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BOORMAN’S
OAK BAYNEWS
Property Management
New reader board keeps tabs on drivers Page A5
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
SINCE 1933
Real Estate
2045 Cadboro Bay Rd, Victoria
250-595-1535 www.boorman.com vicnews.com
Hive on the Drive Christine van Reeuwyk News staff
A buzzing duplex, population 20,000, would be unexpected in Oak Bay. John Jordan has one in his Beach Drive garden. “This is really the heart of local food supply. This is the heart of the engine right here,” says Jordan, gesturing to honeybees zipping to and from their home created by bee master Barry Denluck. Jordan came to beekeeping in a roundabout way through a trip to Rwanda. He travels there every year for a project he and his wife Toni work on, and few years ago, he discovered beekeeping while there. He returned home bent on finding out more about the hobby. A plus: Toni adores honey. Jordan started in April with a queen and a pound of bees – between 2,000 and 3,000 individuals – purchased from Denluck, also a bee breeder who selects the strongest of the stock for procreation. Now Jordan’s up to about 20,000 with one queen, and is working on hatching a second queen in the other half of the duplex as the workers start moving into that space as well. Denluck designed the duplex, and a triplex and fourplex of similar builds, because loss to death is simply too high at 40 to 60 per cent over winter. Some of that can be attributed to inexperienced bee keepers. “Our climate is also a factor,” he said. His designs are up off the wet grass, entrances are shielded and the walls are twice as thick as the standard hive, among other alterations. “Most of the time I don’t even wear any equipment,” Jordan says, pulling out a tray laden with honeycomb. “They’re just content.”
John Jordan pulls a tray from the specially designed ‘duplex’ apiary he keeps in the garden of his Oak Bay home.
PlEASE SEE: Bustling honey operation, Page A2
Christine van Reeuwyk/News staff
COMING SOON!
OAK BAY tomf@vreb.bc.ca
250-893-5800
A wonderful family home located on the much sought after Island Rd, in the heart of South Oak Bay. The home boasts pride of ownership inside and out, and sits on an amazing 67+172 ft lot with a west facing rear yard. The home has been extremely well cared for and offers great character, with all the right upgrades.One of the many great features this home offers is 3 good sized bedrooms upstairs including a master bedroom with a large ensuite. This home is a very rare find and will generate a lot of interest. Give me a call for full details and be among the first to view!
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Royal Le Page Coast Capital Realty