Living with Bees By Anthony Kilner
Andrew Stanish started Australian Bee Supplies in 2019, however he’s had more than 10 years working with these amazing insects. Here’s a snippet of his life Living with Bees.
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How did your interest in bees start? “My interest in bees started when I was in University doing a Scientific Photography Degree creating a portfolio specialising in photomicrography folio with a friend. We chose insects. That’s when I got metaphorically stung shall we say, however it wasn’t until 20 years later that everything fell into place. There was a time when my wife had to go overseas for six weeks to look after her mum. I was between contracts so I threw myself into doing every single possible bee course I could.
and it was hands in the air screaming! “Oh, they are going to kill me, they are going to kill me.” “No they won’t kill you, ” I replied.
“Everything from swarm collection to extractions. With a construction background it worked well, pulling walls down to extract bee nests and knowing how to do it safely. My wife came home to find five hives close to her Hills Hoist
“From five hives it went up to ten, then 20 that I keep at home as my research hives plus I run another 50 or so in a couple of other apiaries. I’d normally run between 50 and 100 depending on conditions and time.
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“…it was hands in the air screaming! “Oh, they are going to kill me, they are going to kill me.” “It took about three days and she was outside explaining which water bowl was for which hive as the bees from this hive liked that water and so on.
“I have a colleague who runs 500 hives, and with him developed a breeding program for queens and Nucs. A Nuc is a bee starter colony that many new hive owners start with rather than starting with a swarm hive or buying an older full hive, which can be hit and miss when it comes to docility and quality of bees.
“…by the time I finished I realised I didn’t feel so bad after all. It’s very relaxing.” “As a part of this whole business Australian Bee Supplies was started and has grown substantially out of Melbourne.” I found when I opened my first hive, the buzzing and vibration was really soothing – meditative. Do you find this? “It’s therapy- I honestly believe it’s therapy on many levels.
