You are collecting ground-truth data that satellites cannot capture β the real conditions on the ground. Your observations directly feed into Beelove Farm's Kenya Beekeeping Suitability Map. Aim for 8β12 stops per day, spread across different land types and areas.
β Signs of High Suitability (7β10)
Diverse flowering plants across multiple seasons
Dense natural vegetation or healthy mixed smallholder farms
Permanent water source within 500m
Existing hives with 70%+ colonization rate
Low pesticide pressure / no high-risk cash crops nearby
No history of frequent absconding
Strong swarming season (high trap colonization)
β οΈ Pesticide Risk β What to Look For
Ask local farmers what cash crops they grow and how often they spray
Citrus (oranges, pixies), tomatoes, French beans = high spray frequency
Note any agrochemical stores or dealer signs nearby
Dead bees near hive entrances = pesticide poisoning indicator
Ask what pesticide brand they use if possible
π African Bee Notes
Apis mellifera scutellata absconds when stressed β always ask about absconding history
Propolis-baited hives colonize significantly better than wax-baited ones
Tree-mounted hives generally colonize better than waist-height
Swarming season trap success rate = best indicator of local bee population density
π About the Dual Index
The form automatically calculates a suitability score from your field data. You also give your own gut score. When they differ by more than 2 points, add a note β you probably observed something important that the form doesn't capture yet. Those notes help us improve the algorithm.
βοΈ Google Sheets Live Sync
Every stop is saved to Google Sheets instantly. If you have no signal, stops queue automatically and sync when signal returns.
π€ Pending Queue
0
stops waiting to sync
π Setup Steps
Open Google Sheets β create new sheet: "Beelove Field Data"