WHO WE ARE
In the beginning …
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there was a garden …
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there was an apple tree …
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it was a big garden …
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there were actually many apple trees …
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and somebody had to make sure they got pollinated!
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Murray and Heidi Rixon – they seem normal enough!
Murray, a Mosgiel boy, trained in horticulture at the Dunedin Botanic Gardens.
From there his work took him literally across the world, and for a while he settled in Scotland. Here his landscaping and construction skills saw him designing and building a specialist parrot breeding facility.
After 20 years in the UK Murray developed a hankering for smaller flying things that weren’t so beaky. So he abandoned the aviaries for apiaries and headed home to New Zealand. The first hive appeared in the garden shortly after… and that was when it all kicked off…
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Over the last 10 years Murray has expanded his beekeeping horizons.
First manufacturing hiveware, producing commercial hives for sale, working with Otago University, contracting as an AP2 inspector for AsureQuality and The AFB Management Agency, building a honey extraction and processing facility and most recently, taking possession of Bee Supplies Otago.
A UK native, Heidi caught the bee bug 10 years ago.
Starting with a hobby hive, progressing to commercial beekeeping, colony production and cell-raising. This seemed a natural step after a drama degree and several years hand rearing parrots.
Mother to millions (of bees!), Heidi is the ultimate queen bee, always in the middle of everything and working tirelessly for those around her (particularly if they feed her or tidy up!)
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When not hovering over the hives, Heidi can be found grubbing around in the veggie garden, scratching the pigs or admiring her Orpington chooks.
Together, Team Rixon have a strong belief in self-sufficiency and sustainability.
"We have kept hives in schools and had groups visit our site to enthuse and educate the next generation of beekeepers. We are always happy to share our beekeeping experiences and ideas."
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If you don't need it, we won't sell it to you!
