Oškalni family bees
I am Guntis Oškalns - the main beekeeper of the Oškalni family. My first bees came to me, in an old, burnt, mouse-ravaged hive that was forgoten in the shed. At that moment, no one knew how to handle bees in our family, because my grandfather kept bees before, but he had not passed on his knowledge. I only understood that the bees need a new hive.
I started looking for offers of used hives, called one beekeeper selling his old equipment. When the old beekeeper found out that I was a complete beginner, he enthusiastically wanted to train me. From him, I received various items for beekeeping and even practical lessons working with my bees. I am deeply grateful to him for his encouragement and sincere help in starting this journey as a beekeeper. I often remember him fondly, because soon after passing on his wisdom and skills as a beekeeper to me, he passed away.
Many years have passed, but I am still learning from mistakes, colleagues, seminars and articles about beekeeping. I am happy that this occupation is my joy and I work with bees with awe and gratitude, it is my meditation. My bee hives are located in an exclusive place, in the nature park of Talsi in Latvia, where my grandfather's family home is. There are untouched flower meadows and forests all around, so the honey also turns out to be special, each time with a different, unique, pleasant taste. Perhaps it depends on the current year's blooming flowers. Sometimes it is the year of the oregano flowers, sometimes red clover, another year the cowslip flowers bloom profusely, or the forest linden is blooming more.