Honey and beekeeping
Natural bee honey
- Beneficial for health
- Contains more than 180 substances needed for a normal development and functioning of the organism
- Unique food derived from nature
- Replenishes all the dietary deficiencies
- Elixir of longevity
- Honey is the only food that can never spoil
Our stationary beehives:
- Ruševo, County Čaglin Sovsko lake
- County Podcrkavlje Dilj
- Kosna, County Dvor, Banovina
Places we pasture our bees:
- HONEY OF ACACIA, FOREST HONEY-HONEYDEW HONEY: Dilj, Čaglin, Ruševo, Dubovik, Sapna
- HONEY OF AMORPHA (FRUCTIOUSA),FLOWER HONEY, RAPESEED HONEY : Posavina, Lonjsko polje
- SUNFLOWER HONEY, LIME HONEY: Slavonija – Vladislavci, Kuševac, Ilok
- MEADOW HONEY, GOLDENROD HONEY: Baranja-Kopački rit,Stara Drava
- CHESTNUT HONEY, FOREST HONEY: Dvor na Uni-Banovina-Kosna
- HEATHER, SAGE, MEADOW: Benkovac, Otočac
Mutual benefit – bees and plants
By taking the nectar and pollen, together or separately, bees pollinate plants. Insects, amongst which we classify bees as well, pollinate about 80% of plants on earth. In some countries, farmers and greengrocers stimulate beekeepers to set up bee communities close to their cultures, plantations and orchards. The yield of apples, pears and prunes, for example depends 90% on a successful bee pollination. Taking climate into consideration there are very distinct differences between the continental and coastal area of Croatia, that condition natural distribution of plant species. The continental climate differentiate plant species of the plain and the hillside, in the coastal area are Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean categories.
The quantity of nectar s conditioned by: climate conditions (temperature, humidity, wind), geographical placement (altitude), and with cultivated plants, time of sowing. Flowering calendar is of extreme importance in beekeeping, because when familiar with the times of flowering of as many honey bearing species, especially in the region the beehives are situated, beekeepers can prepare (reinforce) bee communities for the coming flowering, that is, the main pasture of the stationary apiary, and especially when moving beehives. Besides, we should emphasise that bees fly 5km to find food, but are the most efficient (economically) gathering nectar and pollen if there are a large number of honey bearing species 2km from the beehives.
The basis for production of larger quantity of nectar is a rich pasture as close as it is possible to beehives. Bees frequent fly over flowers of plants that are in high numbers and that give better nectar in a time of flowering as well as flowers of other plants. To produce one kilogram of honey, bees need to perform in average between 100.000 and 150.000 single flights. (*Gospodarski list)
Honey bearing plants in the continental region
According to different habitats in the continental Croatia related to honey bearing plants that dominate at a certain period, there are these kinds of bee pastures: acacia, chestnut, lime tree, pastures of Amorpha, rapeseed, lowland, hillside, sunflower pastures and others. The main pasture starts when honey bearing plants, growing on large areas, start flowering around the beehives. Most pastures in our regions occur in May and June.
- Acacia
- Chestnut
- Lime tree
- Amorpha
- Rapeseed
- Clover, Lucerne, Vetch,
- Sunflower
- Phacelia
- Hazel
- Dandelion
- Forest pastures
- Orchids
- Buckwheat
- Menthol
Flowering plants of the Mediterranean region
- Rosemary
- Almond
- Lavender
- Winter savory
- Sage
- Brambles
- Highland meadows