HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1977-08-24, Page 15A hive of activity
Citizens News, August 24, 1977
Page 15
Local firrn employs 3,000,000
Bill and Rosemary Ferguson of
Zurich have over three million
bees in their yard. Whether they
know it or not, the insects work
for Ferguson Apiarita.
In each of 35 hives on his
property, Bill estimates there are
between 80,000 and 100,000 bees,
He has 38 other groups of hives or .
bee -yards on farms from
Arkona andForestto Mitchell and
Seaforth.
Farmers are glad
them, because bees pollinate
crops. Some farmers, in fact,
rent hives to make sure white
beans are pollinated.
After 15 years around bees, Bill
has a healthy respect for them.
He works cautiously and always
wears his bee -keeper's uniform
' when collecting honey — a veiled
hat, slacks and a jacket with
elastic at the wrists, In spite of
this, he is stung just about every
day. "It still hurts but doesn't
IT'S HONEY HARVEST TIME — Bill Ferguson takes no chances when
collecting honey: he wears his veiled beekeeper's hat and moves quick-
ly. Honey is extracted from the comb and packaged on the premises at
Ferguson Apiaries in Zurich. This year the crop is better than average.
People from miles around are coming to buy honey, often bringing
their own containers. Staff photo
Auxiliary plan event
The fall bazaar, tea and bake
sale were the main topic of
discussion at the August meeting
of the Huronview Auxiliary held
in the Craft Room on August 15.
The suggested date for the
bazaar is October 19. It is hoped
many more members and
visitors will be present at the next
meeting of the Auxiliary, Sep-
tember 19, when plans will be
finalized.
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swell as much now", he said.
After working for some time
with the former owner of the
apiaries, Bill bought the business
about 10 years ago. There is a
honey -extracting plant next to
the yard, a packaging plant on
the second floor.
Sales have been boosted less by
the current popularity of health
foods than by inflationary
pressures, he believes. "People
try to buy direct from
distributors." Honey is cheaper
here, at the source, especially if.
customers bring their own
containers. Many do so.
The Ferguson product is
natural, not pasteurized honey.
The latter is made by heating
honey to a temperature that kills
granulation spores, so that it will
not solidify as quickly. Bill sees
pasteurizing as a fad, not a
necessity. "There are no harmful
bacteria in honey", he said.
Harvesting is done when the
weather is fine; extracting, when
it rains. The average production
for an Ontario hive is about 70
pounds. He expects to do a little
better. This is a good year.
Almost any kind of blossom
suits the bees; however, in the
Zurich yard they depend mainly
on clover. Elsewhere, he has had
honey from mustard nectar.
(This year 1,000 acres in this area
were sown in mustard, an ex-
perimental crop.) Buckwheat
honey has to be kept separate,
because of its distinctive colour
and flavour. "You either love it
or hate it", said Bill. Basswood
nectar is the only kind bees
collect in the rain. Its blossoms
hang upside-down.
The hives at Ferguson's con-
tain vertical rows of frames
known as supers on which the
bees build honey combs. Bill and
his assistant can extract honey
from about 150 supers a day.
Upstairs, in the packing plant, it
is run into containers from a
series of 200 -gallon drums, then
sealed for shipment or counter
sale.
NORM SALMON
GENERAL.
CONSTRUCTION
- Remodelling
- Renovations
- Repairs
- Painting
- Additions
GOOD RATES
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52 Main St. W. ZURICH
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