9047 Keeping Bees in Italy

It's been quite a few years since we've kept bees, but now that we have a 60+ tree fruit orchard, I'm interested in keeping bees again, on our organic property (particularly since bees worldwide seem under stress). We're in Puglia, near Brindisi, and I'm wondering if any other forum member has suggestions as to where to get a queen/swarm? We'll build our own supers, and I have some beekeeping equipment (smoker, mask), but where to find the bees?? Thanks, Paola

Category
Gardening & Agriculture

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/13/2008 - 11:43

I wish I could help, but we're the other side of the country. I'd love to have a couple of swarms ourselves, but unlike you don't anything about bee keeping. Would love to know some more about it. We have neighbours with several large swarms, so I'm sure I could get hold of one of those. But what else do you need and need to know?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 03/13/2008 - 12:25

We've brushed up a bit by looking at a non-commercial website called [URL="http://www.backyardbeekeeping.com"]www.backyardbeekeeping.com[/URL] (US-based), it looks as though once you've captured your swarm into your hive (super), the big need will be water (in Puglia anyway, where the summers can be blistering), and perhaps temperature protection in the winter. I think "wild" swarms would be better bees than buying a commercial queen or swarm, because no one seems to know what's causing hive-collapse. Other than that, if you are in a reasonably rural area, with trees, open space, agriculture, the bees will take it from there. About.com also has some excellent articles about beekeeping.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/14/2008 - 05:19

What sort of equipment do you need and what are the start up costs?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/14/2008 - 06:28

There was an interesting article in Italymag - [url=http://www.italymag.co.uk/italy/environment/italy-lost-half-its-bees-2007]Italy lost half its bees in 2007 | Italy Magazine[/url] In it they mention The National Union of Italian Beekeepers (UNAAPI) and I'm sure they could help you. Alas I cannot locate their contact details at the moment but if you contact The British Beekeepers Association perhaps they might have them or/and help.. [url=http://www.britishbee.org.uk/]British Beekeepers' Association[/url] Fingers crossed.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Fri, 03/14/2008 - 07:01

Why don't you have a look at what honey is produced in your area? Quite often the honey is from small local producers and their contact details are on the jars.

Out here in Abruzzo there are many Sagre where local producers sell their products and I know that in Atri last year there was a stall selling honey, which also had loads of information on beekeeping.

We bought some honey from F.lli Giuliano & B. Cacciatore, C.da Valle Piomba, Castilenti. Teramo. I have the telephone number and can pm it to you if you want it but I can't guarantee they will speak English, But they should be able to put you in touch with other Italian beekeepers