Honey

[Guest guest]

I raise honey bees on occasion. I say occasion because the severe

winters and humidity here in Missouri take a toll on them, so it is

periodic for me.

 

Honey is produced from the necter the bees chew and then spit out the

excess into holding cells, it contains a lot of bee saliva if there

can be considered any such thing. This is their way of " processing "

the necter. It contains a great deal of H2O2 which prevents it from

spoiling. The cells are left open to dehydrate. After it drys enough

the cells are capped this is honey. It still contains a lot of H2O2

and nutrients. Commercial honey keepers are required by law in many

areas to heat treat the raw honey thus destroying any nutritive value.

(God only knows why) Honey (raw) can be put on severe cuts and will

prevent infection thereon. Bees produce more honey than one hive will

ever eat as food stuff for a year. No bee keeper will knowingly take

more than they should. This usually happens because they are ignorant.

In humid areas like mine the moisure will cause the honey to ferment

and allow pathogens into the brood chambers. I would rather take the

extra few boxes of spare honey the bees have made than allow wasps,

racoons (plus several other wild mammals), ants, moths, mites, etc.,

etc., to " Rob " them.

 

I enjoy honey upon occasion but like any sweetener, I try to keep it

down to a bare minimum.

[Guest guest]

I have to agree. I'm in New England, and the winters are very long & harsh, not

to mention our wild bees here are endangered. There are many folks here trying

to help our wild populations by feeding and wintering hives. I don't see bee

keeping as cruel, and find most who make such comments are ignorant to bee

keeping facts. I also have bat houses, and do what I can to help nature in these

troubled times that appear to be getting worse.

 

I don't use too much honey because of sugar, but I do keep it on hand. If I

wasn't going to use it, I'd put it outside for the bees, etc...

 

nb

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Thanks to those who are compassionate bee keepers. My dad was a

beekeeper, it was a hobby business (according to my mother <grin>)

and the practices sited in the quoted in peta, etc do not apply to

the small farmer. He wasn't killing his queens when they were 2 yrs

old, or stealing all their honey and giving them sugar. He wanted

healthy hives and like someone wrote here tried to keep other vermin

from stealing their stuff.

Again, thanks for bringing a little bit of reasonableness to the

honey/beeswax discussion.

We were also almond farmers, and I can tell you that fumigation was

a rare experience, so almonds are pretty safe from that point of

view.

Dont' forget that bees are used to pollinate all those lovely fruits

and vegetables we love. Yes, those wax coated oranges were

pollinated into being by bees :-D

It is a circle.

 

I know someone who " communicates " with insects and the most profound

thing she has ever " heard " is from the bees, " No one prays for us

anymore " . I was very touched by that given my own relationship to

bees via my dad.

I'm sure you are aware of the great value of honey in biblical times

and the great appreciation that was shown to a find of honeycomb.

 

Blessings, all

Debi

[Guest guest]

Hi Debi

I also used to work with Bees. Most small beekeepers I met where a kindly folk,

not at all like the larger commercial keepers. Many small keepers care very much

about their bees and would never dream of giving them sugar, on the other hand

many keepers think sugar is actually good for the bees. For a raw fooder it is

important to be sure the honey has not been heated on any step to the honey jar.

I have many old friends who swear by honey, but I myself left it behind in favor

fruit sugar such as Dates. Of course a little honey now and then certainly won't

kill anyone, but I felt it was better to leave it behind and let the bees enjoy

the fruits of their labor.

 

-karl

 

 

 

" When I gave food to the poor, they called me a saint; but when I asked why

people are poor, they called me a communist. "

-Brazilian Bishop Don Helder Camara

 

 

:  Thanks to those who are compassionate bee keepers. My dad was a

:  beekeeper, it was a hobby business (according to my mother <grin>)

:  and the practices sited in the quoted in peta, etc do not apply to

:  the small farmer. He wasn't killing his queens when they were 2 yrs

:  old, or stealing all their honey and giving them sugar. He wanted

:  healthy hives and like someone wrote here tried to keep other vermin

:  from stealing their stuff.

:  Again, thanks for bringing a little bit of reasonableness to the

:  honey/beeswax discussion.

:  We were also almond farmers, and I can tell you that fumigation was

:  a rare experience, so almonds are pretty safe from that point of

:  view.

:  Dont' forget that bees are used to pollinate all those lovely fruits

:  and vegetables we love. Yes, those wax coated oranges were

:  pollinated into being by bees :-D

:  It is a circle.

:  I know someone who " communicates " with insects and the most profound

:  thing she has ever " heard " is from the bees, " No one prays for us

:  anymore " . I was very touched by that given my own relationship to

:  bees via my dad.

:  I'm sure you are aware of the great value of honey in biblical times

:  and the great appreciation that was shown to a find of honeycomb.

:  Blessings, all

:  Debi

:  

:  

:  

: