A young beekeeper who produced more than 100 kilogrammes of honey this year has revealed what he loves the most about the insects.
Hannes Fell from the small Bavarian town of Sulzdorf an der Lederhecke manages his pollinator colonies in an organic garden a few kilometres from his home.
The 15-year-old grammar school pupil said: “The strong bond within a colony is fascinating. These small creatures are looking after each other to keep the colony alive.”
Hannes added: “They care for their queen, and they are really busy. And they create tasty honey!”
Reflecting on how it all started last year, Hannes said: “My best friend has bees. I have always found them very interesting, so I decided to get two colonies. Today, I own 12 colonies.”
This year, the teenager harvested 130 kilogrammes of honey. His products can be purchased at the Bauernhäusle, a small self-service station featuring regional products such as eggs and vegetables.
The beekeeping enthusiast attends a weekly lecture held by experienced peers. Asked by broadcaster BR whether he benefited from these courses, Hannes said: “Yes, I feel more certain in anything I’m doing.”
Leisure-time apiculture is very popular in Germany. The Federal Association of Beekeepers has more than 138,000 members. Around 33,000 of them are based in Bavaria, the southern state where Hannes lives.
The average per capita consumption of honey in Germany was determined to be 935 grammes in 2022, up by 15 per cent year on year according to the Federal Ministry for Food and Agriculture.
