log in to unmask]     Dave Green   Hemingway, SC USA
http://users.aol.com/pollinator/polpage1.html