By Brent Renneke:
University of Minnesota researchers are looking to solve the mysterious and rapid decline of the U.S. honey bee population in a study announced Wednesday.
Honey bee colonies decreased by about 29 percent from September 2008 to April 2009. Honey bees add more than $15 billion to the value of American crops each year, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “Bees pollinate a lot of our diets,” Marla Spivak, professor in the Department of Entomology, said. “All of our quality nutritional foods like fruits, vegetables and nuts are pollinated by bees.”
It is this important role that Spivak said is in serious danger. “Nutritionally, they are struggling,” Spivak said. “And the food they are eating is contaminated.” Spivak will work with scientists around the country in a three-year study to analyze the effect pesticides and environmental factors have on the health of honey bees in North Dakota, which is the leading honey bee state in the nation. The pollination provided by the honey bees is required for a plant to be able to both fertilize and produce seeds. “We are hoping to understand why bees are dying off at such fast numbers and if it is connected to the floral landscape they are in,” Spivak said. She said pollen and nectar from the flowers are the extent of the honey bees’ diet, and the lack of flowers is one area that is contributing to their decline.
Zac Browning, co-owner of Browning’s Honey Co. and the beekeeper for the study, said there is a lack of land that is nutritionally viable for the bees due to the growing presence of conventional agriculture in the state. “If we are in the middle of five miles of corn and beans, the bees are not doing very well,” Browning said. Browning said there are areas where his hives are located that are “agricultural deserts.” He has noticed the effect these areas have had on his colonies. In the past three years, Browning said he has doubled the amount of nutritional supplements and medication necessary to just keep his bees at the same efficiency. “Our inputs have doubled in the last five years, and we have not seen overall growth in the output of our hives,” Browning said. With the increase in agricultural land comes an increase of pesticide use, according to Spivak, who said this increased use creates a profound negative effect on the honey bees’ health.
Herbicides are being used on the weeds located around the farmer’s crop borders, and bees are feeding on these contaminated areas, Spivak said. Honey bees can fly up to two miles in search of food, according to Spivak, who said the bees are either not finding enough flowers in this radius or what they do find is contaminated. “They are not just looking in our backyard,” Spivak said. “There are not enough uncontaminated flowers out there.” Spivak said she has found 198 different pesticides in honey bee pollen. The study will compare bees from a number of different regions in North Dakota, according to Spivak. She said the honey bees from the different regions will then be transported by semi truck to California, where they will be used to colonize almond farms.
Dr. Ned Euliss Jr., wildlife biologist for the U.S. Geographical Survey, said this exporting of bees is an annual process for the state because of the number of honey bees almond farms require. There are 2.5 million bee colonies in the United States, and 1.5 million colonies are needed to pollinate the almond farms, according to Euliss, who is a researcher in the study. Spivak said the large amount of honey bees on the farm creates a dense environment that leads to the quick spreading of disease. The study aims to find out if honey bees coming from environments in North Dakota that are nutritional for the bees will lead to better health when on the almond farms. “If you take over colonies that are malnourished or sick from pollination, you will see a lot of losses,” Spivak said.
Overall, Euliss said the study hopes to find an environment for honey bees that leads to their best health. “We want to be able to find the optimal ways to configure the landscape for the bees,” Euliss said. Browning said he hopes the study will make policymakers and conservationists more aware of his industry. “Pollinators are a part of agriculture, and I think they have gone by the wayside,” Browning said. “I just want them to learn that they are of value.”
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, November 2, 2009
Make Your Own Beeswax Candles!
We have the purest all natural Florida made beeswax ready for your candle making ideas! Buy our beeswax online and on sale 24/7 at http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ or http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/! Our beeswax is triple filtered and unrefined for the best smelling candles in the world! Making beeswax candles is easy and fun! Follow the easy to use guide below!
Making homemade candles can be a fun hobby, whether making them as gifts or for yourself to enjoy. Candle making usually requires some experimentation, but when you discover how to make those perfect candles, it's well worth the effort.
There are a few basic supplies needed for making most candles:
wax wicks mold or containers wax melter candle making thermometer fragrances dyes putty for molds .
For new candle makers, the best way to having great results would be through learning how to make beeswax candles. It is considered as a perfect project for any beginner. The fact that no molten wax is included likewise makes this project ideal in itself. Cost is neither a problem. Rolled beeswax candles are not only fun but very cheap and easy to make. Plus, you really don't need a lot of materials if you want to learn how to make beeswax candles.
Rolled beeswax candles comprise of basic materials namely wicks and honeycomb beeswax sheets. You may also need knives and scissors as tools in making these. The instructions are relatively easy.
First, place the beeswax sheet on a smooth surface. Place the wick on the
shorter part or side of the beeswax sheet. Then crimp the edge of the beeswax sheet over the wick. Press it gently and continue rolling until the wick is fully covered. Seal in the ends by means of pressing the sheet as you roll it. Remember to do this process gently as you do not want to damage or break your beeswax candle.
Learning how to make beeswax candles also means applying the following tips. It is very important to roll the sheet tightly. It is also essential to keep the edges straight. No adhesive or glue is required in sealing the ends, all you need is press it gently and roll the sheet to make it firm. As you slowly do the rolling, you will notice how your beeswax grows in diameter. It has been said that the only means of sealing its ends is through your body heat. Just be patient in doing the process and do not do it hastily. Also, you have to remember that beeswax sheets have to be warm before you can roll them. It is advisable to use a blow dryer in warming your wax sheets. Moderation is also the golden rule when doing this technique.
To make molded candles, cut the wick two inches taller than you want the candle to be, then thread it through the hole at the bottom of the mold, then plug the outside of the hole with putty. Place a pencil or similar item over the top of the mold and tie the top of the wick to it, centering the wick. If the mold is cardboard, plastic, or glass, heat the wax to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If the mold is metal, then heat the wax to 190 degrees. You can use a candle or candy thermometer to measure this. When the right temperature is reached, lift the melter by the handle and slowly pour the wax into the mold. Let cool for twelve hours then refrigerate for twelve more hours, then your candle is ready to be removed.
To make votives and other small container candles, you can use pre-tabbed wicks by simply placing them in the center of the votive candle molds or containers, then pour the wax mixture over and let stand for twelve hours, refrigerating the votives.
This should give you a good start in this enjoyable hobby.
Have A Great Day!
http://www.sharpweblabs.com/
http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/
Making homemade candles can be a fun hobby, whether making them as gifts or for yourself to enjoy. Candle making usually requires some experimentation, but when you discover how to make those perfect candles, it's well worth the effort.
There are a few basic supplies needed for making most candles:
wax wicks mold or containers wax melter candle making thermometer fragrances dyes putty for molds .
For new candle makers, the best way to having great results would be through learning how to make beeswax candles. It is considered as a perfect project for any beginner. The fact that no molten wax is included likewise makes this project ideal in itself. Cost is neither a problem. Rolled beeswax candles are not only fun but very cheap and easy to make. Plus, you really don't need a lot of materials if you want to learn how to make beeswax candles.
Rolled beeswax candles comprise of basic materials namely wicks and honeycomb beeswax sheets. You may also need knives and scissors as tools in making these. The instructions are relatively easy.
First, place the beeswax sheet on a smooth surface. Place the wick on the
shorter part or side of the beeswax sheet. Then crimp the edge of the beeswax sheet over the wick. Press it gently and continue rolling until the wick is fully covered. Seal in the ends by means of pressing the sheet as you roll it. Remember to do this process gently as you do not want to damage or break your beeswax candle.Learning how to make beeswax candles also means applying the following tips. It is very important to roll the sheet tightly. It is also essential to keep the edges straight. No adhesive or glue is required in sealing the ends, all you need is press it gently and roll the sheet to make it firm. As you slowly do the rolling, you will notice how your beeswax grows in diameter. It has been said that the only means of sealing its ends is through your body heat. Just be patient in doing the process and do not do it hastily. Also, you have to remember that beeswax sheets have to be warm before you can roll them. It is advisable to use a blow dryer in warming your wax sheets. Moderation is also the golden rule when doing this technique.
To make molded candles, cut the wick two inches taller than you want the candle to be, then thread it through the hole at the bottom of the mold, then plug the outside of the hole with putty. Place a pencil or similar item over the top of the mold and tie the top of the wick to it, centering the wick. If the mold is cardboard, plastic, or glass, heat the wax to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. If the mold is metal, then heat the wax to 190 degrees. You can use a candle or candy thermometer to measure this. When the right temperature is reached, lift the melter by the handle and slowly pour the wax into the mold. Let cool for twelve hours then refrigerate for twelve more hours, then your candle is ready to be removed.
To make votives and other small container candles, you can use pre-tabbed wicks by simply placing them in the center of the votive candle molds or containers, then pour the wax mixture over and let stand for twelve hours, refrigerating the votives.
This should give you a good start in this enjoyable hobby.
Have A Great Day!
http://www.sharpweblabs.com/
http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/
Sunday, September 13, 2009
BeesWax Florida Lip Balm
Hi folks! Just a quick update on our homemade beeswax lip balm which we have been making for about 3 years now. At our last free give away trade show we debuted our new lip balm formula which contains some new essential oils namely peppermint and lemongrass as opposed to our original scent which contained rosemary and peppermint.
Everyone who tried our lip balms were truly delighted and we have decided to make our beeswax lip balms with this exciting new scent beginning next year. We encourage you to try one of our lip balms and compare with any other beeswax lip balm and let us know what you think.
If you make a purchase at our store or online at www.FloridaHerbHouse.com or www.SharpWebLabs.com then simply say you read our blog online and would like to sample one of our beeswax lip balms and we will gladly include one with your order! Our lip balms are eco-friendly using pure filtered premium beeswax and coconut oil. The balm outlasts all paraffin (petroleum based) lip balms and protects your lips extraordinarily.
For those of you who wish to learn briefly how bees actually make the wax read on. To make beeswax bees first collect nectar from flowers and bring it to the hive. There it becomes wax or honey. A bee's diet consists primarily of honey, and any honey not consumed by the bees or in the raising of brood is stored as surplus and is ultimately consumed in the winter months when no flowers are available.
The worker bees, which live only around 35 days in the summer, develop special wax-producing glands on their abdomens and are most efficient at wax production during the 10th through the 16th days of their lives. From about day 18 until the end of its life, a bee's wax glands steadily decline. Bees consume honey (6-8 pound of honey are need to produce a pound of wax) causing the special wax-producing glands to covert the sugar into wax which is extruded through small pores. The wax appears as small flakes on the bees' abdomen. At this point the flakes are essentially transparent and only become white after being chewed. It is in the mastication process that salivary secretions are added to the wax to help soften it. This also accounts for its change in color.
The exact process of how a bee transfers the wax scales from its abdomen to its mandibles was a mystery for years. It's now understood to be processed in either of two ways. Most of the activities in the hive are cooperative so it should be no surprise that other worker bees are willing to remove the wax scales from their neighbors and then chew them. The other method is for the same bee extruding the wax to process her own wax scales. This is done using one hind leg to move a wax scale to the first pair of legs (forelegs). A foreleg then makes the final transfer to the mandibles where it is masticated, and then applied to the comb being constructed or repaired.
Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sharp
Florida Herb House
Everyone who tried our lip balms were truly delighted and we have decided to make our beeswax lip balms with this exciting new scent beginning next year. We encourage you to try one of our lip balms and compare with any other beeswax lip balm and let us know what you think.
If you make a purchase at our store or online at www.FloridaHerbHouse.com or www.SharpWebLabs.com then simply say you read our blog online and would like to sample one of our beeswax lip balms and we will gladly include one with your order! Our lip balms are eco-friendly using pure filtered premium beeswax and coconut oil. The balm outlasts all paraffin (petroleum based) lip balms and protects your lips extraordinarily.
For those of you who wish to learn briefly how bees actually make the wax read on. To make beeswax bees first collect nectar from flowers and bring it to the hive. There it becomes wax or honey. A bee's diet consists primarily of honey, and any honey not consumed by the bees or in the raising of brood is stored as surplus and is ultimately consumed in the winter months when no flowers are available.
The worker bees, which live only around 35 days in the summer, develop special wax-producing glands on their abdomens and are most efficient at wax production during the 10th through the 16th days of their lives. From about day 18 until the end of its life, a bee's wax glands steadily decline. Bees consume honey (6-8 pound of honey are need to produce a pound of wax) causing the special wax-producing glands to covert the sugar into wax which is extruded through small pores. The wax appears as small flakes on the bees' abdomen. At this point the flakes are essentially transparent and only become white after being chewed. It is in the mastication process that salivary secretions are added to the wax to help soften it. This also accounts for its change in color.
The exact process of how a bee transfers the wax scales from its abdomen to its mandibles was a mystery for years. It's now understood to be processed in either of two ways. Most of the activities in the hive are cooperative so it should be no surprise that other worker bees are willing to remove the wax scales from their neighbors and then chew them. The other method is for the same bee extruding the wax to process her own wax scales. This is done using one hind leg to move a wax scale to the first pair of legs (forelegs). A foreleg then makes the final transfer to the mandibles where it is masticated, and then applied to the comb being constructed or repaired.
Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sharp
Florida Herb House
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Bee Pollen New Recipes
We are just dropping in to post some of the newest recipes that we have sampled using our bee pollen and bee pollen powder. Cooking with bee pollen is a great way to reap the endless nutrients that exist in every ounce of bee pollen. Our bee pollen and bee pollen powder is on sale and ready to ship direct from our Florida Herb House or you can order online 24/7 at http://www.sharpweblabs.com/ or http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/.
While most people recognize the term bee pollen, many people do not know what bee pollen actually is or what it has to offer. Bee Pollen is one of nature's unique and most powerful foods. It is flower pollen that bees collect for food. Bee pollen offers a treasure trove of special plant nutrients. Here are some of the qualities that make Bee Pollen unique:
1. The nutrients found in Bee Pollen are extremely high quality. Not only does bee pollen contain high quality nutrients that can be burned as fuel, it also provides nutrients that are helpful in maintaining and promoting health.
2. The nutritional makeup of Bee Pollen is extremely broad spectrum. The wide range of nutrients found in Bee Pollen include polyphenols, enzymes, beneficial fatty acids, free amino acids, vitamin complexes, chelated minerals and trace elements, as well as a large array of phytonutrients that have yet to be identified. This nutritional diversity makes Bee Pollen an ideal dietary supplement as a complement and boost to a well-rounded diet.
3. The nutrients in Bee Pollen are very concentrated. This nutritional density means that even small amounts provide effective and valuable levels of important nutrients. In other words, bee pollen, as a food source or as a supplement, provides low volume, but high intensity, nutrition.
Try These Recipes Today!
Bee Pollen Popcorn
1/2 cup popcorn (unpopped)
1/3 cup vegetable oil1 teaspoon bee pollen
Approximately 2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
Approximately 2 teaspoons sugar (to taste)
Heat oil over medium high heat in a large, heavy duty saucepan. Place 3 kernels of popcorn in saucepan and cover. When they pop, you'll know the oil is hot enough. Pour remaining popcorn kernels into saucepan and shake continuously until popping basically stops, leaving lid open enough to release steam. (You'll want to wear oven mitts, because the pan will get quite hot.) Remove from heat.
Grind bee pollen to a fine powder in a coffee grinder or mill. Sprinkle over popcorn and stir. Add salt and sugar to taste and stir to ensure that bee pollen, salt and sugar are distributed evenly. Enjoy.Makes a great accompaniment to soup or salad.
-------------------------------------------------
Honey Bee Smoothie Recipe:
Combine the following ingredients in a blender: 2 peaches or nectarines - sliced and frozen (about 2 cups), 1 banana - sliced and frozen (about 1 cup), 3 tablespoons of honey, and a pinch or two of fresh bee pollen. Puree until smooth - 1 to 2 minutes
-------------------------------------------------
Instant Breakfast:
1 cup Apple Juice or orange juice or favorite “pure juice only” juice (no sugar!)
1 Banana
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Pure Liquid Honey
1 Tablespoon Pure Bee Pollen granules
Blend all ingredients together in am Electric Blender (Hand held or Regular Blender)
-------------------------------------------------
Honey Egg Nog!
2 eggs beaten
2 TBSP honey
2 Cups cold Milk, or cold plain Rice Milk, or plain Soy Milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
Dash of ground nutmeg
2 TBSP Bee Pollen granules
Combine eggs with honey and Bee Pollen and mix well. Beat in milk and vanilla. Sprinkle lightly with Nutmeg. Makes 2 servings.
------------------------------------------------
Breakfast Drink:
1 egg
1 C. orange juice
1 TBSP honey
1 tsp – 1 TBSP Bee Pollen granules
Combine egg, juice, honey, and pollen granules. Beat or shake until well blended. Pour into tall glass. Serve immediately. Makes one serving. Serve cold.
This drink makes an excellent breakfast drink for those in a hurry or on a hot summer morning.
Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sharp
http://www.sharpweblabs.com/
http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/
While most people recognize the term bee pollen, many people do not know what bee pollen actually is or what it has to offer. Bee Pollen is one of nature's unique and most powerful foods. It is flower pollen that bees collect for food. Bee pollen offers a treasure trove of special plant nutrients. Here are some of the qualities that make Bee Pollen unique:
1. The nutrients found in Bee Pollen are extremely high quality. Not only does bee pollen contain high quality nutrients that can be burned as fuel, it also provides nutrients that are helpful in maintaining and promoting health.
2. The nutritional makeup of Bee Pollen is extremely broad spectrum. The wide range of nutrients found in Bee Pollen include polyphenols, enzymes, beneficial fatty acids, free amino acids, vitamin complexes, chelated minerals and trace elements, as well as a large array of phytonutrients that have yet to be identified. This nutritional diversity makes Bee Pollen an ideal dietary supplement as a complement and boost to a well-rounded diet.
3. The nutrients in Bee Pollen are very concentrated. This nutritional density means that even small amounts provide effective and valuable levels of important nutrients. In other words, bee pollen, as a food source or as a supplement, provides low volume, but high intensity, nutrition.
Try These Recipes Today!
Bee Pollen Popcorn
1/2 cup popcorn (unpopped)
1/3 cup vegetable oil1 teaspoon bee pollen
Approximately 2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
Approximately 2 teaspoons sugar (to taste)
Heat oil over medium high heat in a large, heavy duty saucepan. Place 3 kernels of popcorn in saucepan and cover. When they pop, you'll know the oil is hot enough. Pour remaining popcorn kernels into saucepan and shake continuously until popping basically stops, leaving lid open enough to release steam. (You'll want to wear oven mitts, because the pan will get quite hot.) Remove from heat.
Grind bee pollen to a fine powder in a coffee grinder or mill. Sprinkle over popcorn and stir. Add salt and sugar to taste and stir to ensure that bee pollen, salt and sugar are distributed evenly. Enjoy.Makes a great accompaniment to soup or salad.
-------------------------------------------------
Honey Bee Smoothie Recipe:
Combine the following ingredients in a blender: 2 peaches or nectarines - sliced and frozen (about 2 cups), 1 banana - sliced and frozen (about 1 cup), 3 tablespoons of honey, and a pinch or two of fresh bee pollen. Puree until smooth - 1 to 2 minutes
-------------------------------------------------
Instant Breakfast:
1 cup Apple Juice or orange juice or favorite “pure juice only” juice (no sugar!)
1 Banana
1 Egg
1 Tablespoon Pure Liquid Honey
1 Tablespoon Pure Bee Pollen granules
Blend all ingredients together in am Electric Blender (Hand held or Regular Blender)
-------------------------------------------------
Honey Egg Nog!
2 eggs beaten
2 TBSP honey
2 Cups cold Milk, or cold plain Rice Milk, or plain Soy Milk
½ tsp vanilla extract
Dash of ground nutmeg
2 TBSP Bee Pollen granules
Combine eggs with honey and Bee Pollen and mix well. Beat in milk and vanilla. Sprinkle lightly with Nutmeg. Makes 2 servings.
------------------------------------------------
Breakfast Drink:
1 egg
1 C. orange juice
1 TBSP honey
1 tsp – 1 TBSP Bee Pollen granules
Combine egg, juice, honey, and pollen granules. Beat or shake until well blended. Pour into tall glass. Serve immediately. Makes one serving. Serve cold.
This drink makes an excellent breakfast drink for those in a hurry or on a hot summer morning.
Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sharp
http://www.sharpweblabs.com/
http://www.floridaherbhouse.com/
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Save The Honey Bees!
"My Oh My" this is getting serious. As we strive to make the worlds best beeswax all natural lip balm here at www.KissMyBees.com and www.FloridaHerbHouse.com the worrying has escalated. What is happening to our honey bees?
We have been starting to see the actual effects of the honey bee decline after placing our last order for bulk beeswax. We have always been getting our beeswax here in our home state of Florida and last month was the first time we had to order from outside the sunshine state. Is this due to the rapid decline in honey bees or are we just worrying too much? Nope we have some serious problems with the honey bee decline. Why are the bee colonies down as much as 60% we ask? Well it does seem that bees and humans may have something in common. Nutrition is as vital to us as it may be to the honey bees and it is possible that the bees are undernourished which may be the cause of the problem. Many states are seeing less dense bee hives and this may be contributed to the lack of nutrition the bees are getting.
Another possible cause of the honey bee crisis may be the pesticides that are being used. Many hives die as a result of "pesticide poisoning". There are literally billions of honey bees dying prematurely and the source must be found before this world suffers severely. The honey bee only has a six week life cycle in the summer, three weeks inside the hive and three weeks outside, but many are not even making it to the fourth week.
So yet another possible source of this dilemma is the huge rise in cell phone stations and also cell phone use. Some are claiming the huge growth of clogged air waves with cellular waves may be disturbing the bees and causing the early deaths. Stephen C. Sharp who has been studying this problem for many weeks while not a scientist gives no personal merit to this cause. He states "Cellular phones have been around for long enough to see a potential problem with the bees. This problem came like a train wreck. I think there would have been many initial signs if the cellular wavebands were the source of the bee problem.".
Other topics that have been thrown around as to the potential source of the bee crisis has been a virus or possibly mites that have worked their way into the bee colonies. Whatever the cause it must be isolated and controlled. Bottom line is if the bees all die maybe we will too! Bees are the only source to carry pollen of various fruits and nuts. Many plants do not reap the benefits of wind travel for pollination therefore if the bees vanish so does much of our food supply. We would begin to see a decline in new plants, brush, flowers, crops, and more. The honey bee gets food such as nectar and pollen from flowers and in turn pollinates the flower which allows the plant to reproduce. No bees, no reproduction!
Sincerely,
Florida Herb House
Port Orange, Florida
We have been starting to see the actual effects of the honey bee decline after placing our last order for bulk beeswax. We have always been getting our beeswax here in our home state of Florida and last month was the first time we had to order from outside the sunshine state. Is this due to the rapid decline in honey bees or are we just worrying too much? Nope we have some serious problems with the honey bee decline. Why are the bee colonies down as much as 60% we ask? Well it does seem that bees and humans may have something in common. Nutrition is as vital to us as it may be to the honey bees and it is possible that the bees are undernourished which may be the cause of the problem. Many states are seeing less dense bee hives and this may be contributed to the lack of nutrition the bees are getting.
Another possible cause of the honey bee crisis may be the pesticides that are being used. Many hives die as a result of "pesticide poisoning". There are literally billions of honey bees dying prematurely and the source must be found before this world suffers severely. The honey bee only has a six week life cycle in the summer, three weeks inside the hive and three weeks outside, but many are not even making it to the fourth week.
So yet another possible source of this dilemma is the huge rise in cell phone stations and also cell phone use. Some are claiming the huge growth of clogged air waves with cellular waves may be disturbing the bees and causing the early deaths. Stephen C. Sharp who has been studying this problem for many weeks while not a scientist gives no personal merit to this cause. He states "Cellular phones have been around for long enough to see a potential problem with the bees. This problem came like a train wreck. I think there would have been many initial signs if the cellular wavebands were the source of the bee problem.".
Other topics that have been thrown around as to the potential source of the bee crisis has been a virus or possibly mites that have worked their way into the bee colonies. Whatever the cause it must be isolated and controlled. Bottom line is if the bees all die maybe we will too! Bees are the only source to carry pollen of various fruits and nuts. Many plants do not reap the benefits of wind travel for pollination therefore if the bees vanish so does much of our food supply. We would begin to see a decline in new plants, brush, flowers, crops, and more. The honey bee gets food such as nectar and pollen from flowers and in turn pollinates the flower which allows the plant to reproduce. No bees, no reproduction!
Sincerely,
Florida Herb House
Port Orange, Florida
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Bee Pollen - The Natural Wonder!
Happy Wednesday Blogger Friends!
From all of us at www.SharpWebLabs.com and www.FloridaHerbHouse.com happy Wednesday!
This article is to educate one on bee pollen which has been a fast growing nutrient used in many household recipes now.
While most people recognize the term bee pollen, many people do not know what bee pollen actually is or what it has to offer. Bee Pollen is one of nature¹s unique and most powerful foods. It is flower pollen that bees collect for food. Bee pollen offers a treasure trove of special plant nutrients.
Did You Know?
The nutrients found in Bee Pollen are extremely high quality. Not only does bee pollen contain high quality nutrients that can be burned as fuel, it also provides nutrients that are helpful in maintaining and promoting health.
The nutritional makeup of Bee Pollen is extremely broad spectrum. The wide range of nutrients found in Bee Pollen include polyphenols, enzymes, beneficial fatty acids, free amino acids, vitamin complexes, chelated minerals and trace elements, as well as a large array of phytonutrients that have yet to be identified. This nutritional diversity makes Bee Pollen an ideal dietary supplement as a complement and boost to a well-rounded diet.
The nutrients in Bee Pollen are very concentrated. This nutritional density means that even small amounts provide effective and valuable levels of important nutrients. In other words, bee pollen, as a food source or as a supplement, provides low volume, but high intensity, nutrition.
One teaspoonful of pollen contains approximately 1,200 pellets or 2.5 billion grains, each of which has the capacity to supply those factors that are necessary in order to fertilize and reproduce the particular species that it represents (such as a fruit, grain or tree). Pollen is composed of myriads of microspores that are produced in the anthers of flowers and in the cones of conifers. Each grain measures approximately .002 inches in diameter (although the representative diameter is somewhere near one-half millimeter), and each bee-collected pellet contains approximately two million grains of pollen.
Pollen contains the richest known source of vitamins, minerals, proteins amino acids, hormones, enzymes and fats, as well as significant quantities of natural antibiotics. Most of the known vitamins in pollen exist in perfect proportion, which further enhances their value.
One gram of fresh raw pollen contains from 7 to 15 mg. of vitamin C, along with traces of vitamin E (tocopherol).
Although vitamin K does not exist in mixed pollens, it is usually found in fermented pollen (bee bread). It is most likely created by bacteria that either accompany or assist in the fermentation process whenever pollen is stored in the cells of the combs. While ordinary pollen gradually deteriorates while in storage, bee bread closely resembles fresh pollen and retains its food value (even after more than two years).
Pollens usually contain as much as 17 milligrams of rutin, although beehive stored pollen may contain up to 13 percent. The richest supply of rutin is found in buckwheat pollen, due to the fact that rutin is derived from buckwheat. Daily consumption of from 60 to 70 grams of pollen is considered safe insofar as the intake of rutin is concerned.
There is many other unmentioned vitamins and minerals in just one teaspoon of bee pollen so buy some today at www.SharpWebLabs.com and boost your health today!
Sincerely,
Carol C.
SharpWebLabs.com
From all of us at www.SharpWebLabs.com and www.FloridaHerbHouse.com happy Wednesday!
This article is to educate one on bee pollen which has been a fast growing nutrient used in many household recipes now.
While most people recognize the term bee pollen, many people do not know what bee pollen actually is or what it has to offer. Bee Pollen is one of nature¹s unique and most powerful foods. It is flower pollen that bees collect for food. Bee pollen offers a treasure trove of special plant nutrients.
Did You Know?
The nutrients found in Bee Pollen are extremely high quality. Not only does bee pollen contain high quality nutrients that can be burned as fuel, it also provides nutrients that are helpful in maintaining and promoting health.
The nutritional makeup of Bee Pollen is extremely broad spectrum. The wide range of nutrients found in Bee Pollen include polyphenols, enzymes, beneficial fatty acids, free amino acids, vitamin complexes, chelated minerals and trace elements, as well as a large array of phytonutrients that have yet to be identified. This nutritional diversity makes Bee Pollen an ideal dietary supplement as a complement and boost to a well-rounded diet.
The nutrients in Bee Pollen are very concentrated. This nutritional density means that even small amounts provide effective and valuable levels of important nutrients. In other words, bee pollen, as a food source or as a supplement, provides low volume, but high intensity, nutrition.
One teaspoonful of pollen contains approximately 1,200 pellets or 2.5 billion grains, each of which has the capacity to supply those factors that are necessary in order to fertilize and reproduce the particular species that it represents (such as a fruit, grain or tree). Pollen is composed of myriads of microspores that are produced in the anthers of flowers and in the cones of conifers. Each grain measures approximately .002 inches in diameter (although the representative diameter is somewhere near one-half millimeter), and each bee-collected pellet contains approximately two million grains of pollen.
Pollen contains the richest known source of vitamins, minerals, proteins amino acids, hormones, enzymes and fats, as well as significant quantities of natural antibiotics. Most of the known vitamins in pollen exist in perfect proportion, which further enhances their value.
One gram of fresh raw pollen contains from 7 to 15 mg. of vitamin C, along with traces of vitamin E (tocopherol).
Although vitamin K does not exist in mixed pollens, it is usually found in fermented pollen (bee bread). It is most likely created by bacteria that either accompany or assist in the fermentation process whenever pollen is stored in the cells of the combs. While ordinary pollen gradually deteriorates while in storage, bee bread closely resembles fresh pollen and retains its food value (even after more than two years).
Pollens usually contain as much as 17 milligrams of rutin, although beehive stored pollen may contain up to 13 percent. The richest supply of rutin is found in buckwheat pollen, due to the fact that rutin is derived from buckwheat. Daily consumption of from 60 to 70 grams of pollen is considered safe insofar as the intake of rutin is concerned.
There is many other unmentioned vitamins and minerals in just one teaspoon of bee pollen so buy some today at www.SharpWebLabs.com and boost your health today!
Sincerely,
Carol C.
SharpWebLabs.com
Monday, January 19, 2009
The Buzz On Making BeesWax - Lee's Bees
Happy Monday Blogger Pals!
From all of us at www.KissMyBees.com we welcome you to another bee blog! Many people who use our candles and lip balms occasionally ask us "Where Do You Get Your Bees Wax?" and also "How Does Bees Wax Get Made?". Well we are here to answer those questions today.
Our Bees Wax candles are made out of 100% pure beeswax with no additives. We get our beeswax mostly from local Florida bee-keepers. The beekeepers are the ones who house and support the bee colonies and as a result produce honey and bee wax. Below is a perfect description from our friends at The Bees Wax Co. on the formation of beeswax by honey bees.
It all begins on a flower in the field. Bees collect nectar from the flowers and bring it to the hive where it becomes either beeswax or honey. A bee's diet consists primarily of honey, and any honey not consumed by the bees or in the raising of brood is stored as surplus and is ultimately consumed in the winter months when no flowers are available. It is the other use of honey that is of interest to us here: the conversion into beeswax.
The production of beeswax is essential to the bee colony. It is used to construct the combs in which the bees raise their brood and into which they store pollen and surplus honey for the winter.
Worker bees, which live only around 35 days in the summer, develop special wax-producing glands on their abdomens (inner sides of the sternites of abdominal segments 4 to 7) and are most efficient at wax production during the 10th through the 16th days of their lives. From about day 18 until the end of its life, a bee's wax glands steadily decline. The bees consume honey (6-8 pound of honey are need to produce a pound of wax) causing the special wax-producing glands to covert the sugar into wax which is extruded through small pores. The wax appears as small flakes on the bees' abdomen. At this point the flakes are essentially transparent and only become white after being chewed. It is in the mastication process that salivary secretions are added to the wax to help soften it. This also accounts for its change in color.
The exact process of how a bee transfers the wax scales from its abdomen to its mandibles was a mystery for years. It's now known to be done in either of two ways. Most of the activities in the hive are cooperative so it should be no surprise that other worker bees are willing to oblige and remove the wax scales from their neighbors and then chew them. The other method is for the same bee extruding the wax to process her own wax scales. This is done using one hind leg to move a wax scale to the first pair of legs (forelegs). A foreleg then makes the final transfer to the mandibles where it is masticated and then applied to the comb being constructed or repaired.
Beeswax becomes soft and very pliable if the temperature is too high (it actually melts at 149 F). Likewise, it becomes brittle and difficult to manage if the temperature is too low. However, honeybees maintain their hive at a temperature of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit which is just perfect for the manipulation of beeswax: not to hot to be at the point of dripping and not to cold to so as to be brittle.
A honeycomb constructed from beeswax is nothing short of a triumph of engineering. It consists of hexagon shaped cylinders (six-sided) that fit naturally side-by-side. It has been definitively proven by mathematicians that by making the cells into hexagons, it is the very most efficient: the smallest possible amount of wax is used for the volume of honey it contains. It has also been shown to be one of the strongest possible shapes while using the least amount of material.
The color of beeswax comprising a comb is at first white and then darkens with age and use. This is especially true if it is used to raise brood. Pigmentation in the wax can result in colors ranging from white, through shades of yellow, orange, and red all the way to brown. The color has no significance as to the quality of the wax (other than its aesthetic appeal).
Try one of our famous Florida Bees Wax Lip Balms or one of our hand-poured beeswax candles for a true treat any time! Shop online at www.KissMyBees.com, www.FloridaHerbHouse.com, or www.SharpWebLabs.com! We welcome your questions always! :-)
Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sharp
www.KissMyBees.com
From all of us at www.KissMyBees.com we welcome you to another bee blog! Many people who use our candles and lip balms occasionally ask us "Where Do You Get Your Bees Wax?" and also "How Does Bees Wax Get Made?". Well we are here to answer those questions today.
Our Bees Wax candles are made out of 100% pure beeswax with no additives. We get our beeswax mostly from local Florida bee-keepers. The beekeepers are the ones who house and support the bee colonies and as a result produce honey and bee wax. Below is a perfect description from our friends at The Bees Wax Co. on the formation of beeswax by honey bees.
It all begins on a flower in the field. Bees collect nectar from the flowers and bring it to the hive where it becomes either beeswax or honey. A bee's diet consists primarily of honey, and any honey not consumed by the bees or in the raising of brood is stored as surplus and is ultimately consumed in the winter months when no flowers are available. It is the other use of honey that is of interest to us here: the conversion into beeswax.
The production of beeswax is essential to the bee colony. It is used to construct the combs in which the bees raise their brood and into which they store pollen and surplus honey for the winter.
Worker bees, which live only around 35 days in the summer, develop special wax-producing glands on their abdomens (inner sides of the sternites of abdominal segments 4 to 7) and are most efficient at wax production during the 10th through the 16th days of their lives. From about day 18 until the end of its life, a bee's wax glands steadily decline. The bees consume honey (6-8 pound of honey are need to produce a pound of wax) causing the special wax-producing glands to covert the sugar into wax which is extruded through small pores. The wax appears as small flakes on the bees' abdomen. At this point the flakes are essentially transparent and only become white after being chewed. It is in the mastication process that salivary secretions are added to the wax to help soften it. This also accounts for its change in color.
The exact process of how a bee transfers the wax scales from its abdomen to its mandibles was a mystery for years. It's now known to be done in either of two ways. Most of the activities in the hive are cooperative so it should be no surprise that other worker bees are willing to oblige and remove the wax scales from their neighbors and then chew them. The other method is for the same bee extruding the wax to process her own wax scales. This is done using one hind leg to move a wax scale to the first pair of legs (forelegs). A foreleg then makes the final transfer to the mandibles where it is masticated and then applied to the comb being constructed or repaired.
Beeswax becomes soft and very pliable if the temperature is too high (it actually melts at 149 F). Likewise, it becomes brittle and difficult to manage if the temperature is too low. However, honeybees maintain their hive at a temperature of around 95 degrees Fahrenheit which is just perfect for the manipulation of beeswax: not to hot to be at the point of dripping and not to cold to so as to be brittle.
A honeycomb constructed from beeswax is nothing short of a triumph of engineering. It consists of hexagon shaped cylinders (six-sided) that fit naturally side-by-side. It has been definitively proven by mathematicians that by making the cells into hexagons, it is the very most efficient: the smallest possible amount of wax is used for the volume of honey it contains. It has also been shown to be one of the strongest possible shapes while using the least amount of material.
The color of beeswax comprising a comb is at first white and then darkens with age and use. This is especially true if it is used to raise brood. Pigmentation in the wax can result in colors ranging from white, through shades of yellow, orange, and red all the way to brown. The color has no significance as to the quality of the wax (other than its aesthetic appeal).
Try one of our famous Florida Bees Wax Lip Balms or one of our hand-poured beeswax candles for a true treat any time! Shop online at www.KissMyBees.com, www.FloridaHerbHouse.com, or www.SharpWebLabs.com! We welcome your questions always! :-)
Sincerely,
Stephen C. Sharp
www.KissMyBees.com
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