So it’s April – here are some of the flowering plants that should be available for the bees: Continue reading Bee Flowers – April
Category Archives: Honey
Honey Labelling Regulations
If you are a beekeeper and you are selling your honey from shops or a market stall it has to be labelled. There are EU and National regulations regarding what has to be on the label.
Here are the rules simplified: Continue reading Honey Labelling Regulations
Honey with Gin Innit
Here’s a honey recipe to help you forget your cold or flu or whatever it is that ails you.
Ingredients
- 50mls gin
- 15mls lemon juice
- 10 mls honey
- 5 mls water
Method
- Mix all the ingredients together;
- Pour over 3 ice cubes;
- Add a slice of lemon.
Repeat as necessary.
Of course if you have ivy honey – use that, as it is said to be especially good for colds and chesty coughs.
Cheers!
Click here for more about ivy honey
Click here for how to get a crop of ivy honey
Click here for more about ivy as a bee tree
Bee Trees – Ivy (Hedera helix)
Beekeepers know Ivy is a great plant for the bees but is it a tree?
It is when it’s got a great thick woody stem and a big bushy crown with flowers all over it. Continue reading Bee Trees – Ivy (Hedera helix)
Moisture Content of Honey
Get this: the moisture content of ripe honey (~17%) is about the same as ripe cereals such as barley, wheat, triticale etc!
Himalayan Balsam or Impatiens glandulifera
Himalayan balsam or Impatiens glandulifera originates in the Himalayas – surprise surprise. It was introduced to Europe as a garden plant but it quickly escaped the confines of the garden and joined the ranks of ‘Invasive Pests’. Other such plant species include Japanese knotweed, Giant hogweed, Sycamore or Acer pseudoplatanus and Trifids. Continue reading Himalayan Balsam or Impatiens glandulifera
Porter Bee Escape
If you’re looking at taking your honey off you’ll be looking at clearing the bees. If you’re in a hurry and you like a fight you can always shake them or brush them off the frames. Or if you are Gadget Man and don’t care about young bees being blown all over the landscape you can get yourself a bee blower. But if you favour something slower, more gentle and less brutal you’re looking at a clearer board. Continue reading Porter Bee Escape
Heathering
In this part of the world – July is the time to get the bees to the heather – if the flow is early you’ll miss it. But before you do that – have you got a heather site?
Here are some notes on what makes a good one. Continue reading Heathering
How to get Section Honey
Section honey is the creme de la creme of honeys.
Good sections command high prices and beekeepers will tell you the reason is that they are hard got. The bees hate to work all those corners and will often swarm instead. Or the weather will turn on you and you’ll be left with a lot of waste.
There is not much you can do about the weather but here are a few things you can consider to maximise your chances. Basically:
- The Hive
- The Bees
- The Forage
- Whether the Weather
Apiguard Eke
If you use Apiguard – be sure not to leave the eke on over winter or if you do, make sure get back to it before the dandelions do!
Perhaps this is why we call it an eke – we just spell it wrong; it should be eek. But note the rich yellow colour of dandelion honey – click the photos for a better look.
Click here for more on dandelions. Continue reading Apiguard Eke