Last year I wintered two hives using a black tyvek like wrap I scrounged from a lumber yard. Some lumber is shipped wrapped in this very strong weatherproof material, white on the outside and black on the inside. I made a sleeve using duct tape (the Red Green universal fix-it duct tape, not true duct tape). Black side out. It was loose enough to slip over a double with space to slide 3 pieces of foam board on the n,e,and w sides. I tucked the top in over the inner lid with an insulated pillow and put outer top on with large rock. 

These hives wintered as well as the rest which were wrapped with insulated batten inside of 6 mil black poly all round. When the sunny spring weather came the 3 sided insulated hives were active a little earlier.  

Peter, 
Ottawa, Ontario

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