Bee Equipment

Item Description

New for 2020, this curved roof is engineered to provide benefits you rarely find in top covers: ventilation, mold resistance, and dry-feeding room. 

Screened Ventilation:  At the peak of the cover are ventilation slots on both ends.  This helps ventilation in the hot summer months, and helps dissipate moisture build up in the cool and wet months.  Since this roof material does not absorb moisture (moisture = mold), ventilation is particularly helpful. 

Feeding Space:  The combination of the curved roof and a strengthening internal ridge (see images) creates a perfect space for feeding fondant, drivert sugar, and pollen patties.  

Moisture Management:  The slope of the curved roof naturally sheds water away from the hive. It is made of a polymetal material that, unlike traditional telescoping covers made of plywood and metal, does not absorb moisture inside the hive.  This attribute eliminates mold that typically builds up on the underside of the plywood panel of standard telescoping covers.  However, there is no free lunch. The moisture has to go somewhere. Some of the moisture will dissipate out the ventilation slots, but a strong hive produces a lot of moisture, so you should plan on using a Vivaldi Board™ï¸Â to help manage the moisture.

Designed and manufactured in the USA:  This product is designed to handle the wet winters and hot summers of western Oregon. We manufacture it from premium pine in Oregon. All joints are glued and stapled to increase strength.  The polymetal roof is secured to the frame with stainless steel screws. 

Beekeeping and Symbiosis

As any experienced beekeeper will quickly tell you, the word beekeeper is a misnomer. We don't keep bees in cages or on leashes.  We have little control of their welfare; we only influence it in the hope of some reward such as honey and pollination. This symbiotic relationship can be elusive and occasionally challenging. 

Our passion at Hive & Garden is to help you navigate through the challenges and decisions of beekeeping, such as type of hive, type of honeybee, and approach to colony management.  All these decisions present a trade-off in hive management.  Our mission is to help you understand these trade-offs, and pick the type of beekeeping that feels right for you.