3
2. Prepare the apiary site by:
Clearing obstacles and vegetation around hives to allow easy
movement;
Protecting against unwanted visitors such as thieves and
large animals;
Planting nectar-producing plants to provide forage.
The SBDARA
trainers clearing an
apiary site
Clearing
the
ground
will also
help to
remove
pests,
such as
beetles,
toads and
lizards.
3. Place the hives:
So that they are level;
Some people use stands. Others hang hives using wires;
Stands should be at least one metre high;
They must be made of strong wood, so they will last;
Live stands will not rot - use types of wood that will grow
easily into new plants when stuck in the ground;
The legs of stands must be covered with grease or put in tins
of oil so ants cannot climb into the hive.
Stand
1 m off
the
ground –
notice it
is as
high as
the
man’s
elbow
Basic Beekeeping Manual 1: How to set up a good Apiary (© Author Pam Gregory, who offers this as her gift to
beekeepers in developing countries)