In an interview with a Turmush correspondent, he shared his knowledge and experience in this field.
Dmitry, born in 1985, is a family man and raises two children. His fascination with bees began in childhood, but he took real steps in this direction at the age of 18 when his father gifted him twenty bee colonies.
“My maternal grandfather was also engaged in beekeeping and had both a state reserve and a private apiary with 200-250 colonies. This passion was passed down to my parents, and my father has been working with bees for 43 years. From a young age, I was always by his side, helping as I grew up. My father used to say, ‘You need to love your work to achieve results.’ He often showed me how to see off and greet each bee, explaining which flowers the bees collect pollen from. We traveled together through the mountains and fields, and he shared his knowledge about honey plants and the life of bees,” said D. Gopienko.
According to Dmitry, the work of a beekeeper does not stop year-round. Summer is dedicated to caring for the hives, monitoring the condition of the bee colonies, and harvesting honey, while in winter he prepares the bees for hibernation, prevents diseases, and creates conditions for a successful new season. Maintaining cleanliness in the apiary is a priority for him.
“Calmness and attentiveness are key factors in beekeeping. It is important to maintain cleanliness in the apiary, properly inspect the hives, ensure the presence of a strong queen and colony, provide enough feed, and maintain ventilation and temperature. It is necessary to combat diseases and prevent swarming,” he noted.
At his apiary, Dmitry works with two breeds of bees: Carniolan and Buckfast. Carniolan bees are known for their calm nature, high productivity, and adaptation to the local climate, while Buckfast bees are also highly efficient and have several advantages in breeding.
In Dmitry's opinion, the past season was average. Drought and lack of precipitation negatively affected the amount of nectar.
“Although the season was not catastrophic, it also did not have ideal conditions for honey collection due to the lack of rainfall. The number of swarms in the apiary increased significantly,” added the beekeeper.
At his apiary, he produces a variety of products, such as mountain, wildflower, and field honey, honeycombs, wax, candles, tinctures from propolis and bee dead, as well as pollen and bee bread. The products are sold at markets and fairs, primarily to regular customers.
Dmitry also noted that natural honey inevitably crystallizes, which is a sign of its quality. Therefore, he advises purchasing honey from trusted beekeepers rather than resellers.
For beginner beekeepers, he recommends starting with 2-3 colonies, working calmly, observing the bees, and gradually gaining experience.
According to him, beekeeping is a challenging but fascinating process that requires patience and love.
In the future, Dmitry plans to expand his apiary, modernize his equipment, try new breeds of queens, and develop direct honey sales. His dream is for customers to be able to receive fresh and natural honey without intermediaries.
Among many memories, Dmitry highlights one story from the Karkyra mountains.
“We were in the Karkyra mountains, and a replacement was supposed to take over for my father, but not waiting for him, we gave the remaining food to the dogs. The replacement never arrived due to family circumstances, there were no stores nearby, and hunger was setting in. I remember how my father and I chewed on dry bread and washed it down with water, cooking soup on an onion broth. When the shepherds found out about this, they brought us food, and we were able to hold out for another week until the replacement arrived,” he recalls.
This story, in Dmitry's opinion, illustrates how unpredictable the work of a beekeeper can be and how important mutual assistance is among those who live in the mountains.
