This month’s Wingham Farmers’ Market feature producer is Don Gilchrist from Gilchrist Honey.

Don runs 80 bee hives from his 100 acre property at Caffreys Flat.

From these he sells raw honey, honeycomb, and bees wax.

The bees collect pollen mostly from the natives forests on and surrounding the property.

Don says he’s been lucky considering the challenging weather conditions earlier this year, and most of his bees stayed healthy.

He says the very hot, dry conditions of February were hard for bee keepers all around.

“Floods in March didn’t help” he added.

“I was lucky that stuff flowered early in the season.”

These conditions can leave a hive very stressed, which can be fatal.

Don says he had to get rid of a couple, but has since been able to replace them.

He has also ‘re-queened’ his hives, which he says is essential to managing disease in the hive and pests such as hive beetle.

He is passionate about hive health, and offers his services to people interested in setting up hives or tackling particular issues with their hives.

He also says that registration through the DPI or Apiary Association is really important for the bee industry in managing pests and diseases.

Don and his sister Laura will be selling Gilchrist Pure Honey at the Wingham Farmers’ Market this Saturday.

They produce a mixed blend which Dan says helps to prevent it candying so fast.

It is also raw and gravity extracted, which means it maintains all of its goodness.

Wingham Farmers’ Market is at Wingham Showground, between 8am and noon this Saturday.

The community is warmly invited to go along and chat to feature producer Don and all the other local producers selling on the day. 

There is also a new seating area to sit and enjoy your coffee.

If you have something to sell at the markets new stallholders are always welcome, with site fees waived at your first market.

Direct stall holder enquiries to Annette on 6550 7213.

Don’t forget if you have any excess produce to sell you can drop it at the community stall to sell on your behalf.

For further information about the markets head online at www.winghamfarmersmarket.org.au

You can also visit and like the Wingham Farmers’ Market Facebook page.