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Interview with Jean-Christophe, beekeeper on the Plateau de Valensole
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Interview with Jean-Christophe, beekeeper on the Plateau de Valensole
More than a job, it's a real passion!
Jean-Christophe Skrzek describes his day-to-day life in the fresh air and magnificent surroundings.
Folies de Provence decided to meet Jean-Christophe, who has been a professional beekeeper for several years on the Valensole plateau in the Alpes de Haute Provence.
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Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Jean-Christophe, I'm 44 years old. I've lived in Valensole for 10 years and I've been a professional beekeeper for 15 years. Before that, I ran a personal services business and looked after private gardens around the commune where I lived with my parents.
Can you tell us why and how you became a beekeeper?
At my previous job, I was lucky enough to meet an elderly gentleman who was a hobby beekeeper and who introduced me to this fabulous little insect called the bee.
I was immediately very interested, and with his invaluable advice, I invested in my first 7 hives and then in many more, having decided to devote myself full time to beekeeping.
In 2015, I set up my own business in the Valensole industrial estate, with a honey house and a building of over 400m2. The name ‘Le Rucher du Concors’ comes from a small mountain on the eastern side of the Sainte Victoire massif, where I started out. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank my parents, who helped me set up my business, first in their home and then in Valensole.
Where are your sites located and how many hives do you have?
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I currently have around 1,000 hives, over 500 of which I operate directly.
The sites I use are located on the Valensole plateau, which is Europe's largest growing area for lavender, lavandin, clary sage and other important flowers such as coriander, thyme and hyssop, all of which are melliferous plants.
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What types of honey do you produce and what are their special characteristics?
I produce the following 6 different honeys:
Lavender honey accounts for 45% of my production.
It has many properties. It is recommended for healing the skin, clearing the respiratory tract, soothing migraines, making it easier to fall asleep and improving the quality of sleep.
Garrigues honey (a blend of thyme and rosemary) accounts for 30% of my production.
Its properties are renowned for its beneficial effects on coughs, sore throats, colds and flu. It is also recognised for its fortifying and diuretic properties.
Acacia honey accounts for 10% of my production in good years, as the acacias only flower for 3 weeks.
Its properties have detoxifying effects on the liver, counteract stomach acidity and promote intestinal balance. It is a powerful antibacterial and very useful for soothing coughs and sore throats. It also has an effect on cholesterol.
Spring honey accounts for 5% of our harvest.
The advantage of this honey is that the flowers are abundant and we put weak hives on them, which are filled with bees, before putting them on Acacia or Chestnut and Lavender.
Its properties include a high glucose and fructose content, making it an excellent energiser. Beneficial in cases of rheumatism, cholesterol, haemorrhoids and cardiovascular problems.
All-flowers honey from Provence accounts for around 5% of my production. The advantage of this honey is that it is harvested at the end of the season.
Its properties are identical to those of Garrigues honey, as it is harvested from the same beehives.
Chestnut honey also accounts for 5% of my production.
Its properties: energises and tones the blood circulation and relieves varicose veins, heavy legs and haemorrhoids. Stimulates the immune system. Combats anaemia and deficiencies thanks to its iron content. Helps heal burns and wounds.
How do you guarantee the quality of your honeys, and why choosing yours first?
We use working and cold extraction methods that guarantee the properties and durability of our products, and especially their quality.
We also use organic techniques. It's our customers who encourage us every day to work towards producing honey that is healthy and respectful of the environment.
The results of our analyses show that our honey complies with market specifications, and the Silver Medal we won at the 2019 honey competition is testament to our expertise and the quality of our products.
Can you remind us of the role of bees in the local ecosystem?
Bees do almost all the pollinating, pollinating 80% of plant species. They are an essential link in the chain of life.
Without them, there would be little or no fruit or vegetables. Bees play an essential role in our ecosystem, as their main activity is pollination.
Bees are the only insect whose products have been consumed by humans since the dawn of time: pollen, propolis, royal jelly and, above all, honey.
If the bee disappeared from the face of the earth, Albert Einstein is said to have said that man would have only 4 years left to live on earth. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants or fruit, no more animals, no more man.
The main cause of bee mortality is climate change, as well as invasive species such as varroa mites or species imported through globalisation, such as the Asian hornet. Bees are victims of all these harmful factors, which put their lives at risk.
Did you know that a bee lives less than 40 days, visits at least 1,000 flowers and produces less than a teaspoon of honey? That's a whole lifetime.
So let's respect them, and that's why I live my life as a beekeeper!
Discover our different honeys here and escape to Provence for a while!
Photo credits: Le Rucher du Concors
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Benoit Clayette - 04/03/2025 22:50:39
Très bel article et très beau metier trop peu mis en avant! Bravo à cet apiculteur et merci à lui pour la contribution qu'il apporte à la biodiversité!
Laura - 04/03/2025 14:22:53
Super article ! Bravo. Je connais le miel de Jean - Christophe , mon préféré : le miel de lavande crémeux ! Un vrai délice en toute saison....
Fescourt Michèle - 04/02/2025 15:52:53
Très belles photos qui vous donnent envie d'habiter sur ce plateau de Valensole. Félicitations à toute l'équipe des "Folies de Provence" pour leur souci de faire paraître une publication qui vous donne envie d'acheter du miel. De plus les photos avec des ruches sur le plateau de Valensole, vous permettent d'apprécier la beauté de tous ces paysages de Provence. Merci à tous et bonne continuation. Cordialement,
Delphine - 04/02/2025 15:22:14
Magnifique article ! Merci beaucoup !