Page 27 - FWG Issue 3 April 2024

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Whether you live on a plot or farm, in a townhouse or flat – the enchanting world of beehives, honey
extraction, bee courses and baked goods are all available to you. Here are the basics to get you going.

here are specific by-laws for Organisation (SABIO) so that their set-up is delicious baked goods.
beekeeping, stipulated by the in accordance with the regulation standards.
Metropolitan Municipality Public This is to ensure that all bees are cared for Have you ever tried raw honeycomb? This
THealth. You can’t own a hive on your and to prevent accidents or injuries to one’s is a natural product made by honey bees to
balcony in the suburbs, for example, but you neighbours. If you can’t meet the beekeeping store honey and pollen, or house their young.
can go on an epic beekeeping course and regulations but still want to be part of the It consists of a series of hexagonal cells
tend to a hive away from home. For plot and ‘magic’, join a beekeeping training course constructed from beeswax, which generally
farm dwellers, here is a brief overview of the that will teach you how to understand bee contains raw honey. It is loaded with
current laws: language, harvest honey, and obtain hands- incredible nutrients and is delicious to eat.
on experience in the field.
No person may keep bees on any premises • Pretoria: www.bhive.co.za Did you know? You can purchase a queen
unless that person is the holder of a permit • Johannesburg and Cape Town: bee and colony to easily begin your
authorising this activity, and every beehive is www.beeware.co.za beekeeping journey.
situated – • Western Cape: www.honeywoodfarm.co.za
• a minimum of five metres from any boundary • KwaZulu-Natal: www.bushveldbees.co.za Blooms for bees
of the premises; If you’re looking to start a hive, contribute to
• a minimum of twenty metres from any Tools and treasures one, support South Africa’s food chain or add
public place or building used for human Beginner beekeeping courses in South Africa to your garden’s wildlife, planting blooms
habitation or from any place used for the offer a hands-on experience where all tools, for bees is an essential service and part of
keeping of animals; and suits and hives are provided to obtain the the beehive process. After all, one in every
• the bees are kept in an approved beehive best practical experience. Basic tools and three mouthfuls of food is due to bee crop
located in an area inaccessible to children equipment include a beehive box, a colony, pollination.
and animals, kept in the shade at all times, a bee queen, a bee suit, a bee brush and a
and supplied with a source of drinking water smoker. Research suggests that bees prefer blue,
within five metres of the hive. purple and yellow flowers. However, there are
Treat yourself and your family to the exceptions such as orange Aloe flowers and
It is important for beekeepers to register treasures of your hive by investing in honey the white flowers of the White Pear. Bees also
with the South African Bee Industry extraction equipment. This enables the tend to favour flowers that stand out from
making your own skincare products and
Fourways Gardens • 25 • April 2024