Talk to give tips on sweet hobby

Those who are tired of the family guard dog digging holes in the backyard may consider replacing the pooch with a beehive.

According to hobby beekeeper David Muir, the humble bee can pollinate flowers, provide honey and even home security.

“Beehives are a good yard companion,” the retired Woorree resident said.

“They get used to your body odour and if someone they don’t know comes into your yard, they will get upset and aggressive.”

Mr Muir harvests honey from eight hives he keeps at Spalding and another location east of Geraldton.

He sells the honey at the Geraldton Greenough Farmers Market under the label “It’s a Woorree Honey”.

He will give an informal talk about how to establish your own beehives at the Farmers Market on Saturday.

The honey is produced by bees in man-made hives which consist of two boxes, each containing eight or 10 frames.

When full of bees, their food and their honey, a hive weighs about 100kg and contains about 25,000 bees.

Mr Muir said harvesting honey in Geraldton was not without its challenges.

“It’s a very hard country to keep bees, here,” he said.

“It’s hot, dry and hard on bees.

“They can starve in late autumn and early winter, so we have to be careful not to take too much from them.

“The more people who do bees, the stronger the bee industry is locally. It’s a hobby that keeps me in honey and provides a small income.”

Secretary-treasurer of Geraldton Greenough Farmers Market Carol Metcalfe said the market offered people an opportunity to speak directly to producers.

Mrs Metcalfe keeps bees on her Greenough melon-growing property and asked Mr Muir to speak about his hobby so others could learn about establishing beehives.

The market operates at Maitland Park every Saturday between 8am and noon. Mr Muir will begin the talk at his stall at 10am.