Jan. 3…Progress so far on log
Jan. 3…See the big rotten spot in the middle? All that brown wood is rotten. I removed a huge section of rot already and there’s still some left. I believe it might have been started by nails driven into the tree many years ago. See the next photo.
Three brown streaks are from three old nails. The next time you’re tempted to drive a nail into a tree, think about this photo. I believe these nails started the rot in the tree which resulted in a big rotten spot in the trunk…not visible on the outside of the tree.
Jan. 13…The start of the ‘bowl.’ I want to have a little cavity on the bottom of the hive. I’ll place a pile of sawdust and maybe some leaves to create habitat for sow bugs, earwigs, pseudoscorpions, and whatever else should be living in a tree. When mites fall down, they can get devoured.
Drilling more holes for the ‘bowl.’
Let’s grind it down
Not deep enough yet.
Hope this is deep enough
We’re going to call it good. I’ve got to get the observation window built.
Hal said to drill the corners, then saw up to them. I’m starting my first corners, but I changed my mind after I saw where they broke through didn’t leave much ‘observing’ space.
Jan. 15…After waffling several times over the window, I finally jelled on where it should go. This is it!!!
I’ve been thinking about getting one of these saws for years, finally I have an excuse. Using it, I cut out a place for the glass.
I cut the plexiglass, pushed it down into a curve, and promptly broke it.
I cut a new piece, carved some wooden ‘wedges’ to make the glass lay flat, and fastened it in place.
February 4…The log is almost ready for Brian Vorwaller, but I’ve still got to get the top bars fitted.
Using my new multi-tool saw, I cut a rabbet for the bars to sit on.
My neighbor donated some cedar he didn’t need. I cut my top bars.
Check out this custom-cut top bar. 🙂
Custom fitted top bars in place. Zada just called to say they are coming tomorrow to pick up the log. I’m glad I’m ready.
Well, almost ready. I’ve still got to hollow out this top slab to use as a quilt box. I’m thinking about adding this old birdhouse on the very top. My wife is not 100% on board with that idea, so it’s iffy. As it turns out, Brian Vorwaller didn’t like idea either. He didn’t say it, but I knew it when he says, “Give me another chunk of wood to work with.”
February 14…Brian works the hoist while his Valentine makes sure he’s observing proper safety protocols.
Brian will need about a month or so to carve the three grand kids’ faces onto the log. Zada will videotape the progress. So while I bid adiós to my log for awhile, I know it’s in good hands.
Adventures in Natural Beekeeping 
Very impressive work. I like the idea of creating a habitat for creatures that like eating mites. I’m not sure you want to encourage birds to perch on top of the hive though – some of them may have a taste for bees!
You’re right, I don’t want birds up there, but I wasn’t going to feed them. I just wanted something on top to provide a cover for the quilt box.’ The easiest thing to do would be to place a sheet metal cover over the top, but it seemed too plain. When I explained the problem to Brian (the wood carver), he thought he could carve up something that would look like a bird house. Something with a sloping roof. That sounded intriguing.
I’m sure the bird house will look good. Perhaps another option would be a solitary bee home with a sloping roof. Just to go extra bee crazy!
It’s a monumental task to carve out that tree. You seem on schedule to get a swarm into it this year. I bet the grandchildren will be impressed. Amelia
Yep! I plan to have it set up towards the end of March. There’s still much work to be done on it, even after the faces are carved in. I’m going to have to seal it up somewhat although I plan to leave a place for the sow bugs, earwigs, and other life to get in. Then somehow we’ve got to cart, roll, or carry the log out to the site without scarfing up the carvings. Brian said he would help me with that. When the log is set up, it will be yard art until a swarm of bees decides move in of their own volition.
Some serious work done there, I’m looking forward to seeing the carving.
You would never think that a nail would cause so much damage, I have a few electric fence isolators screwed into some trees in the orchard, I must take them out!
I never saw any indication there was a rotten section in the trunk. I’m relieved that we took the tree down before it fell down. Plus I now have a log for the next log hive. 🙂
I am a beekeeper in Corvallis and am wondering about nectar flows on the Oregon coast. Where I am the nectar flow dries up completely by mid July once the blackberries stop blooming. I hear that on the coast the bees are still putting up nectar late in the summer. Is this your experience? What is your last major nectar source? Thank you.
I had a Warre hive that had been plagued with mites. It totally missed the blackberry nectar flow. The bees just lingered through June, July, and part of August. Then I started seeing the numbers go up in late August and September. Right at the beginning of October they built up honey real fast.
I call myself a natural beekeeper, so I don’t intervene very often. Both my log hives and the Warre hives have observation windows where I can ‘inspect’ by looking through the window. They built up so much honey in about two weeks that they still have honey left now in February even though I’m not feeding them. Here are some photos…
https://solarbeez.com/2014/10/02/a-long-long-brood-break/
I really don’t know what they were feeding on to make so much honey in such a short time, but it might be ivy. In our garden we still had phacelia, borage, sedum, fennel, rosemary and gallardia blooming.
Whole lot of work. Hope the grandkids appreciate it…
I like the explanatory how-tos on your site: “log hives for dummies”. It’s taught me a lot.
Hi, Pat. Enjoyed meeting you tonight at the meeting. Would love to continue talking about bees and am very interested in bringing my kids along to see your hives and your set up. Let’s keep in touch. –Chris
It was good to talk with you too. Drop by the next time you’re in town, especially on a sunny day so you can see the bees flying. I’d love to show you and your family all my various hives (non of which are traditional) 🙂
That is so fascinating. Thank you for sharing these photos.
What an impressive venture! I can’t wait to read about a swarm moving into that magnificent log hive!
Me too! So much work to be done first, to get the carved hive in place (without damaging it in transit). Then I’ve got to sit tight waiting for it to happen. There might be some lemongrass oil being used. 🙂