Checkerboarding - Walt Wright

[sc-bee]

Well I never heard of Walt Wright before this message got started.
I just checker board my brood boxes in the spring to give the Queen room to lay.
I then during the honey flow will rearrange the frames in my supers.
Moving the full ones out and the empty ones towards the center.
When I add supers I take the full one off and add the empty super then put the full one on top of the empty one.
I've been doing this for several years.

If it works for you by all means continue but do yourself a favor and try and use Walts Checkerboarding method on one hive and compare. CBing is not disruptive to the brood chambers. It can be done earlier in the year without chilling brood. And you never enter the brood chamber again.  No removing cells no opening up brood nest. When Walt started the system it was referred to as Nectar Management. As writing and questions about the system continued it was termed Checkerboarding or CBing due to the checkering of the HONEY supers. In no way is brood manipulated. So this thread is in reference to Walt Wrights Chckerbaording process.

So in comes the confusion.... I am sure beekeepers used the term checkerboarding before Walt came along. So people tend to confuse other folks system of keeping bees with Walts Checkerboarding process. This lent to confusion of folks trying to learn the system as when a beekeeper mentions checkerboarding is he talking his way or Walts? That does not make his way better that theirs or theirs wrong. Just lends to the confusion for discussion purposes.

That is why in the opening post I requested to try and leave the thread to Walt Wrights Checkerboarding to not lend to the confusion for those wishing to learn about the system. I am in no way trying to be crass or rude. Please join in and ask questions about Walts Checkerboarding. Have you used it? Did it work? Where do you think I went wrong etc.

Walt has been ostracized by the beekeeping world because his observations go against what the old time beeks were taught and do. The old my grandfather did it this way, My dad did it this way and I am going to do it this way mentality has caused many to not give it a chance. He also causes a stir when he says his system stops swarming. Folks bicker with him, does it stop this kind of swarm, that kind of swarm, all swarms? I really don't care if it helps a little or a lot, if it is better than what I am doing I am interested. His away from the main stream approach or remarks often offend some of those that have more experience as his beekeeping years are minimal to many. Maybe others have seen it and used it before Walt but Walt recorded it and adapted it and in his opinion and mine made it better.

Walt was a NASA engineer and through his engineering background has developed a keen eye for observations. He is now in his 80"s. I am sure he sometimes gets irritated with the criticism he receives and the crackpot he is often called but he continues to try and share his observations with the bee world at no charge because he is genuinely interested in trying to help. Their was an statement in his manuscript when I bought it " call anytime you wish with questions or just to talk bees" He genuinely means it and I have called him twice and he has wrote to me once. Now he has become more computer savvy and communicates through forums and e-mail more frequently than he did.

So join us please in a discussion about Walt Wrights Checkerboarding (CBing) system for preventing swarms and increasing honey production. My next post will be entirely on the manipulations and timing of the system. Hopefully this thread will be a learning experience for many.

Unfortunately it is nite shift time again.

Cheers  :cheer:
Steve

[hjon71]

I live not so far from WW, and am a new beek. I was only aware of the CB method as Michael Bush presented it. I would certainly give this a try.
On MB's website, he and WW propose an experiment. Try both methods and report back with your results. I only have 1 hive and without really knowing, half implemented both :) Dumb luck I suppose.
I just know I had lotsa honey.
Do you think Walt would be open to a visit?

[sc-bee]

I live not so far from WW, and am a new beek. I was only aware of the CB method as Michael Bush presented it. I would certainly give this a try.
On MB's website, he and WW propose an experiment. Try both methods and report back with your results. I only have 1 hive and without really knowing, half implemented both :) Dumb luck I suppose.
I just know I had lotsa honey.
Do you think Walt would be open to a visit?

Contacted Walt here is his reply:
I not only accept visitors, but I revel in it. Lucky man..... I wish I were closer  :th_thumbsupup:

[hjon71]

Awesome. Wow, thanks  :shock:
Preferred contact method?

[sc-bee]

Awesome. Wow, thanks  :shock:
Preferred contact method?

Probbaly want even know who i am talks to many. Tell him Steve (sc-bee) from Edgefield. Don't think he has hives now due to lifing and 80+++  but he mentors others on the system. Would love to bee with you  ;)