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KNYSNA NEWS - At the Honeychild Apiary in Rheenendal, the month of February began with the gentle hum of bees and the dripping of freshly harvested honey as fascinated newly educated beekeepers stood around an open hive, observing the elegant movements of a queen bee – an intimate and moving experience for some who stood with open mouths, eyes locked on the simmering mass of honeybees.

The Beekeeping for Beginners course is run every year, a two-day immersive learning experience aimed at individuals wanting a practical, conservation-oriented approach to the start of their beekeeping journey.

Holistic approach
Honeychild head beekeeper Owen Williams was blown away with the diversity of engaged, wonderful students – from an eager 11-year-old to a banker from the heart of the Karoo, a horticulturist from Cape Town and a gardening expert from Malawi, two nature conservation students from NMMU in George, members of the Garden Route Botanical Gardens, together with local environmental and homesteading enthusiasts. 

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Coming together over the love and interest in the honeybee. This year's course was especially focused on more holistic beekeeping management with an encouragement for participants and locals alike to be "planting for the bees".

After the 2018 fires, 104 000ha of natural vegetation was burnt with an estimated 27 000 colonies of wild swarms lost. This coupled with the hectares of commercial farming in the area gives a bleak picture for the food availability for the Apis mellifera capensis, our precious Cape honeybee.

Participants of the most recent beekeeping course at the Honeychild Apiary in Rheenendal. Photos: Supplied

Find out more
Honeychild, also home to the Hope for the Honeybees Rescue, Info and Education Centre in collaboration with Gift of the Givers, has continued to buzz with activity, now with an on-site shop stocking raw honey, beekeeping gear, local art and honey-filled products. Pop in for more information, keep an eye on Facebook/Honeychild for upcoming events, courses, tours, planting information or get hold of them directly on honeychildhoney@gmail.com. 

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