Content
- 1 The history of the emergence of nomadic beekeeping
- 2 Advantages of mobile apiaries
- 3 Are there any disadvantages to traveling apiaries?
- 4 How to choose the right place
- 5 Selection and preparation of transport
- 6 DIY apiary on wheels
- 7 Necessary tools and equipment
- 8 Features of keeping bees in mobile apiaries
- 9 Conclusion
Bees are one of the most useful insects. All beekeeping products have found their application in medicine, cooking and even technology. Don't forget about agriculture. Bees pollinate crops of various crops, which increases their productivity. For this ability, the little workers bear the proud title of “winged agronomists.” Beekeepers value these insects for their ability to produce honey. Good seasonal harvests and high quality products are the goal of both amateurs and professionals. For this you need a sufficient number of honey plants. And here mobile apiaries come to the fore. Hives can be transported to places where there are meadows, fields and forests. A nomadic apiary helps to significantly increase the collection of honey from one specific plant. This way you can get the most valuable product.
The history of the emergence of nomadic beekeeping
Beekeeping has its origins in ancient civilizations. The Greeks and Romans could also share their experience of nomadic beekeeping. Noble people, scientists and poets had home apiaries. At the same time, the technology of transporting bees for honey harvesting was used for the first time. The Greeks chose the islands of the Aegean Sea, as well as the Attica Peninsula, for these purposes.
The Romans preferred parts of the land in the bays of the Mediterranean Sea. In ancient Egypt, beekeeping was held in such high esteem that bees were even depicted on the royal emblem of the pharaoh. The most honey-bearing places were located in the upper reaches of the Nile. The hives were made from available materials (reed or straw), loaded onto rafts and transported to the desired location. Evidence of this has been preserved in historical chronicles. The experience of these peoples gradually became the basis for modern nomadic beekeeping, which is actively developing today.
Advantages of mobile apiaries
Nomadic apiary on wheels is becoming more and more popular every year. Most often, this is done by beekeepers who prepare a sweet product for commercial purposes. Although just amateurs who want high-quality honey also carry out similar activities.
The advantages of a nomadic apiary on wheels are as follows:
- The ability to obtain honey of one variety (that is, collected from one plant, for example, linden or buckwheat). It is highly valued and is of excellent quality.
- An apiary on wheels can be easily moved to a field or an alley with flowering trees. The amount of honey collected will increase, and less time will be needed.
- If you have a rainy summer, you can move the nomadic apiary to a place with more suitable weather conditions.
Are there any disadvantages to traveling apiaries?
A mobile apiary on wheels has not only advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, before organizing such an event, it is better to weigh the pros and cons.
When organizing nomadic beekeeping you will have to face some difficulties:
- constant transportation of bees requires financial costs;
- All the tools necessary for a beekeeper should always be at hand (for repairing hives, pumping out honey, and so on);
- beekeepers live near the hives in not very comfortable houses or tents, and the apiary itself on wheels has to be guarded;
- it is necessary to thoroughly know the places where honey collections grow and the flowering periods of different plants;
- To take some space for an apiary, permits may be required.
How to choose the right place
The site for a nomadic apiary on wheels must be protected from the winds. It is best if the shelters are natural (for example, forests, hills).
It is imperative to take care of additional parking spaces for the nomadic apiary on wheels. If there is no bribe, you can always move to another site.
Selection and preparation of transport
Cars are most often used to transport bees. They can be cars or trucks. They come with a flatbed trailer or a trailer in the form of a booth. In the first case, it must be additionally equipped with shelves and a roof.
The most comfortable way of transportation is a bee pavilion. It can be either open or closed (insulated). Factory hives are already installed inside. They have standard holes. Before transportation, a trailer or platform on wheels must be pre-equipped with shelves, awnings and fasteners. It is better to drive at low speed so as not to create unnecessary shaking.
The hives are loaded with frames across the body. This way the bees will move less on the road. Also, hives are piled on top of each other. It turns out to be several tiers. This takes into account how spacious the trailer is and what the total tonnage of the vehicle is. Before shipping, all hives are carefully secured to the trailer or body. Bees are transported at night. It is best to arrive at the place early in the morning, while it is not too hot. Otherwise, the bees may mate.
DIY apiary on wheels
For a nomadic apiary on wheels, you first need to find a suitable trailer (in the form of a booth or with low sides). It is necessary to make a frame from wooden boards, focusing on the internal dimensions of the trailer. The frame and hive are measured. The results must be accurate. Hives are placed in several rows on one frame. Minimal gaps are left between them. The mount for a nomadic apiary on wheels is chosen to be strong and reliable. The hives should not move during transportation. To fasten the shelves of the second tier, in addition to self-tapping screws, metal corners are also used. The structure becomes more rigid.
Necessary tools and equipment
They need to be taken care of in advance, even if the distance is short. In addition to a hammer, nails and a nomadic net for the hive, beekeepers also take with them clay and a filled smoker. Special knives for unsealing honey, a drinking bowl, a solar wax refiner. You also need to take containers for honey, spare frames and scales with you. Tools for repairing a car or trailer are also useful on the road.
Features of keeping bees in mobile apiaries
The optimal distance between apiaries is at least 3 km.Bees must have constant access to clean water. It is better to choose a shaded place for hives. They are placed in one line parallel to the bribe at the same distance from it. Verandas must be installed in front of the hives. To place an apiary on wheels, you cannot use fields that are treated with chemicals.
It is necessary to ensure that the bees do not have the so-called swarming mood. They must work. Drawings of different colors are applied to the entrance holes of the hives so that the bees do not wander. The inside of the pavilion on wheels must be perfectly clean. In a confined space, the risk of insect diseases increases.
Conclusion
A nomadic apiary on wheels has its own subtleties. But all the costs and difficulties pay off with interest. You can export the entire apiary or individual hives. Everything will depend on the dimensions of the platform or trailer. To achieve the best results, it is recommended to change at least three fields with honey plants during the season.
