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Dominique Hardouin was not always a beekeeper : a mischievous eye, he could tell you about his adventures in Congo, Zaire or in the Central African Republic where he screened films. Following a career in public broadcasting, Dominique Hardouin decided at forty-seven to stop everything and take up beekeeping professionally. For the past eleven years, he is based in Le Thoronet in the Var and owns about sixty beehives. He started with standard hives that were very heavy and not necessarily adapted to our bees. After three years of diverse observations, different tests and a number of readings (works by Maurice Chaudière in particular), he succeeded in implementing several hive formats that were more respectful for the bees. Henceforth, he wishes to continue developing his stock by using these different models.
Local honeys and authentic products
Dominique’s honey are diverse : owing to his friends in the Var where he lives, the Alpes d’Haute-Provence (for its lavender and garrigue honey, for example) or in the Cévannes at the Bastide Gabin (whose producers are present at the Cours Julien farmer’s market, where he obtains his delicious chestnut honey). He also has friends who are horticulturalists and that grow roses which he plans to harvest for a very promising rose honey.
He also has pollen, wax, candles, and makes a gingerbread that is soft, warm and healing. Dominique voluntarily does not have an AB label. As you may know, this requires a financial investment, regardless our Var beekeeper chooses with great care the sites of pollination for his stock and if they are located within the property of his farmer friends, this but only a guarantee for a honey of high quality.
Support of artistic projects
Dominique Hardouin is an important collaborator of the association. He was involved as a specialist in a course and research residency conducted in Colombia in 2018 concerning the artistic project Les Palais by artist Luce Moreau, accompanied by Constance Meffre and Marine Douet, on the topic of honey bees.
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