After visiting our organic winegrowers and talking about biodiversity, we also discussed pollinators, which are important for the life of the vine. And it was at François's, a winegrower in your Côtes de Bergerac, that the beekeeper Gilles chose to place his hives; and at Fabien's, a winegrower in your Vaucluse Principauté d’Orange, that Olivier installed his bees. Here is a summary of our conversation with them!
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Hives in the heart of the vineyards
A few years ago, it would have been impossible to place hives in the vineyards. Most vineyards were conventional, and the bees suffered greatly from pesticides, which could often cost them their lives. Now that beekeepers see the organic vineyards of certain winegrowers, it gives them hope. It was at that point, and after meeting François a few months ago, that Gilles decided to place his hives in the middle of the vineyards, which are packed with flowers and plants between the rows (and yes, that is how great winegrowers take care of their vines). For his part, Olivier chose to place his hives at Fabien's because, in Bollène, it is warmer than in Savoie, where Olivier lives. The bees therefore enjoy healthy vines and sunshine for longer!
Placing hives in the middle of the vineyards helps stimulate pollination and contributes to a diverse biodiversity within the ecosystem. It is worth knowing that each bee produces 18 grams of honey during its life, which is about one tablespoon of honey. That is why "real" honey is expensive. 100 million flowers are visited by our friends to produce the famous kilo of honey. It is crazy, and yet it is these pretty ladies who do all this. For more figures, visit this article.
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What happens in the hives?
Depending on the seasons, many things happen in the hives. Here is a general overview of the stages of the "beekeeping calendar":
- From February to April, it is the end of winter. The season begins with our friends the bees. They start wandering in the surrounding fields and vineyards to enjoy the good spring pollen.
- From April to June, the honey produced is spring honey. In the hive, the beekeeper renews the stock, raises and produces swarms, and carries out his first transhumances (when he moves the hives so that his bees can forage in another place)
- From June to July, there is the summer honey flow. The beekeeper raises and produces swarms again.
- From August to October, these are the last honey flows of the year. The bees are prepared for winter with treatments to protect them from certain viruses, and the last transhumances from one place to another are carried out.
- From November to February, the bees are overwintering and the beekeeper maintains the hives, the frames that make them up, and all the equipment necessary to take care of his pollinators.
Depending on the regions, climatic hazards, and viruses that the bees contract due to pesticides from neighboring fields, the calendar can change. Then we add to this the potting of the honey throughout the year: from the harvest, to the processing, to the marketing, it is a rigorous job. Just like with our friends the winegrowers!
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Honey: a highly controlled consumer good
With our two beekeepers Olivier and Gilles, the controls are regular to ensure the quality of their production and to make sure that neither heavy metals nor radioactive material are
