Warré Beekeeping
The Warré hive was described by Èmile Warré in his book L'Apiculture por Tous in 1948. It is very similar in both construction and management to the hive proposed by Johann Christ in Germany in 1779.
The Warré hive is very simple to construct using natural materials. The internal dimensions of its hive boxes, 300 mm (11.81 inches) x 300 mm (11.81 inches) x 210 mm (8.26 inches) deep, are considered ideal for bees to efficiently control their temperature, humidity and hygienic conditions in all seasons. A Warré hive has several components including, from bottom to top, a floor or base having an entrance, multiple hive boxes containing eight top-bars each, an insulating quilt box and a roof assembly.
The basic method begins with bees placed into two Warré hive boxes setting on a floor or base and covered with an insulating quilt box and roof assembly. The bees build natural comb in the topmost hive box and extend downwards into additional hive boxes added underneath (nadiring) according to foraging conditions and the needs of the colony. Additional hive boxes can be added ahead of the demand for space.
The Warré hive is a vertical tiered top-bar hive using no frames, foundation or separation barriers. Natural comb is fixed to the hive box walls at the side and the top-bars, forming cul-de-sacs to retain the germ-free nest scent and heat that enables healthy colonies capable of productivity without intervention. The winter cluster is richly surrounded, above and at the sides, by their own stores which remain digestible through a gentle inflow of heat from the nest and forming a protective cushion of warmth for the bees.
The Warré hive provides an effective means of controlling common parasitic mites without introducing chemicals. No foreign substances, medications or chemicals are required within the hive. Efficient disinfection of the colony is achieved by its "sauna" of propolis.
As brood vacates cells at the top of the nest they are filled with honey. The top hive box can be removed after each summer flow to harvest honey. Each spring an additional hive box is added in anticipation of the spring buildup. The upward rotation of hive boxes allows the wax to be renewed each year, another factor in favor of the good health of the bees.
A very important feature of the Warré method is that the hive is opened in the strict sense only once a year during harvest. The addition of hive boxes underneath the colony does not necessitate a hive opening. During this time the all important nest scent and heat are not released.
Hives can be managed with only two visits per year allowing the bees to remain very mild mannered, calm and seldom aggressive. Warré was often photographed working his hives wearing neither gloves nor a veil with his dog sitting peacefully by his side.
The Warré hive allows the easily managed harvest of high quality honey while allowing the bees to winter under excellent conditions with healthy stores. Honey is harvested without an extractor retaining all of its components, evens the most volatile. Honey may be harvested from the first year provided that the colony is functioning in the spring.
Most modern experience with the Warré hive resides in France and Belgium with some in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Its popularity is increasing in the UK, USA, and Canada following the English translation of L'Apiculture por Tous or Beekeeping for All by Pat Cheney and David Heaf in 2007.