In January we conducted our first beekeeping workshop of the new year at the Timothy Centre.
Eight participants with various levels of beekeeping experience came to hone their skills in the six day workshop.
Lesster Leow begins the session by taking everyone into the on site apiary and explains how to approach the African bee …
…apis mellifera scrutellata.
In order to gain confidence in approaching the African bee during the daytime, one of the youngest colonies is selected. Participants observe how to approach and handle the hive.
Participants are taught how to identify the worker bees, drones,
and the queen.
Observations from the field visits are discussed back at the training centre.
Participants receive further instructions before going back into the apiary.
As students gain confidence, they are given opportunities to approach a hive on their own.
Mugisha feels confident enough to handle the hive without gloves – a first for him!
Soon others follow. Verna initially uses gloves but by the end of the workshop she too gains enough confidence to handle the hives without gloves.
One of the participants mentioned that, “I have never seen bees handled so gently”. Lesster has such a respect for the African bee, that participants soon learn the secret of approaching them.
Registration for our next training in March is already full. We are now taking registrations for June. If interested, please contact Karl at: ka.timothycentre@gmail.com
I feel sorry for the bad name that has followed the aggressive African bees across the globe. It is the source of much unnecessary fear. I hope that someday the Apis Scrutellata will be better understood and more respected.
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