BEEKEEPING
From page 25
tions that fall into his
everyday life.
K Production of honey, wax
and propolis
K Pollination of crops trees
and flowers,
K Commercial pollination
contracts, and,
K Removal of swarms and
development of swarms for
the pollinating contractors.
There can be a number of
reasons why one desires to
keep bees.
Beekeepers say:
K “Something I have always
wished to do and now that I
have retired, I am going to
give it a go” or,
K “bees have always
fascinated me” or
K “It's part of my university
thesis for my master's
degree” or,
K “my father always kept
bees and I wish to continue
where he left off” or,
K “I wish to have our own
honey for our family” or,
K “I need a financial
supplement to cover the
costs of running our plot,”
and numerous other reasons.
So let's start at the very
beginning, by buying the
book Beekeeping in South
Africa to read just for a
general knowledge at first.
Commonly called the “blue
book”, it is the best work
available and can be
obtained from shops dealing
in beekeeping
equipment. Bookshops
do not stock it (but it is
available online).
Next, join a
beekeeper's association, of which there
are three in Gauteng.
The Eastern Highveld
Beekeeper's
Association, commonly called
“Easterns” serves the
eastern Highveld,
while the Southern
Beekeepers'
Association serves
Johannesburg, the
Langstroth hive comprising one brood
West Ra