We are taking care of our bees to help nature thrive around our place

About beekeeping

Bees are crucial pollinators in our ecosystem, playing a vital role in the reproduction of flowering plants. As bees gather nectar and pollen to feed their colonies, they unintentionally transfer pollen from one flower to another, aiding in fertilization. This process facilitates the production of fruits, seeds, and nuts, essential for biodiversity and food production. Approximately 75% of globally cultivated crops depend on pollinators, with bees being the most significant contributors. Their pollination services support the growth of various crops, ensuring stable food supplies and contributing to the overall health and balance of the natural world.

Honey is made through a fascinating process. Bees collect nectar from flowers and then add enzymes in their stomachs to break down the nectar's complex sugars. Back at the hive, the partially digested nectar is regurgitated and stored in hexagonal cells of the honeycomb. Bees fan their wings over the nectar to evaporate excess water, transforming it into honey. Once the honey is sufficiently ripened, the bees seal the cells with beeswax. At dragon’s Garden, we can harvest honey from January to April.

Implementing beekeeping

Beekeeping, or apiculture, is the art of nurturing and managing bee colonies to ensure their health and productivity. At Dragon’s Garden we did carefully select hive location. We choose a site with access to abundant nectar-rich flowers and nearby fresh water pond to support the bees' foraging needs.
Creating a bee-friendly environment is crucial, so we plant a diverse range of plants that provide continuous food sources for the bees throughout the year. Regular inspections of the hives help us monitor the well-being of the colonies, identify potential issues, and address them promptly. Disease prevention measures are implemented to safeguard the bees from common ailments. In Ometepe we are lucky enough not to have Varroa mites (Varroa destructor), one of the most significant threats of honeybees worlwide. Of course in our permaculture garden we don’t use pesticides or chemical. We grow our fruits and vegetables organically.
When harvesting honey, we do so with care, ensuring that enough honey reserves are left for the bees to sustain themselves during the rainy season. We practice minimal intervention beekeeping, allowing the bees to exhibit their natural behavior and adapt to their environment.
By adopting these methods, we keep our bees healthy, thriving, and we are proud to contribute to the preservation of bees and our ecosystem.

Making the world a better place through the care of our environment

Contact & information

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