Beekeeper Günter

Beekeeper Günter is delivering is the delicious Demeter honey for many years now. The process of acquiring this honey requires the bees the obtain the honey from cornflowers, thistles and dandelions in the pristine German natures. Günter produces his honey in an organic dynamic way.                                                                                                                                                     

“The respect of an organic dynamic beekeeper for his bee population was something that touched my which is the main reason why I started to produce honey this way. When working with my bees I try to hold account for the characteristics, their organic needs and to respect their natural habitat. I am fortunate for the way I am keeping my bees. I don’t produce against the laws of nature, but rather in harmony with nature and the processes of the bees. This means the bees are able to be just as fortunate as I am. I love my bees and my bees love my. The know me and I know them even better. I have a special bond with my bees, that is why I leave the bees alone for the most I can. This gives them opportunity to grow stronger by themselves, is my philosophy.”

The bees are producing the honeycombs all by themselves together with the reproduction of the bees which happens naturally. “Every bee population builds in their own way, it is an organic process that comes from the itself. The building of the honeycomb is a reflection of the individual bee population and not a piece of inanimate furniture. The reproduction of the populations  is very close to nature because of the natural swarming process. The connection between the queen and the working bees is much stronger, the population is more vital and firmly bonded organism because of this.

Günter has been a beekeeper for over 35 years now and owns 500 bee populations at the moment. Günter would like for the future to let this number grow to 700 to 1000 populations. Mathias one of the four sons of Günter, works at the apiculture since 2010. Another son, Tobias would like to return to the apiculture to work there as well after he has finished his study. Günter has shared his knowledge to his sons by teaching them all the essential things to be an organic dynamic beekeeper. But Günter is also more than willing to help other beekeepers as well as consumers  who have interests in being an organic dynamic beekeeper or want to know more about the special way of beekeeping  by giving classes. Besides giving classes Günter is also working on a project in Egypt, where he tries to save the bees (Apis Mell. Lamarkij)  that live near to the Nile. Currently these bees are threatened to go extinct. The bee itself is special since it is resistant against the Vorroa mite. Günter takes time as well to think about improvements for his own apiculture: “In the summer we live according to the rhythm of the bee populations but in the winters I am getting my rest and think about the faults I have made to see what can be improved for the next season.” 

The bee mortality is a serious issue discussed a lot in the media and also made its impact on Günter’s bees. In 2014 there was a CCD (colony collapse disorder) in Germany: the disappearance of working bees. “beekeeping has become even harder because of this because the environmental factors have changed, bees are malnourished (quantitatively and qualitatively) which makes the bees vulnerable. With our way of keeping the bees we are trying to increase the vitality and strength. The bees should of course be treated against certain illnesses (done in an organic way).

If you would ask Günter which honey he prefers the most, his answer is very clear: his own Demeter honey. “I try to work in a way where I think the honey is for myself to deliver great quality and taste.”