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Beekeeping - A Practical guide
Beekeeping is a comparatively low investment activity which requires only beehives, protective clothing and a few simple tools. It is also a truly sustainable agricultural activity.

Author: Dominique Marchand, Jenny Marchand-Mayne

ISBN: 0958478570

Book specifications: Soft cover, 240 x 168 mm, 192 pages

 

 

 

Product: Starter Kit Package

BeeWare would like to introduce the Starter Kit Package for all hobby or beginner beekeepers. Some items mentioned below will not be included in our package however may come in handy at some time or another during your beekeeping life.


Welcome To Our Starter Kit Package - Langstroth Pack

 

  • Langstroth Bee hive x 2 (includes lid, base, brood & super chamber, frames but NO queen excluder.)
  • Swarm box or Catch box - Optional extra at R100 each (6 frame box)*
  • Beekeeping protective wear i.e. BeeWare's full beekeeping suit with detachable veil
  • Hive tool
  • Smoker with heat guard
  • PVC gloves with material arms to the elbow
  • Queen excluder - this item is in addition to any price quoted for a Langstroth hive
  • Bee brush - not in stock but recommended*
  • Estimated Starter Kit Price: R2090

    * shows items not included in estimated price.

    For a basic catalogue please email info@beeware.co.za

    Welcome To Our Starter Kit Package - Jackson Horizontal Pack

  • Jackson Horizontal hive x 2 (No queen excluder required as per design)
  •  
  • Beekeeping Protective Wear i.e. BeeWare's full beekeeping suit with detachable veil
  •  
  • Hive tool
  •  
  • Swarm box or Catch box - Optional extra R100 each (6 frame box)*
  •  
  • Smoker with heat guard
  •  
  • PVC Gloves with material arms to the elbow
  •  
  • Bee brush *
  •  

    Estimated Starter Kit Price: R2255

    * shows items not included in estimated price.


    Welcome To Our Starter Kit Hints & Tips Section

    It is normal practice for beekeeping to take place in pairs. Simply this is a safety measure however teamwork offers more benefits as well. We only quote equipment for one set of Tools - YOU GET 2 sets of hives. The reason for this is that it is advisable to have two hives in order to increase the success rate of keeping bees over the winter period. The other reason would be that using the colony in your first hive, you may be able to use certain techniques to introduce bees from the existing hive into the empty hive and create a totally new hive. Also it is very good practice to have an empty brood chamber when working with your bees.

    The main reason I suggest purchasing catch boxes is that they are easier to sustain a newly captured swarm. The smaller environment promotes quick comb building as less energy is spent keeping the inner temperature regulated with a small number of bees. These smaller 'catch boxes' are able to be moved and handled easily too. An advantage if the boxes are placed on rooftops, in trees and or in fields.

    As for the different packages and the hives that support them, the main difference is that the Langstroth requires a queen excluder in conventional beekeeping practice whereas the Jackson does not. There are also good indications that the Jackson is much more efficient and productive in terms of harvested honey than the Langstroth. The manufacturer reported up to 30% more honey harvested in half of the time than those colonies housed in Langstroth hives.

    Extraction methods and techniques are normally only necessary to discuss after the spring period due to the strong nectar flows and therefore honey production. As far as beginner beekeeping goes, I would not suggest investing in an extractor until your colony numbers are in double figures. At BeeWare, we currently manage 13 hives at two separate locations and we use a bucket and nylon sieve with a clamp. We return the clamped wax for a day or two once the honey has been harvested. However, if you require extraction equipment, contact BeeWare and we will source it for you at reasonable prices.

    It is not worthwhile investing in queen excluders now if you are going to purchase Langstroth hives as the bees will take at least two months to build enough comb in the brood chamber to warrant placing a super chamber for honey storage. If you place it too early there are not enough bees to regulate the additional 'space' now made available. The bees will exert more energy trying to regulate the internal temperature rather than using it to continue building and gathering comb. Only purchase the queen excluder once the bees begin building on the 6th frame in the Langstroth. This is a good indication that the bees are ready for a super chamber to be placed and therefore an excluder is required.

    The bee brush is usually used to move bees from an area to another area. IT is also used to remove bees from beekeepers protective clothing after inspections and apiary work is complete. Bees will congregate at the middle of the back, on the legs and on the hood or veil.

    The Jackson Horizontal hive
    frames are all full frames including the frames storing honey. This may be a deterrant for those with extractor machines set for Langstroth Super frames. The way to use Jackson Horizontal hive honey frames during large extraction processes is to implement a filtering method by clamping the comb, then the filtered honey flows through two to three settling tanks with different sized filters. Using a technique like this could result in processing more than a ton of honey a day easily.

    Jackson Horizontal hive

     

    Other Products we offer: 5% discount by ordering online!*
    [Bee Gloves] [Bee suits] [Hive Tools] [Hives*] [Smokers] [Blue book*]

    [Wax foundation sheets*] [Queen cages*] [Bee brushes] [Honey knife] [Extractors*]
    * Discount does not apply.
    ** Call to discuss your needs. Go to Contact Us!

    Becoming Protected - Use gloves

    Generally, beeekeepers use gloves every time they are at the apiary. You can do an external inspection of a hive which does not require any gear however this is only recommended once you have gained confidence in handling bees and with the appropriate precautions.


    Which Gloves?

    For work with bees which requires a finer tactile control then a leather glove is recommended. Usually used when working with the queen or planning queen-rearing exercises. From R70 a pair

    A pic is not yet available.

    Inner Gloves worn inside the PVC glove offer slightly added protection as well as helping to keep sweating down.


    Place your order for 'THE' book on beekeeping also known as the Blue Book titled Beekeeping in South Africa. Click on order for more info.

     

    Just about any work with bees and the hive can be done using PVC gloves. As mentioned above, it comes down to preference in most instances. One may also like to use inner gloves with these as the pvc tends to make your hands sweat and smell of rubber. From R70 a pair

    PVC Bee Gloves


    Get the equipment. Essential equipment is available from our office in Midrand. Hives, hive tool, protective clothing & smoker make up the need-to-have list. Click here

    We supply:  
     
    Bee Gloves
     
    Bee Suits
     
    Hives
     
    Hive tools
     
    Smokers
     
    Blue Book
     
           
    Stuff 2 BUY  
    Uncapping knife  
           
     


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