A MOUNT COTTON retiree, honoured for his contribution to biodiversity during his working years, has turned his love of nature into a environment-saving hobby.
It was not until Mt Cotton apiarist Paul Sattler retired from his career as a national parks and resources manger that he pursued a life-long interest in beekeeping.
Mr Sattler, who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to biodiversity conservation, attributes his practical appreciation of nature to growing up in a beekeeping family.
“I helped dad work about 400 hives growing up in the 1960s and always had a few hives of my own,” Mr Sattler said.P
“Upon retirement I increased my apiary to about 40 hives — a case of once a beekeeper always a beekeeper.”
Mr Sattler said this number of hives could be managed on less than one day of work per week —
less in winter more in spring — and could produce about 100kg per hive each year.
“Bees are fascinating little creatures and you never stop learning from them,” he said.
“It also tunes you to the natural cycles of the weather, plants and birds chasing nectar flows. Perhaps that is why my career was centred on national parks and natural resource management.”
Mr Sattler said anybody could be a beekeeper provided they were not allergic to beestings.
“It can be done at any level, from two hives to as many as you are comfortable in handling and have the time to manage.
“Most rewarding is pulling out that perfectly drawn frame of fresh honey from the hive, witnessing the new widespread interest in bees, and encouraging new beekeepers.”
Mr Sattler will talk about biosecurity, climate change, and producing a quality product at a Redland Organic Growers meeting on Wednesday, November 13 at 7pm and anyone with an interest in the environment is welcome.
Redlands Community News Courier Mail
