Bee Gum Made From Hollow Tree

This interesting item often causes visitors to ask, "What is it?" This section of hollow tree was put together to serve as a beehive for Appalachian farmers. The ever resourceful farmers would take sections of the black gum tree, which grows hollow, and would use them as hives for their honeybees. They were called bee gums because the black gum tree was often used. Crossed sticks were added in the center to serve as a support for the bees to build their honeycomb on. Small v-shaped notches provided a doorway for the bees and a plank lid, weighed down with rocks, was added to the top. These bee hives are sometimes visible in pictures of old homesteads. Honey was an important food item for families in the past and beeswax extracted from honeycomb was sold to stores to provide cash income.

For more information on honeybees, honey, and bee gums check out Foxfire 2, which is a volume featured in the popular Foxfire Book series. It can be purchased on Amazon.

This is a bee gum made by a farmer as a hive for honeybees. Notice the v-shaped notches on the bottom that served as a doorway for the honeybees.

This photograph shows what a completed bee gum looked like. Notice the sticks that protrude from the side, which served as supports for the bees to build honeycomb on. The photograph was featured in "Foxfire 2" by the Rabun County, Georgia high school class. — at The Foxfire Museum and Heritage Center.

Inside of the bee gum. One of the cross beams has broken in half and notice the remnants of honeycomb on the walls of the gum.

This photograph shows what a modern bee gum looks like. Compare this to the photograph of the bee gum featured earlier.

 

 

 Information and one photograph taken from Foxfire 2 published by the Rabun County High School.