Mid-April 2024 saw the arrival of spring in Switzerland. While nature awakens and bees are hard at work collecting nectar, we have the opportunity to enjoy a very special experience: a visit to our colleague Andreas Gartwyl, sales consultant and passionate beekeeper from near Thun. Here we not only witness the magic of the bee colonies, but also enter the fascinating world of a colleague who has found his happiness between sales consulting, family and beekeeping.

Andreas Gartwyl, with his enchanting bee colonies, opens the door for us to peek behind the scenes of his beekeeping life. Last year, we had the chance to buy its delicious honey as a gift for our customers, so it’s about time we uncover the secret of how it’s made. We start with practical protective clothing, and soon find ourselves in the middle of the humming and buzzing of the hive.

The fascination of the bee community

Andreas gently guides us through the world of his bees, explaining how beekeeping is not just a passion, but also a craft. He regularly checks the boxes to make sure the bees have enough space and are healthy. He enlarges the honey super to prepare them for the honey harvest, which ideally takes place at the end of July.

Looking at the hard-working bee community, it suddenly becomes clear how much we as humans can learn from them: in the hive, all work for one and one for all. Only together as a colony and with each bee dutifully carrying out its mission are they successful. Andreas believes that this important lesson in cooperation and solidarity should be incredibly important for how we coexist as human beings.

But even during the autumn, Andreas does not take a break. That’s the time to prepare his bees for winter. He explains that beekeeping takes patience, attention and love for detail. It is not only about connecting with nature, but is also an important way of contributing to an intact ecosystem.

Balancing sales and beekeeping

For Andreas, beekeeping is more than just a hobby alongside his job as a sales consultant. It is a passion that connects him with nature and offers him a welcome break from his hectic daily life. And while we wait anxiously for the next shipment of his delicate honey, we say goodbye with a smile (…and a painful sting in the thigh…) – feeling enriched by the experience of visiting Andreas Gartwyl’s bee kingdom.

Annual planning according to operational concept: Annual plan 1/2 (bienen.ch)