Response to Latin America’s path to sustainable beekeeping

Perone hive – wood is charred!

Indigenous log hive beekeepers ‘roast’ their hives (from the inside) in a similar manner for water proofing. The firewood is collected from the trees bees use to collect nectar. The fire is covered with green herbs which prevent the timber from charring: smoke and flames are avoided and a moderate heat is maintained until the hive turns a yellow colour. Some smoke will repel bees (for example Cassia spp, Acocanthera spp). If charring is widely adopted complications avoided by our ancestors will resurface: charcoal is sharp and will cut the bees. I hope Mr Perone adopts roasting rather than charring (BfDJ 105) and then the beauty of the hive will also remain. I have similar experience in timber seasoning from Israel.

Stanley Mbobua, Bee-Honey Self-help Group, Nanyuki, Kenya