Gauteng Smallholder Gauteng Smallholder August 2017 | Page 21

From page 17
The beekeeper must love his
bees, develop a passion for
the bees and must not be
afraid to be with his bees.
The best beekeeper is a slow
moving old codger who talks
mostly to himself.
He is always well prepared
for whatever he has to do on
each visit to the hives.
He never leaves any article
behind that is needed and
each operation is well
thought out before he sets
out to the apiary.
His overall is always meticu-
lously clean, he has a good
quality veil and gloves, sweat
band around his forehead to
stop perspiration coming
down into his eyes or his
specs. His dress from his skin
outwards is a vest and
underpants, a cotton shirt
and jeans, a thick t-shirt to
absorb perspiration, and a
good quality thick white
overall, preferably with a
zipper in front, rather than
buttons. He would have long
socks pulled up over the
bottoms of the legs of his
overall and leather boots with
ankle high supports in case
he puts up a snake or two
under his hive.
On his hands will be thick
long-sleeved rubber or
leather gloves, preferably with
elastic cuffs.
The object of all of this
clothing is to ensure that the
BEEKEEPING
keeper has no exposed skin
which can be stung, and that
the layers of clothing are thick
enough that an angry bee
can't penetrate through to the
keeper's body with its sting.
This should give him the
confidence to work unhur-
riedly and assuredly even
with angry bees buzzing
around him.
With this amount of clothing
beekeeping is a hot, sweaty
job, even in cold weather.
His equipment will comprise
a hive tool and a good
operating smoker that burns
well and never lets him down
in his greatest hour of need.
Lighting a smoker and
keeping it burning, and the
fuel one uses, is a subject for
debate on its own.
This kit, namely overall, veil,
gloves, boots, hive tool and
smoker will cost about R1
200 and would include
leather boots for about R400.
The secret to operate a
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successful undertaking is to
always have a balanced outfit
in terms of labour and hives.
K Up to 50 hives one works
alone with a junior helper,
K 50 to 200 hives one works
with a paid helper, say at
R120 per outing,
K 201 to 300 hives one
works with a full time paid
assistant
K 301 to 700 hives one
works with two full time paid
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