SOUTHERNS BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION is a voluntary association of both hobbyist and professional beekeepers. Hobbyist beekeepers may run one or two hives for pure pleasure and recreational interest or up to 50 hives for a more lucrative pastime. Our professional beekeeper members may run many hundreds of hives for full time honey production and pollination services as well as offering beekeeping services to the apiculture industry.

SOUTHERNS is situated in the North and West Rand of Gauteng, South Africa although its members range from the South and East of Gauteng, through to the Midrand area, as well as from the North West Province. We are not restricted by geographical boundaries. Our members are motivated primarily by the fascinating world of the honey bee and its marvelous ability to convert the simple source of plant nectar into the sweet sauce of nature’s honey. We are also dedicated to the promotion and preservation of the beekeeping sector which is a fundamental element in the sustainability of a sound agricultural sector.

BEEKEEPING brings out all the human creativity in any outdoor person, and combines it with the ingenious creativity of the honey bee.

OBJECTIVES OF THE SOUTHERNS BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATION:

Promoting and advancing the science of apiculture.
Establishing and maintaining competency and professional conduct amongst its members.
Stimulating and assisting in the establishment and maintenance of educational and training facilities in all aspects of apiculture.
Entering into affiliation with other associations having similar aims and comparable constitutions.
To promote the interests of the beekeeping fraternity for the mutual benefit of all.
Accepting donations, raising moneys and undertaking investments to assist the association in achieving its objectives.
To render assistance to agriculture where ever possible.
Doing all such other things, within the confines of the law, as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of its objectives.

The Association focuses on three main activities in achieving its Objectives – Monthly Meetings, Field Days and Courses.

MONTHLY MEETINGS: The Association hosts 10 monthly meetings per year from February through to November. These meetings are held on the first Thursday of each calendar month at Bryanston sports club Payne Road Bryanston at 19h30. (Please note Visitors are R30.00 per head this includes coffee & addmin  phone for directions if you would like to attend.)

MEETINGS are not formal Agenda sessions but rather an opportunity for members to meet and mix and discuss beekeeping and exchange ideas. Normally we host one interesting speaker on a beekeeping subject, whether it is on practical beekeeping tips or what’s happening in the industry. Also at every meeting, members are encouraged to bring along their own ideas and share inventions which they have used or experimented with to improve their own brand of beekeeping. Members are notified of forthcoming meetings and topics by e-mail or are encouraged to phone into the Association’s offices for further information.

FIELD DAYS: Field days are practical sessions working on the bees or linked to beekeeping activities. The emphasis is on educational and hands on aspects of beekeeping. Field days are generally organized dependent on the beekeeping calendar and are arranged as and when facilities and timing can be coordinated.

Sessions may range from Burning Firebreaks, Identification of Flora for Bees, Visits to Professional Beekeepers, Queen Rearing, etc. Field days normally take place on Sundays and last either a half or full day activity.

BEEKEEPING COURSES: Southerns hosts a practical Beginner’s beekeeping course

The Beginner’s Bee course starts Friday evening and ends Sunday afternoon and is run as a fully inclusive live in course. The focus is on hands on experience with participants being expected to personally work on the colonies covering inspections, harvesting and bottling.

Membership of the association is not a prerequisite but participants are encouraged to join Southerns for further practical experience. Other ad hoc and Advanced Beekeeping Courses may be run through the Association from time to time.