You open a flap and through a safety glass pane you have a view of the work place of a hard-working bee colony: This is possible in Asparn an der Zaya (Mistelbach district), where the local secondary school has its own apiary that encourages young people to enjoy this valuable hobby.
Put on the special suits – and get to the honeycombs: when the subject “beekeeping” is on the timetable at the middle school in Asparn an der Zaya, the prospective beekeepers don’t have to go far. Because right in front of the house, a separate apiary was set up two decades ago. Those who do not register for the extremely popular optional subject can also get a taste of the sweet hobby as part of special lessons in regular biology lessons. There is no “beekeeping break” even in winter Up to six bee colonies are kept in the hut in the school park by the 4th graders. up to the 8th grade are cared for together. Of course, not without professional guidance: Hobby beekeeper Dietmar Reichl guides you through all the chapters of the hard-working workhorses throughout the year – from obtaining the sweet harvest by centrifuging to further processing, such as the production of honey wine or lip balm. Even in winter there is no break: when the bee colonies are asleep, the small apiary is expanded and modernized – for example with the crafting of new honeycomb hives.Show beehives in wooden artwork We are particularly proud of the show beehives: there visitors can get an insight into the annual course of a bee population – because the honey is exceptionally not harvested in these hives. Using safety glass and a flap for darkening, you can watch the Sumsis at work – and see how the honey is made. The beehive is built into a work by the Weinviertel chainsaw artist Harry Raab – the motifs carved into it depict the various work steps of the hard-working insects. School Director Johann Keintzel adds: “We don’t just want to arouse interest in this important hobby, we also want to raise awareness among the students.”
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