BEEKEEPING JOŽE SEVER
 
Our beekeeping Our products The care of the quality of our products Bee queens 

Our beekeeping
 
Mr Sever's house is decorated with a picture of a beekeeper bringing beehives to forage; the left corner of the house boasts family Sever's coat of  arms.

Beginnings of my apiculture go way back to year 1957. At that time my cousin gave me one bee family. In the next two years two swarms of bees came from elsewhere to my apiary. Majority of my bees came out from this arrivals, which were alone to decide, that will stay at me. Already for years has our beekeeping composed 112 economical families with belonged to backup families. They are in standstill apiary, and economical beehive on trucks. Years ago when we used to move our trucks for a pasture in other republics of now former Yugoslavia we used to move with both our trucks. In these days we move our beehive only with one truck in range of 30 to 50 kilometers.
 
Forage is not available at the same place all the time and due to this the beehives are kept on two trucks which are moved from one place to another according to the situation. 


Our products

Within years of experience we have found out that in seasons when there is no pasture best food for bees is their own honey. So when they are well supplied then their health is well too and for keeping this condition you do not need any medicaments.
That is beside the clean environment the main reason and important condition for ecological beekeeping to which our beekeeping will convert in short time.
The main product that we produce is honey which we sell in smaller amounts mostly at home and in bigger amounts to honey dealers over the country. Our apiculture is Regis rated and it has all necessary documents for this activity. Our honey is only top quality and is sold under "Collective trade mark of Slovenian honey".
We also make other products such as pollen as itself or mixed with cream honey or with propolis.
For 25 years already we have produced honey wine that has won many prizes and medals for quality and taste. This great honey drink is not known only in Slovenia but has also been drunk in London and Paris and other European countries.
 
 
 
This year's novelty in Mr Sever's beekeeping is a shop offering beehive products. It contains all beehive products except bee poison.


The care of the quality of our products

For keeping and intensification of quality of our products is continually education and improvements necessary.
Because of my knowledge and experience I have been chosen by Apiculture society to go on education for examiner of honey in system of "Collective trade mark of Slovenian honey". In near future our apiculture is going to produce and sell products by system HACCP that ensures healthy food to the customer.
 
 
Just like his mead, Mr Sever's honey boasts numerous awards. A special runner-up crystal trophy was won at the International Honey Competition Semič 2002 for his chestnut honey. This is the most precious trophy among his numerous awards won at honey competitions.


Bee queens

For all these years I have been choosing bee queens only from the best domestic bee families. From time to time has descent been braced with chosen bee queens from Agriculture institute of Slovenia. Beside all the good qualities they have they are also very good forest honey pickers. In near future our bee queens are going to tribal with best raised drones that are raised on breeding of Apiculture society of Semič in the centre of wide Kočevsko forests. That is how our bee queens are going to keep all the authentic properties of Carniola bee.
I have been bordering with this activity for the last two years. So are selected tribal bee queens under control of Agriculture institute of Slovenia. Their quality is embryo of their own knowledge and many years of experience.
 
 
Bees settle in  different environments. At beekeeper Sever bees have had their home in a wine barrel for several years. Actually, a wine barrel is nothing unusual in a wine-growin area . However, if it is inhabited by bees instead of being used for holding wine, it becomes very special.