While it’s true that no two beekeepers can seem to agree on anything, something we all seem to share is BRICKS.

But then, don’t ask which end is up!

Not only do bricks hold your top covers on against the wind, but they can also be used as a code to your hives’ condition. With a quick glance at the apiary, you know the situation of every hive at its last inspection.

So here goes:  I’ll throw my brick in the pond and make some ripples. Ultimately, however, you must devise your own method that makes sense to you.

First, choose your bricks. Mine are the edging-stone type, round on one end and concave on the other. They’re a bit heavier than regular bricks but still light enough to lift with one hand.

Next, you need to standardize your code. My basic signals are as follows:

1. Brick on edge, set front to back—the hive is in good condition.
2. Brick on edge, set side to side—hive needs attention.
3. Brick on end, set front to back—hive is queenless, but does not need attention now.
4. Brick lying flat, set front to back—hive is a dead-out.

Then, the fun part for me is in combining those categories. In my code, I might use the brick–on-end signal for a queenless hive but set it in the side-to-side position to mean that the hive does need attention because, for example, it has queen cells to monitor. You can be creative here!

Finally, the type of brick I use offers an additional signal option. As an example, I could use the rounded end versus the concave end on edge to point to some particular aspect of a hive that requires attention.

In short, using some kind of a brick code, from simple to complex, can be of great utility in the overall monitoring of your hives.

Have fun inventing your own language of bricks and sharing your ideas with other beekeepers. At the very least, those conversations might ripple some ponds.