Hello from Alabama! Intermediate mycologist turning towards beekeeping

[MushroomPrince]

Hello, I am pretty new to beekeeping despite having a strong background in biological sciences. My main biological passions are mycology, microbiology, and entomology. Besides agriculture I enjoy climbing outside and in my own house, hiking outside, and scuba diving. I am currently working at a mushroom farm located in Dadeville AL and want to start keeping bees as well to study the interactions bees have with fungi. My main goals this winter is to get a layens colony and swarm trap built! Thank you for reading my post, this is the end :)

[The15thMember]

Welcome to Beemaster, your royal highness of mushrooms!    Seriously though, it sounds like you'll have a really interesting and unique angle on beekeeping.  There was a thread a year or two ago discussing bees and mushrooms which I'm sure your opinions would be valued on.  I'd never heard of the layens hive until now (but I'm only in my 3rd winter as a beekeeper, so that doesn't say much).  Why is the layens the hive style you are choosing? 

[Brian MCquilkin]

Welcome to beemaster,  lots of knowable beekeepers here willing to help

[BeeMaster2]

Welcome to Beemaster.
Jim Altmiller

[cao]

welcome 

[Bob Wilson]

Welcome, Shroom.
I keep 4 foot long horizontal, langstroth hives instead of Layens. I liked the idea of 32 standard deep langstroth frames in a 4 foot long box hive, instead of fewer, and deeper frames like those in a layen. That way I can exchange frames with any standard langstroth beekeeper around.
I look forward to your postings.
Welcome.