Bakovensfontein Bee Project

This initiative was instigated when a colony of bees made their home under our dining room floor. WHAT A STINGER! We started looking for beekeepers in the area, found none, but did find that others are in the same sticky situation. The only solution was to exterminate the bees, which, of course, is not an option. We took up the mantle of beekeeper, and so, The Bakovensfontein Bees Project took flight.

This, when taking into account the amount of hives that need to be saved and the amount of time we have to do it in, is very costly and very labor intensive. As we are creating this fundraiser campaign, there are already 12 hives (that we know of) where the landlords have decided to exterminate them, and the braai talk is abuzz with talks of yet more people looking to get rid of their bees.

Our goal is to get at least 10 empty beehives, to start off with, before the end of September (it's a real tight squeeze). Then we also have to get the necessary equipment with which to extract the bees and move them into their new hives. We were blessed enough to get two phenomenal mentors with over 16 years of bee-saving and beekeeping experience between them, and more and more beekeeping old hands are sharing their wisdom and knowledge as they hear about our cause. The only block in the road is the funding and the time.

Our start-up costs at a minimum runs as follows:

One starter beehive costs R1575.00 (now times that by 10)

One smoker costs R380.00

One suite is R1970.00 (times that by 2)

The gloves are R260.00 (we need 2 pairs)

Add the red-light headlamps needed for working at night R499.00 (again, 2 needed)

Plus the hive tool at R155.00 (times 2)

With all the other lesser costs included, the total runs up to R25 000.00.

* At Bakovensfontein, we strive to provide sustainable food sources with a strong focus on how our products can add to a cleaner, greener future.

Our Bee Project is one such initiative. Our main goal is to deliver top tier honey and beeswax products, and assisting local farmers with pollination, while saving the local bee population from extermination.