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What is "Balanced Beekeeping"?

Balanced beekeeping is a continuous quest for the improvement of our relationship with bees.

It recognises that keeping bees is not natural, because in nature, only bees keep bees.

It acknowledges that our desire for honey may not be matched by the bees' willingness to give it up.

It recognises that the bees have their own lives and they would probably prefer that we left them alone, however much we are kindly disposed towards them.

It is a search for the best ways to be with bees.

Help us make Britain a better place for bees!

Support Friends of the Bees

The ZEST Hive

The ZEST hive was conceived by William "Bill" Summers as a low-cost, easy-build hive with excellent insulation characteristics. It is constructed using Thermalite (aerated concrete) insulating blocks, commonly used in the UK but apparently not available in the USA.

You can download my review of Bill Summers' book about the ZEST hive How To Do More With Less

I have made a number of videos about the ZEST hive, including how to build the hive from scratch.

Full details of the ZEST hive, including downloadable plans, can be found on Bill Summers' site.

The Barefoot Beekeeper practical, balanced, natural beekeeping in top bar hives	"Not just a different beehive, but a whole new way of looking at beekeeping"
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