Honey

[zzGypsy]

went to my first Ozark bee club meeting last night... they're having 2 beginning beekeeping classes (springfield, mo) in january. if anyone's in the area and wants details, let me know!

 

[kuntrygirl]

I found a beekeeper that lives 2 miles from my house. She sells raw honey that is not heated. $10.00 per quart and $6.00 a pint. I will be buying some from her Friday.

Thanks for ALL of the information everyone!

 

[kookykate328]

if ou have allergies local honey helps alot its like yummy medicine

 

[kari_dawn]

I love soft goats milk cheese on multigrain bread with raw honey drizzled over the top. Yum! And the best part is because you aren't heating up the honey, you aren't breaking down any live active enzymes in the honey

 

[kuntrygirl]

Quote:
Goat's milk cheese? Sounds like I need to start looking for that now.

 

[punk-a-doodle]

I use it in place of refined sugar for most anything, and prefer the taste and quality of the sweetness. I bake with it too. However, while mild heating will not damage the natural enzymes and nutrients, higher heat will. This includes most of it's antibacterial properties. Antioxident properties may increase with heating, I don't think that has really been confirmed though.

A note on commercial honey that was mentioned earlier:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2011/11/tests-show-most-store-honey-isnt-honey/

 

[EweSheep]

I haven't read thru the whole threads about bees but I am curious how bees overwinter when you have temps in the freezing/below zeros at times. Do they all die and you have to buy MORE bees? Or do you keep a portion and put them in your basement with heater to winterize them?

 

[kari_dawn]

Quote:
Goat's milk cheese? Sounds like I need to start looking for that now.

...My parents brought me some from trader joe's up north in yank territory (Maryland)...I wish there was one down here! They have these great little medalions that are the perfect size for two slices of bread <3

 

[Avalon1984]

Quote:
I wish I could keep them in the house

You have to insulate the hive and make sure that no condensation builds. The bees will form a cluster and stay warm but if it is warm inside and cold on the outside of teh hive moisture forms and will get them cold so you need to insulate the hive. It also helps to feed them through the winter so I am trying this. I wrapped my hive in tarpaper Monday and added a suger water feeder.

 

[sourland]

Quote:
Somewhat simplistically, bees cluster together and eat stored honey to generate heat. Bees are continually moving from the outside of the cluster to the inside to warm themselves. Moisture will not form if the hive is properly ventilated. It is necessary to leave enough honey that the bees do not starve overwinter. Occasional warm days are very helpful to the bees as they can leave the hive for 'cleansing' flights where they defecate.