Derek A. Lewis beekeeper
Derek A. Lewis beekeeper is still very active in teaching new recruits the basics of how to safely keep these vitally important insects to the environment.
My family decided I was to become their 3rd Gen 'keeper in 1952, and threw me "in the deep end". Grandfather Herbert had become allergic, and his six hives appeared in our garden. On the Job Training, at 10 years old, it was mostly by remote control. He was a Prof of Education, a "Teacher of teachers", and somehow he not only taught me, but imbued a life-long love of 'keeping.
I can't recall the “lessons”, but somehow I learnt. However, I do remember being taught Bridge, because they needed a 4th, and Chess at that same age, by him. In his own very subtle way, Herbert had a very positive influence on my life-long hobbies.
As we were in South Africa, these were African bees, the real McCoy, Apis Mellifera Scutelata, that are extremely defensive. I remember seeing about 250 stings on a leather gauntlet, hundreds on my double socks often and killing the chickens one day, after I riled up a swarm.
At the apex, I kept 54 hives as a part time hobby that provided a nice little supplementary income.
25 Years later, I returned to the USA, moved to New Hampshire, a difficult place to winterize bees.
Decades passed, till I moved to St Pete, Florida, and learnt I was allowed to have hives on our small lot. That was all it took. I hung up a trap-nest, ordered a hive, and soon was back in business as a ‘keeper.
Quantity is not possible, but quality of swarms is. The bigger, healthier, the better, and more honey… I have already taken off 200 lbs this summer, and expect another 200 soon; the Brazilian Pepper flow, our best, is about to start.
Enjoy this short 4 minute video by Derek A Lewis beekeeper.
Newsletter
Our newsletter is entitled "create a cyan zone" at your home, preserving both yourself and Mother Earth for future generations; and the family too, of course. We promise not to spam you with daily emails promoting various products. You may get an occasional nudge to buy one of my books.
Here are the back issues.
- Lifestyle and ideal body weight
- What are ultra-processed foods?
- Investing in long-term health
- Diseases from plastic exposure
- Intensive lifestyle management for obesity has limited value
- A world largely devoid of Parkinson's Disease
- The impact of friendly bacteria in the tum on the prevention of cancer
- There's a hole in the bucket
- Everyone is talking about weight loss drugs
- Pull the sweet tooth
- If you suffer from heartburn plant a susu
- Refined maize meal and stunting
- Should agriculture and industry get priority for water and electricity?
- Nature is calling
- Mill your own flour
- Bake your own sourdough bread
- Microplastics from our water
- Alternative types of water storage
- Wear your clothes out
- Comfort foods
- Create a bee-friendly environment
- Go to bed slightly hungry
- Keep bees
- Blue zone folk are religious
- Reduce plastic waste
- Family is important
- What can go in compost?
- Grow broad beans for longevity
- Harvest and store sunshine
- Blue zone exercise
- Harvest and store your rainwater
- Create a cyan zone at your home
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Address:
56 Groenekloof Rd,
Hilton, KZN
South Africa
Website:
https://www.bernard-preston.com