Treebeekeeping in Belarus

Treebeekeeping in Belarus

Tree-beekeeping within the territory of Belarus has played the most important role since at least Middle Ages, because of geographical position: crossroads of trade routes from the north (Varangian or Baltic Sea) to the South (Russian or Black Sea) – „from the Vikings to the Greeks”, and from east to west along the rivers and ground paths. At this time, the main export goods were resources obtained from the local forests: furs, honey and wax. Given the high value of the wax and honey – tree-beekeeping in the 15th century became a separate branch of the economy in the Grand Duce of Lithuania (GDL)  (the ancestor of modern Belarus).  Grand Duce of Lithuania was combined with Kingdom of Poland for hundreds of years with Union, first since 1386 by personal union and then since 1569 til the end of XVIII c. with real Union. Those 2 countries together were covering the area of up to 900 000 km2 where tree-beekeeping was an important part of economy and social life. We share together heritage of our ancestors, history, and tradition.

The gradual development of financial and economic relations led to the active development of tree-beekeeping and related crafts and industries. They produced not only wax but also honey and meads that were demanded by population within the whole country, and abroad.

It should be noted that the development of tree-beekeeping was not something unique – it was common for the entire territory of contemporary Europe, it was only one difference: in the 15-16 centuries old forests were cut off over Europe, when there was not such trends and woodworking industry was poorly developed in GDL but tree-beekeeping vice versa. Therefore, in the 16th century on the territory of GDL took effect codified set of laws, which had included several articles related to tree-beekeeping (basic standards, property rights, obligations and penalties). The majority of standards and laws at that time have been already governed by customary law and local courts (village community assembly), which had a huge impact on the entire tree-beekeeping craft.

Only after the partition of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1795, and the change of orientation of forest management, tree-beekeeping is gradually declining. Furthermore sanguinary wars in 17th and 18th centuries significantly reduced the population, including the number of members of the profession (tree-beekeepers). And after the arrival of new technologies and woodworking industries, tree-beekeeping almost was no more, it only existed within small „reserves” that were located in the middle of swamps and old forests (inaccessible locations throughout the territory of modern Belarus).

Briefly talking about the evolution of tree-beekeeping on the territory of Belarus, it should be noted that it has of a common nature: the first is the gathering, after the invention of axes (bronze) – is an ancient tree-beekeeping, then with the development of society and the invention of iron tools – traditional tree-beekeeping; when the population began to use log-hives (instead of the tree-hive) – is log-hive beekeeping and in the early 20th century traditional beekeeping (log-hive or tree-hive) converted to apiary with log-hives near the houses.

It should be noted that even if each of the stages of evolution has brought some changes, however, the majority of terminology, methods and equipment remained the same. For example, it still uses woodpick, axe (‘barta’), rope for climbing (‘liaziva’), basket made from lime tree (‘lazben’) and some other equipments, which are not only changed their appearance, they also have not changed their definitions and methods of use.

At the present stage

Today, tree-beekeeping in Belarus preserved as part of a rich traditional culture and develops in places where civilization has penetrated only recently (the road of good quality came here only 30-40 years ago). This tree-beekeeping is an integral part of everyday life of tradition bearers and public culture. Main region, where you can still meet not only with bees in log-hives, as well as those traditional beekeepers, who are engaged in this craft – is Berascejskaje and Homielskaje Polesie (if we say about it today), when we look chronologically – 30 years ago it was possible to meet traditional beekeepers in Haradzenski, Vitebski, Mienski and Mohielevski regions – these are over the whole territory of Belarus.Treebeekeeping in Belarus

Urbanization has influenced with large negative value (at the end of the Soviet Union), as well as an environmental Chernobyl disaster, which greatly reduced the number of traditional beekeepers in Mohielevski, Homielski and Berascejski regions.

So, if 30-40 years ago it was possible to find at least an one traditional beekeeper in almost every village (there were at least 20-30 thousands ones), today their number does not exceed 300. The number of traditional beekeepers (or hereditary beekeepers: it means the family, where beekeeping is passed from grandfather to father, from father to son) is gradually reduced. The reduction is primarily due to the natural decline of the number of old-age beekeepers and lack of basic necessities to engage in craft as breath of life within the rural population. Earlier tree-beekeeping brought sweet product, it was part of a viable social traditions of a village or a few villages near and gave additional profit to the households, tree-beekeeping now – it’s basically a part of the traditional culture and source of delicious sweeTreebeekeeping in Belarusts within one family.

Today it is possible to find log-hives in the forests, and the owners of the tools used by the ancestors, or used by the owners themselves when they were young. Below is a map of the spread of information (facts) about tree-beekeeping in Belarus.

The map shows that the most preserved evidence in Homielski, Berascejski and Mienski regions, at the same time only the small number of districts can boast the presence of traditional beekeepers and the traditional tree-beekeeping. Speaking about quantitative indicators, today in Belarus it can be found about 14,000 log-hives (some of them do not have owners and are not supported for over 10-20 years), at the same time the number of log-hives settled by bees (it varies from year to year) about 1,800-2,000 ones. If we talk about the tree-hive, their number is not more than 200 at the same time can be considered only 50-60 are settled by bees.

Melliferous capacity does not exceed 15 kg (for lied log-hives) and 5 kg for standing log-hives. At that not every year beekeepers can take honey. Today tree-beekeeping products are consumed by the beekeepers for their needs.

Technologies, tools and hives

Analyzing the ethnographic material from the mid-19th century to the present day we can say that equipment and technology have not changed: the basic tool for climbing is a lyaziva, main device for gouging the log- or tree-hives – is piashnia, to collect honey – lazben or basket, also smoker (for smoking bees), mask, chisel, manual or electric drill, different types of axes. At the same time such additional tool as petrol-powered saw becomeы to penetrate into technological process, which facilitates the dirty work in the preparation of the log; as well as the winch, which allows elevate heavy logs to the height.

Large differences among log-hives over the territory of Belarus is not observed – just the kind of beehive entrance – a variety of geometric shapes (beekeeper gouges in the log-hive a pit with the depth of up to 3 cm, then it drills 3-5 round holes). In some regions (South ones) there are lied log-hives, which are located in the trees at a slight angle (up to 20 degrees) – the ‘head’ of such log-hive lies above the bottom, than it is made special canopy on the log-hive. Note: in these regions are typically used the following principle – two of ten log-hives must be standing ones, the rest can be lied. The main log-hive material – is pine, but there are also a lot of oak log-hives. It can be founded modern log-hives from oak-tree (they were made 10-15 years ago) and old ones (up to 300 years according to announce of beekeepers).

Dimensions of log-hives range from 1.2-1.8 m of height, thickness is more than 0.5 m in diameter. Internal storage room is shaped more like a trapezoid. The walls of internal storage room are cursed and a little bit rounded. The hole has different sizes: if it is closed by one bar, it will have such dimensions like up to 70 cm (height) and up to 20 cm weight. If height is more than 70 cm and up to 100 cm, the hole will be closed by 2 bars: short 20-30 cm one, and the main bar with up to 70 cm height.

Log-hives are installed a height from 4 to 12 meters (it was not observed log-hives at higher height). They are locked with iron bar or large nails which are driven into the tree (if there are no suitable branches).

Today, Liazeva are not used for climbing, it is used for lowering and fixing on the tree. Today beekeepers use tree stem (‘Astrou’) or stairs – they allow access to the first strong branch, then beekeeper raised using branches. Even 30-50 years ago liaziva used to climb with 3 different ways (for different regions it was different): take up himself, special hinges using and using cups, at the same time methods can be combined.Two types of liaziva are used for fixing and come-down in Belarus today: leather (Buckskin) or rope (hemp), the wooden parts of the structure are almost the same.

Today beekeeper working process

Annual tree-beekeeper work starts from the time when the snow come down and it warms, then the beekeeper makes bypassing all log-hives. When the bees have died due to different reasons, the beekeeper clean internal room – he sweeps it. If honeycombs are injured by butterfly – beekeeper leaves log-hive opened and waits until the birds eats all out (it will be finished in one year). If the log-hive is clean, but there are no bees, the beekeeper starts to bait attracting bees. He uses own recipe, which includes fragrant herbs and liquids. It is believed that you need to bait until Saint Spring Nicholas day (25 of May), then you can wait when bees come. Also at this time beekeeper repairs log-hives (if they are damaged), or elevates new and also repeats bait process.

Tree-beekeeper manages around about 6 log-hives, and elevates about 2-3 ones during one day.

After that the break comes, tree-beekeeper only watches and cautious approach to log-hives. In autumn, after leaf fall, tree-beekeeper collects the honey, while using various features of the completeness of the log-hives (the largest part or about 2/3 of the honey he leaves for the bees), he does not make any heating procedure with log-hives.

The collected honey is preserves at combs. Clean and dry cells are refinered in wax for candles manufacturing.

At the same time he stars working with log-hives (if there are new one, he creates it).

Traditional craft

Today, tree-beekeeping is a complex element of the traditional Belarusian culture, it absorbed not only the material part, but also the spiritual part of the culture, it is a part of traditional society (rural communities). Only the most dedicated tree-beekeepers carrier of this tradition remaining the main secrets and craft skills. Meanwhile, there is an interest in this craft among urban dwellers and rural youth, however, only a few are taken for the maintenance of the craft and the imitation of the traditions that have survived for a long time – until today.

Recent future

Tree-beekeeping traditions have to transfer from past and contemporary to future with the best practice and the same traditional knowledge, skills etc.

The life of traditions is on today’s generation hands, which is necessary to preserve the history and restore the old ties, partnership, not only within a country, but also the neighborhood region – the territory of the former Commonwealth (then the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania), which are now for the most part occupied by Belarus, Poland and Ukraine. On this occasion, since 2016 initiators from these three countries have began a joint project.

Project idea is to preserving and promoting the cultural and historical heritage of tree-beekeeping in the cross border region. The main output of the project would be to work out one strategy about tree-beekeeping as common tradition of PL-BYUA, the nations of former Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. This cross border approach on the tree-beekeeping is needed as all previous tree-beekeeping projects in Poland ware more focus on Bashikians traditions and they way of treebeekeeping which is different than the one preserved on project area. On the territory of Belarus and Ukraine it is the first project that is focus on preservation and promoting of they tree-beekeeping traditions. This project is dedicated to show and promote aspect of our history and tradition that unite the region.

Author: Ivan Osipau (Barefooted tree-beekeepers Brotherhood), 2016

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