Are you keen to turn your interest in beekeeping into a small business ? Here ' s an example of a family that has successfully done just that . Jim , his wife Carol , son Craig and daughter -in-law Megan , and two teenage sons are commercial bee keepers who reside on a plot in the Benoni area . Their beekeeping premises consist of a honey extracting room , a bottling room , and a display area and shop that sells their honey and other byproducts of their hives . Their working areas are open sheds to keep all equipment under cover , a woodworking shop with machinery to construct beehives and other related equipment , lock-up garages and stores that house their two 3-ton trucks , two lighter 1-ton vehicles and all other related beekeeping tools and equipment . There are comfortable rooms , washing and kitchen facilities to house their five helpers who often return late at night from moving hives . Two upmarket dwellings house the two families , as well as a swimming pool to cool off in after a hot day ' s work and a cosy braai boma for entertaining . Their staff comprises five male helpers , three of whom have heavy duty driver ' s licences , and two women in the extracting and bottling rooms and shop . The workers do not reside on the plot . The families also employ a general handyman cum gardener and his wife and family who do reside on the
BEEKEEPING
When your hobby becomes your livelihood
Another article in our series on beekeeping by veteran apiarist Peter Clark , chairman of the Eastern Highveld Beekeepers Association plot and who take care of all the household chores of both families . They are all covered by medical aid and a pension scheme paid monthly by the business . Their undertaking comprises 1 000 beehives from which they expect 25 tons of honey ,
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