Anyone fancy a bit of voluntary work in Africa?

[Easy Beesy]

JBM - have friends planning to go to Sierra Leone to do similar - would u be willing to talk to them, share your experiences with them?

 

[davnig]

I'd have thought they've been at it a darn sight longer than us.

if that was the case why does this thread even exist???

 

[davnig]

There was a talk at last years Spring Convention on Kenyan beekeeping and it compared costs and usage of boxes vs top bar vs log hives. The cost differentials were large. Agreed that management becomes more difficult as you progress down that line but if beekeeping is to become more widespread in rural african communities with little money then costs come into it as more of a factor. I'll try and dig out some notes I took tonight,

It was a talk by Maryann Frazier. Cost comparisons were made

Langstroth - $55 , lasted 7-8 yrs
TBH - $45, lasted 5 yrs
Log hive - $3, lasted 20yrs +

They found that if potential beekeepers were given langstroths they tended to use them as furniture!!

 

[pargyle]

It was a talk by Maryann Frazier. Cost comparisons were made

Langstroth - $55 , lasted 7-8 yrs
TBH - $45, lasted 5 yrs
Log hive - $3, lasted 20yrs +

They found that if potential beekeepers were given langstroths they tended to use them as furniture!!

I would question the cost of $45 for a TBH made from local timber or packing case timber ... I made two from pallet wood ... total cost .. a handful of screws and some glue .. even the top bars were cut from the pallet runners.

If they have trees big enough to make a log hive then a sawmill would make planks for three or four TBH's out of that.

I've seen TBH's made out of all sorts of materials ... Polythene drums are a favourite .. split in two vertically and then placed on their sides with the top bars across them ... usually a lid of some sort to keep the weather out . bung hole provides the entrance. Not only is it reasonably insulated, it's the sort of catenary shape that bees build combs in naturally (Bill Bielby's catenary hive). Should be able to source drums like this in SA but if not they cost buttons on ebay and a part container load should be possible for a reasonable sum ... these barrels are a waste product of the food industry (olives,fruit juice etc.) and for a charitable cause could probably be obtained for nothing.

http://www.instructables.com/id/55-Gallon-Top-Bar-Barrel-Bee-Hive/

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251449408...AX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649#ht_367wt_1428

 

[Tom Bick]

Log hives is just a general term. Some are logs but others just resemble a log and may even have similar construction to a skep. I also agree the price for the tbh is perhaps high.

 

[farbee]

Pretty pointless if they don't know how to use the damned stuff

Thought that is why you are there.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Exactly!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It was a talk by Maryann Frazier. Cost comparisons were made

Langstroth - $55 , lasted 7-8 yrs
TBH - $45, lasted 5 yrs
Log hive - $3, lasted 20yrs +

I'd like to know where she got those figures from - pure nonsense.
Cost of a Langstroth hive with one super out here 700 rand plus frames and foundation?
Timber is a valuable commodity out here and the 'large'shop owners (all chinese) don't give the pallets away but sell them at cutthroat prices - you might have to pay as much as two pound for them
Not $45 is it?

 

[davnig]

I am just repeating the figures quoted in the talk, I did wonder about the tbh costs but that's what she said , honest!

 

[Tom Bick]

I'd like to know where she got those figures from - pure nonsense.
Cost of a Langstroth hive with one super out here 700 rand plus frames and foundation?
Timber is a valuable commodity out here and the 'large'shop owners (all chinese) don't give the pallets away but sell them at cutthroat prices - you might have to pay as much as two pound for them
Not $45 is it?

I think the quoted $ is a bit of a give away. Cleaver people from Africa they cane make something from nothing.

 

[globalbeeing]

jenkinsbrynmair I was wondering if your project is still going live?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Nothing thus far - i only asked the question initially to see if there was enough interest to present a 'package' to the organisation in charge of my last stay out there. Basically they weren't interested as it meant them doing some funding rather than them milking cash out of the Welsh Government. Still got a few avenues I'm pursuing though.

 

[Vortex]

Nothing thus far - i only asked the question initially to see if there was enough interest to present a 'package' to the organisation in charge of my last stay out there. Basically they weren't interested as it meant them doing some funding rather than them milking cash out of the Welsh Government. Still got a few avenues I'm pursuing though.

I work for CGI (https://www.cgi.com/en.. they're involved in a large amount of charity sponsorship, including the Princes Trust (their 40/40/40 program).
With the right approach they may be willing to fund a small team.. never know I might be able to go along...

 

[Nige.Coll]

Yeah I need a break