September is a key month for colonies

September marks the gentle shift from summer into autumn, and natural beekeepers / HIIVE stewards take on a supportive role as their colonies prepare for colder months. With nectar flows slowing and the days shortening, bees begin to reduce brood production and focus on consolidating resources. This is the time to observe, rather than interfere.

Rather than relying on synthetic feeds, HIIVE stewards encourage bees to keep their own honey, ensuring they have enough stores for winter. A healthy HIIVE should have at least 5-7.5kg (coincidently the capacity of the honey room on a HIIVE is 7.5L), VS 15-20kg of honey for a framed hive, of honey to survive the lean season. If stores are low, feeding raw honey from the same hive or a simple syrup made from organic sugar is preferred.

HIIVE inspections in September are brief and respectful. The goal is to check for overall colony health, ensuring the queen is present and laying, and confirm that drones are being evicted—a natural part of seasonal behaviour. It’s also a good moment to reduce entrances to help bees defend against wasps or robbing from neighbouring colonies.

As nature slows down, natural beekeeping emphasises trust in the bees' instincts. Less manipulation means less stress for the colony, allowing the bees to do what they do best:

adapt, survive, and thrive.