An apiarist is “one who keeps bees, specifically one who cares for and raises bees for commercial or agricultural purposes. Also called a beekeeper“.

Beekeeping, so much more than honey

Beekeeping involves a fascinating mix of animal husbandry, observation, patience, weather forecasting, woodwork and – if all goes well – extraction, bottling and consumption of delicious honey. As a hobby it requires a modest initial financial investment, a willingness to learn – and to keep on learning – and an appreciation of the annual cycle of the seasons.

I keep bees in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland … not for agricultural or commercial purposes (though I do sell some bees, queens and honey), but because beekeeping is an engrossing hobby that allows me to work outdoors, to be just a little bit self-sufficient, to indulge my interest in photography and to spend long hours making things from bits of wood during the winter. I’m particularly interested in improving the quality of my bees by queen rearing from my best stock. Other beekeepers get passionate about pollen identification, honeybee anatomy or wax production … so explaining “Beekeeping, so much more than honey“.

Talks

I’m fortunate enough to have a day job that involves working with honeybees and so allows me to mix business with pleasure. I regularly talk at beekeeping conferences or association meetings on the viruses of honeybees. My research group studies the biology of deformed wing virus, the major viral pathogen of honeybees, and ways in which the virus – or the Varroa-mite that transmit the viruses – could be controlled.

I also give talks about practical beekeeping, in particular on queen rearing (and have run queen-rearing practical classes) and DIY for beekeepers, the latter covering things you can make more cheaply less expensively than supplied by the major commercial suppliers, that work better than available commercially or that may not even be available to buy. For further details please drop me an email via the contact page.

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