Arkhive Apiculture was established in 2007 by father and son team, Mike Oxley Senior and Junior. Today the company has many hive sites situated in and around the Cape Farmlands, but some of their favorites are right here at the Breede. We sat down with Mike Oxley Jnr to find out why:

Where did you passion for beekeeping come from?

Growing up on a family-owned farm, our passion for keeping bees was fuelled by our love for nature and all things outdoors.

How long have you been a beekeeper?

My dad was the first to show an interest, and attended a few beekeeping courses in between running another family business. Soon after finishing school, I was given the opportunity to apprentice under and later work for a third generation commercial beekeeper where I quickly learnt the trade. Two years later, the 'passion project' that my father and I started had quickly grown into a fully fledged commercial operation. Arkhive Apiculture was officially established in 2007, now making it 14 years old.

What led you to start beekeeping at the Breede?

We initially started with a few hives on family land. It didn't take long before we realised that the bees enjoyed the Breede River valley just as much, if not more so than we did, and so it was only natural for us to expand within the area.

How many apiaries do you have at the Breede? (An apiary is a collection of beehives)

Currently we have approximately 20 apiaries, however the actual number varies from season to season and is largely dependent on the different nectar flows.

What are the different types of honey produced from your Breede hives?

Harvesting varies every season and is largely dependent on the amount of rainfall as well as the type of crop local farmers choose to plant. Our main honey flows include Lucerne, Canola, and Bluegum. Our personal favourite, however, is the unique riverside fynbos flow present along the Breede River Valley.

What makes beekeeping at the Breede so special?

Anyone who has spent even a day or two at the Breede quickly realises that it is as though time stands still. Our trips to the river generally involve a good few days of hard labour, but this time spent doing what we love - working with the bees - in this environment is very rewarding.

What equipment do you use to keep bees?

Protective Clothing:

Overall, veil, thick socks and when the bees are really stinging, gloves.

The Smoker:

A devise used to gently blow cool natural smoke (pine needles) across the entrance to the hive. This is used to temporarily make the bees docile, and less likely to be aggressive.

A Hive Tool:

The number one tool used to leverage and move frames within a hive.

A Bee-brush:

For gentle removal of bees off the honey frames and other surfaces.

Why are bees important for the ecosystem?

Honey bee pollination is vital for approximately 250,000 species of flowering plants that depend on the transfer of pollen between the flowers' reproductive organs. Quite simply, there would not be much of an ecosystem without them.