21
COROMANDEL LIFE
SUMMER 2014
I
got into beekeeping quite by accident while
in the process of developing a lifestyle block
and installing an organic, heritage fruit and
nut orchard in the permaculture model of
sustainable agriculture.
Bees were a natural part of this and quickly
developed into a passion, diverting my career
into commercial organic beekeeping.
The thing I love most about beekeeping is the
integrative nature between beekeeper and
hive. A symbiotic alignment of mutuality exists
in a relationship of unspoken connection.
In my experience bees express through a
group consciousness. Individuality as such
does not exist and behaviour is collectively
intuited solely for the benefit, enhancement
and survival of the hive.
As a beekeeper, I am an integral member of
each individual hive as well as the greater
collective of the hives under my care. My
responsibility is to nurture and maintain the
bee’s quality of life, honouring that integrative
bond between beekeeper and bee.
We are ‘family’ ... My role is to ensure the
health and harmony of the bees and provide
for them as they provide for me.
This Kiwi-manufactured Boutelje 24FS Manuka Honey extractor is capable
of extracting manuka and all other honey. The bee’s wooden frames are
placed vertically, and the drum spins, forcing the honey from the combs
to drain at bottom. Another Boutelje centrifuge helps reclaim all wax and
honey. It separates the slurry of comb/capping wax and honey; the lighter
weight wax is spun to its own layer, then scraped off.
The Sanctuary Honey
team and their bees
“
Sanctuary Honey
is one of only a few Organic Manuka producers in New Zealand,” says Paul Berry. They
produce and export Certified Organic Active Manuka honey, wax, propolis and STING, the world’s only Active
Manuka honey mead.
“We also source and supply all NZ-produced organic/non-organic honey types, around 25 different lines, from
native bush honey blends to high activity 20+ UMF Manuka.”
Sanctury is more export focused, both their own honey and from other beekeepers. “We pack under two brands
in-house for export. We provide storage and sale for bulk and retail honey packed under your label or ours.” If you
are a commercial beekeeper, contact Paul for assistance in meeting your export requirements. Ph 021-467756
My concern about the beekeeping industry
worldwide is the attitude of dissociation
of beekeepers to their bees. Where no
compassion exists and bees are viewed as
an ‘expendable commodity’ to be used,
abused and discarded in the endless cycle of
intensive pollination.
Intensive monocultural pollination practices
– where bees are force fed genetically
modified corn syrups, forced to eat low
nutrient chemically contaminated pollens, and
endure high stress levels from hives being
continually moved – is in my opionion the
primary contributing factor in the declining bee
population worldwide.
Yes, conditions are idyllic in NZ due to the
unique nature of the native bush composition
that provides the unique and most prolific
natural endemic nectar sources in the world.
The monoculture of incessant bee pollination
is indeed akin to ‘bee slavery’ and an affliction
on this beautiful creature showing greed and
unsustainable farming practices.
Sanctuary Honey’s land is located in a secluded valley in
Whenaukite. Paul and partner Angela are creating a retreat
centre based on organic/permaculture principles.
T
he extraction process separates the liquid honey from the sealed waxy comb the bees
produced to protect their golden food.
After gathering the honey laden hives from the fields, beekeepers return to their ‘honey shed’.
First, the honey frames are rested in a heated room for a few days to soften the wax and
honey. Then the wax caps are sliced off with either a hot knife or with an automated uncapper.
The uncapped frames are placed in an extractor which resembles a stainless steel top loader
washing machine. When the combs are positioned correctly and the machine is turned on, the
honey is spun off by centrifugal force. The honey is collected at the bottom of the barrel and
put through varying degrees of heating and/or filtering.
Nothing is wasted, and the waxcomb caps and residue
will be processed to extract further honey and reclaim
wax. Once the barrels of honey are filled, they are ready
to be jarred or packed, much of it for export.
EXTRACTING
THE
GOLD
About the hive layers:
A series of inside boxes are
suspended on frames on which honeycomb is built. The
bottom box, or ‘brood box’, is where the queen is housed
and lays her eggs.
Above this the ‘supers’ or ‘honey supers’ have more frames
hanging inside, and it is here the workers make the comb
and fill it with honey. The large queen is restricted from this
area with a ‘queen excluder’ – a metal grille with thin bars
close enough to prevent her from getting through but wide
enough for the smaller workers and drones to pass. This
way no eggs are laid in the cells and beekeepers are able to
remove frames that are filled entirely with honey. The hive is
weather-proofed with a wooden or metal lid.
LANGSTROTH HIVE BOX
REVOLUTIONISES BEEKEEPING
ON THE COROMANDEL
The first bees came to NZ in 1839. Just 13 years
later a boom in the honey industry was taking
place when American Lorenzo Lorraine Langstroth
patented the Langstroth Hive in 1852. In 1880
the famous boxes were brought to NZ and the
Coromandel was one of the first areas to adopt
them. They are still commonly used among
beekeepers today. (dtagram at left)
We are
...
Family
nurture ... maintain ... honour
by Paul Berry of
Sanctuary Honey
Paul Berry and crew tend to their hives out
in the field. Below two frames with combs
ready for honey harvest.
