Beekeeping
The History of Beekeeping
Mankind has been keeping bees since the beginning of recorded history. Old biblical texts refer to a land of milk and honey. Samples of honey have been found buried in the tombs of the Pharaohs. Many ancient societies put a high value on honey, reserving it for the use of the elite at the top of the society and trading it for other rare products. The reasons for the high value of honey are hard to see in our modern world where production of honey is relatively easy. But it wasn’t always that way. The means of managing bees and getting their honey was primitive and cruel to the bees before we developed our skills in the last hundred years. Before then beekeepers destroyed the bee colony, killing all the bees in it, in order to get at the honey. Only swarms, if they were strong, were allowed to live to provide the hives for the next season. This meant that honey production was uncertain and not easy to increase, making it a sought-after food.
Honeybees Apis mellifera were first introduced to Australia in 1810 by Samuel Marsden who imported a number of colonies from England. These, however, failed to establish and eventually died out. A second introduction in 1822 to mainland Australia was successful and further introductions to other parts of the continent over the next 50-60 years introduced other races and apiaries were established in each state. However, honeybees were probably not widespread until about 1930 when beekeepers were able to travel more easily; from then the honeybee industry grew steadily. For example, the average yearly production of honey in Australia from 1921-25 was 3,200 tonnes but by 1949- 54 there were some 442,000 commercially managed hives producing about 12,500 tonnes of honey annually. By 1971-72 524,000 hives in Australia produced 22,000 tonnes of honey per annum and in the 1980s approximately 546,000 hives produced 25,400 tonnes of honey annually. Thus since the 1920s honey production has increased eight-fold despite further and substantial clearance of native vegetation.
MODERN BEEKEEPING
The application of a more scientific approach to beekeeping led to the invention of the removable frame by Langstroth in 1852, which was later modified by Hoffman to be self-spacing. For the first time the frames allowed beekeepers to move honey and brood around in the hive, while allowing the bee space that Langstroth discovered was essential to the efficient workings of the bees in the hive. For the first time honey could be removed from the hive without destroying it and the waxed frames returned for cleaning and refill. This was a huge step forward and it is still the method of hive management used today. Over the years, since this discovery, many additional techniques such as swarm control, honey extraction, queen breeding etc. have been added to our growing fund of knowledge about hive management.
WHY KEEP BEES?
There are as many answers to this question as there are beekeepers. Amongst their ranks you will find men and women of all ages and all backgrounds. The appeal of beekeeping is felt by those who could be described as the poorest to the richest, the simple minded to the highly intelligent. All find a fascination with the life of the bees working hard in a very orderly and disciplined society with one overriding objective - the survival of the group. For some beekeepers the reward of honey is compensation enough for the effort in managing the hive. For others, more is needed in the form of constantly developing their knowledge in the science of bee breeding and development. For a few, the aim is to produce as much honey as possible for profit.
WHERE TO START?
The starting point is gaining basic knowledge about beekeeping before jumping in. Many people get the cart before the horse. They get a hive of bees, suffer a few frightening experiences with them because of silly actions and end up dumping the bees at the first opportunity. A good beekeeper evolves in the same way that a good sportsperson or tradesperson evolves. It starts with basic knowledge which is built upon by growing experience and training. The end result is a capable and confident person, able to handle the role involved.
There are a few steps which, if followed, will enable you to become a beekeeper.
1. Join a beekeepers club.
2. Learn the principles of beekeeping through reading and learning in the club. You will become aware of the legal aspects of beekeeping, rights and obligations.
3. Get practical experience with bees through the club and a training course.
4. Get your own beehives.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
For a list of beekeeping clubs go to Beekeeper Clubs.
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