AGRANA bees at the Gmünd site
On location in Gmünd | Lower Austria, beekeeper Sonja Schwingenschlögl conscientiously looks after our AGRANA bees. A few words about her great enthusiasm and how she discovered it on an early school trip:
My name is Sonja Schwingenschlögl and I look after the bees at the AGRANA site in Gmünd. Together with my husband I run an organic farm near Gmünd since the early 90s. Originally I am a trained chef with years of experience in top gastronomy.
At primary school, my interest in bees was aroused during an apprenticeship to the apiary of the grandfather of a school colleague. Many years later, three bee colonies moved into my home garden. Straight form the beginnen I knew there was no other option for me than organic bee farming. For me, an up-to-date, well-founded training through certified courses and the skilled worker examination are an important part of this. As a beekeeper, you have a great responsibility for your entrusted bee colonies. In the meantime I farm an average of 20 colonies. Full honey pots, which are marketed at our farm, are the reward for the year-round work as a beekeeper.
The main food source of my bees is the cornflower. Thanks to the organic farming method, the cornflower is still present on our cereal fields. For me, enjoying the honey in the morning on a piece of homemade bread made from our own grain, feels like closing the circle of nature. I am just as happy to pass on my knowledge of the processes in bee colonies and their surroundings to interested parties. The “Children’s Morning” at the AGRANA plant in Gmünd is particularly close to my heart. The enthusiasm and attentiveness of the children impress me immensely.