Danny,
"Is the hole in the center for feeding?"
The hole in the center is for ventilation, for feeding and for observation.
"Do you put this on in the summer months only? or is it used year round?"
I use it year round in conjunction with my screened bottom board to assist in ventilation. In the warm weather I can still take a peek through the top if I want, I can still feed them if I want but most important it is for VENTILATION.
"Does your front porch have a 'door' or entrance too?"
The "front porch" only has a swing, a screen door and a cooler full of beer. :-D :evil: :-P
No, I'm just kidding!!!!!!!!
What I call a "front porch" is only a "way of expression". It was just a joke. It is really called an "alighting" board. You have a larger version of an alighting board directly underneath many hive bottom boards. It looks like a ramp. Do the bees really need a board to alight themselves prior to flying out??? No. They can fly in and out of the vent hole just as good as if they were flying into or out of a hole in a tree. The only reason that I made them (porches) is because I was getting bored with this New England weather and I just needed something to do. Plus its a conversation piece that you can brag about such as we are doing right now. My so-called "porch" or alighting board is placed directly over the original upper "vent" hole and the bees can walk out onto it prior to flying off. That roof over the alighting board also might help during fowl weather such as rain, wind or snow.
"Do you put frames in there?"
It just so happens that you can!!!!! I believe that there was a previous post here somewhere suggesting that idea. I was planning to cut out a rabbet on the top to accommodate frames but I forgot to do it. This is my first box that is high enough to allow a frame to fit. The next couple of Ventilated Inner Covers that I produce will possibly have a place to hang frames. That idea comes in handy when you want to either hang some frames to feed honey or to hang brood frames that you wish to share with that particular hive.