Showing posts with label bee facts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bee facts. Show all posts

Friday, September 14, 2012

Our Farm LOVES It's Bees...

As another season approaches, our thoughts again turn to our lovely bee's...oh how we do LOVE our bee's!! Soon, the days will be cooler and bee sightings on the farm will start to diminish as our tiny friends prepare to winter over in the comfort of their honey filled hives.

Over the past few years, there have been a large number of articles written regarding the importance of honey bee's. There have been even more articles written about the disappearance of the honey bee. It is so very sad!


I recently read that one third (1/3) of the food we eat depends on the pollination work of bee's. I even found a list of 10 foods that wouldn't exist if bee's completely died off. That list included:
  1. Apples,
  2. Almonds,
  3. Watermelon,
  4. Pumpkins,
  5. Squash,
  6. Cucumbers,
  7. Avocados,
  8. Mangoes,
  9. Blueberry's and
  10. Raspberry's.
Shocking, I know!!

So, as you are reading this information, you're thinking "I love bee's too but I just can't have a hive in my life right now". Well, not to worry...there are many things you can do to help out bee's. For example, you could spend a little time this winter researching plants that grow well in your area that bee's love. Then add a few of those plants to your garden next spring.

There are also a few simple land spacing and garden practices that you can implement to help bee's thrive in you area such as:
  1. Don't use pesticides,
  2. Provide a variety of food for bee's,
  3. Provide a year-round, clean source of water, and
  4. Provide shelter.
All of this might seem somewhat daunting at first but I promise it is very east to achieve...LONG LIVE THE BEE!!

(More information can be found at www.honeybeehaven.org)

Monday, March 26, 2012

sunshine lavender farm Bee's & Honey

The bees' are busy buzzing about the farm. Our winter has been so mild that I am not sure they ever really hunkered down. Honey bees typically stop flying if temperatures drop down into the 50s (F). Instead, they stay inside their hive in what is called a winter cluster which means they get into a big huddle for warmth. The colder the temperatures are outside the hive, the tighter the cluster of bee's inside the hive.


We currently have two hives but are preparing to add a third very soon. Have you ever seen a shipment of bee's? It's very interesting and incredibly exciting to receive! I promise to post some pictures once we receive ours.


Are you...a Bee Keeper?

Here are some benefits that might entice you to say "Yes!" to becoming a Bee Keeper...
1. Wholesome local Honey
2. Healthy and vibrant garden / fruit trees / flower beds
3. Benefit your community (pollination, bee removal, etc.)
4. Restore Honey Bee populations
5. Additional income stream
6. Experience the joy of learning
7. Science project for youth
8. Enjoyable hobby


It's also always fun to find a new honey recipe...even more fun to find a honey AND lavender recipe. In my online research, I came across this wonderful recipe using both. We have made it at home and it is truly spectacular! 

sunshine lavender farm Honey Lavender Ice Cream

Makes about 1 quart

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/4 cup sunshine lavender farm dried lavender
  • 1/3 cup sunshine lavender farm honey
  • 5 large egg yolks
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 1 cup heavy cream
Directions
  1. In a medium saucepan, combine milk, lavender, and honey. Bring to a gentle boil, cover, and remove from heat. Let steep for 5 minutes. Strain mixture, reserving milk and discarding lavender. 
  2. Combine egg yolks and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer. Beat on medium-high speed until very thick and pale yellow, 3 to 5 minutes. Meanwhile, return milk to a medium saucepan, and bring to a simmer over medium-low heat.
  3. Add half the milk to egg-yolk mixture, and whisk until blended. Stir mixture into remaining milk, and cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is thick enough to coat the back of a wooden spoon. 
  4. Remove from heat, and immediately stir in cream. Strain mixture into a medium mixing bowl set in an ice-water bath, and let stand until chilled, stirring from time to time. Freeze in an ice-cream maker according to manufacturer's instructions. Store in an airtight plastic container up to 2 weeks.
(Bee facts courtesy of www.keeping-honey-bees.com. Ice cream recipe and picture courtesy of www.marthastewart.com)