“I didn’t even know there were beehives here! » Behind the small stand set up in hall A of Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, travelers taste Juan Gonzalez’s honey. World Passenger Day, November 15, was the opportunity for him to let people know that around ten beehives have been installed on several hectares of the airport area for almost four years. The beekeeper comes to maintain them every two weeks during the season.
Juan Gonzalez, beekeeper in Haillan, on November 15 at Mérignac airport on the occasion of World Passenger Day.
M. R.-B.
The cohabitation between bees and planes is far from trivial. According to the beekeeper, it poses no problem. They help maintain biodiversity in the natural areas around the airport.
Passionate about breeding
As a child, Juan Gonzalez had a passion for aquariums. “What I loved most was reproducing fish. » An activity that he gets a taste for with the bees. “I learned about training at the Libourne apiary school through a conversation. » The amateur beekeeper quickly gathered more than 50 hives. In 2018, while he was an executive in the social housing sector, he decided to retrain. A leap into the void that he does not regret: “I was especially afraid of no longer having social relationships, but I have them on a daily basis with the customers who come to the house and the other producers in the area. »
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The hives have different colors and orientations to help the bees with their orientation.
Juan Gonzalez developed his business at home in Haillan. “The most difficult thing is not to sell because France has a honey production deficit, but to find land large enough for my 300 hives, my trailer, my van, my crane…” This is the Bordeaux Metropolis who made a shed available to him via a support system for local agriculture.
A profession of mutual aid
Local and from the South-West, since Juan Gonzalez practices transhumance beekeeping and moves some of his hives to the Dordogne to harvest his chestnut honey. “Beekeeping is often seen as a poetic profession, but it is quite demanding, especially during transhumance which takes place at night. » He also talks about mutual aid. “If a fellow beekeeper breaks an arm, we will be there to harvest. »Solidarity also plays a role with Gironde producers. Juan Gonzalez has been secretary of the Le Goût de notre ferme association for five years. “I am a breeder and producer, I don’t have time to be such a trader. Offering monthly markets with the producer is ideal. »
Swiss
