GloryBee Blog

Candle Wicks: Tips and Tricks

The wick is one of the most important components of a candle...without it, the wax in your candle won't burn. Selecting the proper wick for your specific candle project is a bit trickier than it would first appear. There are many variables involved with making a candle that can influence the way it burns, including the following:

Type of wax
Type of candle (molded, container, rolled, etc.)
Size of candle
Type and amount of fragrance
Type and amount of colorant
Use of additional additives (stearic acid)
Most candle making suppliers will provide you with general guidelines on what type of wick to use for the specific type of candle you are making (click here to view ours), however, the key word here is "general". These general guidelines are really just a starting place. To determine the best wick for your candles, we highly recommend you create a personal process for testing each new candle project. The best way to do this is to use the guidelines provided by the supplier and then adjust from there- either to a different size or type of wick. GloryBee also offers a printable wicking chart located here. It is important as part of this testing process to keep detailed notes and physical samples that you can use for future reference. As you gain more experience in candle making and become more familiar with wicking types and sizes, this testing process will become easier.Here are a few indicators of improper wicking:

Over-wicked Candle (wicking is too large):
Flame is very tall
Flame flickers constantly
Burns very quickly
Can see black smoke coming from the flame
Mushrooming - carbon ball that forms at the top of the wick
Melt pool is deeper than 1/2 inch
If it is a container candle, the container becomes very hotUnder-wicked Candle (wicking is too small):
*Flame is very small
*Tunneling - wick burns just down the middle
*Doesn't burn all the way to the edge
*Wick extinguishes before all the wax is burned

A properly wicked candle will have the following optimal burning characteristics:

*Flame will be an appropriate size
*Flame won't flicker
*Melt pool will extend all the way to the edge if it is a container candle
*Melt pool will extend to within 1/4 inch of the edge of a pillar candle
*Wick will burn cleanly without any mushrooming

We hope this information helps you find the best wick to suit your candle making needs. Have fun and don’t let your candle burn at both ends

5 Great Tips For Beginning Beekeepers

Bees pollinate more than $15 billion a year in crops throughout the United States. If you're thinking about becoming a beekeeper and want to break into this exciting and potentially lucrative industry, you need to make sure you know where to begin.

Here are some great beekeeping basics that you should keep in mind as you begin your new career, hobby, or side hustle:

Research the industry -- Like with any career, you need to do plenty of research before you break into the industry. Read up on beekeeping, research bee pollen, and talk to other professionals in order to educate yourself on your new field.
Communicate with your neighbors -- Though you're not required by law to discuss your beekeeping plans with your neighbors, it's best to do so in order to avoid future confrontations. Make sure you inform them that bees are docile in nature and only become aggressive and sting when they are provoked. Tell your neighbors that as long as bee pollen and nectar is around, the bees will be happy.
Join local beekeeping associations -- In most states, there are beekeeping associations that can help bring you up to speed with the industry. You'll be provided with plenty of beekeeping resources as well: including books, loans, videos, and magazines.
Provide your bees with plenty of water -- Bees need water like any creature, so make sure you have a clean water source near the hive for easy access. Healthy colonies require about 1.75 pints of water during warmer days. It's best to have the water nearby before the bees begin acclimating to the environment.
Keep your bees safe -- A great way to protect your bees from predators like bears is to avoid leaving honey, comb, or other scented items outside of the hives. Additionally, set up an electric fence along your property line to keep predators out. Finally, make sure snow and heavy rainfall can't harm your beehives.

Beekeeping can be a lot of fun and very interesting -- as long as you know what you're doing. If you educate yourself and work hard, you'll likely be quite successful. If you want to learn more about bee pollen or find some top-of-the-line beekeeping gloves, beekeeping kits, or other beekeeping equipment, give GloryBee a call right away!

Berry Balsamic Vinaigrette

artSummer berries are ready, and there's nothing better than using fresh berries in your dishes. We've made a simple dressing with fresh berries in mind. Use it on your favorite salad or to marinate chicken or fish. Enjoy!

Ingredients

¾ cup raspberry or strawberry puree

¼ cup of balsamic vinegar

¼ cup Artisan Fermented Honey

1 ½ tablespoons of Raw Pacific Northwest Raspberry Blossom honey

2 tablespoons of fresh lemon or lime juice

1/8 teaspoon of salt

1/8 teaspoon of pepper

½ tsp dry oregano

½ clove minced fresh chives or garlic

Directions

1. Make berry puree by adding berries by chopping in a food processor. You can remove the seeds by pressing through a sieve if you’d like.

2. Whisk together all ingredients or shake in a covered jar before serving. Store any leftovers in jar for up to two weeks. Enjoy!

Chocolate Ice Cream Day Recipe

Did you know it’s “National Chocolate Ice Cream” day? Sure is! Chocolate ice cream is the second most popular flavor, after vanilla. We decided to create a non-dairy recipe, using honey as the sweetener. Feel free to serve in a cone or add sprinkles if you like – everyone will enjoy the cool treat.

Ingredients

2 (13.5 oz) cans organic full-fat coconut milk, refrigerated until very cold

¾ cup organic cocoa powder

2/3 cup GloryBee Organic Clover Blossom Raw Honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth and creamy. Make sure you use the whole can of coconut milk – scraping out any of the hardened coconut cream out of the cans.

2. Once all blended, taste the mixture. If you prefer it sweeter, add a bit more honey, blending to incorporate.

3. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, pour blended ingredients into a frozen dish (loaf pan) and freeze until firm. If you do have an ice cream maker, follow the manufacturer’s directions. The ice cream will be soft set – server immediately or you may want to still place in the freezer.

4. After allowing the ice cream to freeze solid, take out of the freezer and allow to soften slightly before scooping.

Enjoy!

Honey Supers: What’s Right For Your Hive?

Why Honey Supers Matter

Bees make honey as a way to preserve their food through the winter. They often make excess, which becomes a sweet perk for the beekeeper.

Bees store excess honey in the wooden boxes in upper stories of the hive called honey supers. Add supers to your hive to allow your bees to more room to store honey as they need it. Maintaining a proper balance of harvesting is vital for the health of your colony.

Know Your Region

The right amount of honey storage for winter can vary by region. Learn consistent beekeeping practices for your area to ensure your beekeeping success.

For our region in the Pacific Northwest, blackberries go into bloom in early June each year. This major nectar flow is just around the corner for us, and we are stocking our honey supers in anticipation. In the Willamette Valley, two brood chambers that are at least 70% full of honey and brood is typically considered the standard for overwintering.

In regions with harsher winters or for weaker hives, it is always better to be safe rather than sorry. Protect the bees’ resources before harvesting any honey.

How to Check Supers

A great way to check the fullness of your hive is to lift the back of the box to gauge the weight. Seasoned beekeepers refer to this as hefting. It gives you a good idea of how much honey stores your bees have built up.

Find the Right Size

Boxes can get heavy, and brood is lighter than honey. We recommend using “Western” or “Honey” Supers as you set up for the honey flow because they are easier to lift when full.

A honey-filled 6 5/8" western super can weigh up to 60 lbs. Whereas a honey-filled 9 5/8" deep super can weigh up to 80 lbs. Another great way to keep the weight of your hive down is to build your hive with Eight Frame boxes.

When to Add More

There are two main signs when it is time to put a honey super on your hive.

One sign is that the two brood boxes are about 70% full. Honey stores can build up very quickly. Add a honey super at this time to give brood room to build up their honey stores. The extra room will keep them content in their space and help prevent swarming.

Another sign is that a significant nectar flow is coming. When a major nectar flow hits, even if their brood boxes are not quite full, your bees will start building their honey stores like wild and will need room to expand.

Gotta Keep ‘Em Separated

We recommend differentiating your supers to separate honey boxes from brood boxes. This is especially helpful if you are using western supers for both.

One way to do this is with a queen excluder. This is a screen with mesh holes big enough for worker bees to get through, but too small for the queen It prevents her from laying eggs in boxes from which you intend to harvest honey.

However, not all beekeepers use queen excluders. A natural “honey barrier” is typically created which keeps the queen laying in the lower boxes.

Another great way to differentiate your supers is to use different color of frames. Use Black Frames to see the brood eggs more easily and White Frames for honey. This will help you keep track of which frames were treated for mites, and which are exclusively for honey.

Happy, Healthy Bees

Once the honey flow begins, there can be a rapid buildup of honey. We suggest monitoring your hive closely, and adding more honey supers before the bees need them.

It is better to give your bees more room than less during the honey flow, but you don’t want to overwhelm them with space either. If you maintain the right amount of space, the bees will do the rest of the work!

Is Cedar or Pine Right for Your Next Hive?

Choosing the type of wood for your bee hive is an important decision. There are many wood choices available, but pine and cedar are the most popular. Our new cedar bee hives offers benefits, but beekeepers have used pine with great success over the years. What kind of wood should you choose for your hive?

Cedar Benefits

Because painting cedar isn’t necessary as it is with pine, you can get up and running quicker with a cedar box. Typically, pine is painted to protect it from weather conditions, but a cedar box is durable enough that it will not deteriorate as quickly in the elements. We recommend treating your cedar hive with a natural, plant-based oil, such as tung. Make sure you give your treated hive time to dry and air out.

Cedar is also lighter than pine. This weight difference isn’t large, but when you’re dealing with lots of boxes, any weight reduction is welcome. Our cedar hives are eight frames as well, which cuts down on the weight considerably.

Finally (and most importantly in our book), cedar is much longer lasting than pine. A study by the University of Maine found that found that surveyors’ cedar corner posts and rail fences were still serviceable after 50 to 60 years of use whereas pine only lasted 4 to 7 years.

Cedar Negatives

Cedar is traditionally more expensive than pine. However, most beekeepers will see this up-front cost fade due to the durability and longevity of cedar over the years

Splitting can be an issue with cedar. When making hives, it’s best to use kiln dried cedar to ensure the wood is dried properly and minimize any splitting. All GloryBee cedar hives are kiln dried, and we haven’t had any complaints about our wood splitting.

Pine Benefits

Beekeepers have been building boxes out of pine since the first Langstroth hives, and the bees don’t complain.

One benefit of pine is that it is more affordable than cedar, and more readily available.

Depending on the size of your box and the thickness of the wood, the weight can be about the same, but generally, pine is a little heavier than cedar.

Pine Negatives

If you elect to go with a pine box, most beekeepers will put a coat of a primer and a coat of exterior latex paint to protect the wood. This takes time to apply and time to dry before you place your bees inside. Also, the cost of the primer and paint add to the initial cost, although this is minor if you’re planning on painting a lot of hives

Untreated pine doesn’t hold up well to the elements. This means if you don’t paint your pine, you’re looking at replacements much sooner than if you went with cedar.

So which is better?

At the end of the day, the good news is your bees don't mind either way. Weigh the benefits, your personal preferences, and start keeping bees. The decision is all yours!

Blood Orange Roasted Salmon

Cooking salmon is easier than you might think. In no time at all, this dish will be ready for your family. Loaded with vibrant, fresh orange flavor and sweet caramelization from date sugar, it's the perfect weeknight meal. Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 Tbsp olive oil, plus more for greasing foil

1 pound wild skin-on salmon (cut into 4 fillets)

2 Tbsp Aunt Patty’s® Date Sugar

1 tsp fine sea salt

1 Blood orange (thinly sliced into rounds)

⅓ Cup hazelnuts (chopped)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400˚F. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly oil it.
Place salmon fillets on baking sheet, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with sugar and salt. Place blood orange rounds on top of each fillet and sprinkle with hazelnuts.
Bake 10-12 minutes or until salmon is opaque and flakes when cut with a fork.

SAVE the BEE initiative donates $90k to Oregon State University at GloryBee’s 44th Annual Bee Weekend

honeyIt’s been a banner year for GloryBee’s SAVE the BEE® social initiative all culminating with a $90k donation to Oregon State University Honey Bee Lab on Friday, April 20. SAVE the BEE started in 2012 with a goal to impact organizations dedicated to saving honeybees and researching bee health issues. As part of their mission to support ongoing education about the important issue of honeybee health, SAVE the BEE supports the Oregon State Honey Bee Labs’ research on bee nutrition, habitat and health, and works closely with beekeeping associations across the nation to facilitate education about the care of bees.

With honeybee colony losses at staggering numbers (33% reported for 2017), research and funding is critical in making a difference in honeybee health which affects the overall pollinated food supply. “A third of all food we eat can be traced back to honeybee pollination. It’s important for GloryBee to work with Oregon State University Honey Bee Lab so we ensure our own food supply. It’s been our honor to facilitate education and fundraising efforts for SAVE the BEE,” says RaeJean Wilson, Executive Vice President of GloryBee.

ABOUT SAVE THE BEE

Developed by honey and natural ingredient company GloryBee, SAVE the BEE is a partnership of businesses, consumers and researchers committed to supporting hive health in the face of declining bee populations. Beyond making honey, bees pollinate food crops and plants, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, and nuts, SAVE the BEE aims to end the crisis of declining bee populations by driving awareness, educating beekeepers, and funding research into both cause and solutions.

Together, we can SAVE the BEE! Join us at here.

Unique Uses for Honey You May Not Have Thought Of

Bees work hard to make their honey. In fact, to make one pound of organic honey, a honey bee would have to fly 90,000 miles, the equivalent of 3 three times around the globe. That sure is a commitment!

So with this in mind, it only makes sense that we honor the fruits of their labor. While many people think that raw honey, pure royal jelly, and organic bee pollen are only for consuming, there are actually a lot of really interesting uses for this magic ingredient.

Here are some unique uses for honey that you may not have thought of.

To moisturize your skin

One of the best benefits of honey is that it is a humectant, which means it draws moisture into your skin. Because of this, you can add honey into a variety of skincare products and reap a bunch of benefits -- mainly, hydrated and smooth skin. You can even use honey in your hair for the same effect, just use it sparingly or it can be hard to wash out.

Boosts your energy

Ditch the processed sugars the next time you're feeling a bit low on energy, and have some honey instead. Organic honey's natural glucose will be better absorbed by your body, and you won't feel a sugar crash afterward.

Keep your fruit fresh

We've all been there craving fresh summer berries in the middle of winter. Well, with honey's help, you are able to enjoy just that. All you need to do is make a simple honey solution with 1 part honey to 10 parts water, and spray your fruit liberally. Pop your fruit in the freezer and defrost whenever you are looking for a sweet treat.

Sooth your raw throat

Honey is naturally soothing and will give immense relief if your throat is feeling scratchy or raw. Simply mix some honey with a squirt of lemon, and either freeze drops for a cool relief, or eat by the tablespoon. Soon your throat rawness will be long gone.

What honey remedy are you going to use? Honey is truly a magical ingredient, so use it liberally, in whatever you do!

Here at Glorybee, we are here to fulfill any, and all your honey and beekeeping needs. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

Inside Your Hive: Should You Be Concerned?

Now that you've hived your bees, you'll want to check on them weekly to be sure that the queen is alive and laying eggs. You should be able to find eggs, larvae and capped brood while checking for mites and other pests. Here's some great information and graphics on what you should and shouldn't be seeing.

What You Should be Seeing

The Queen - She is the largest bee in the colony with a long slender body. She is responsible for laying all of the eggs. Without eggs and brood, the colony won't survive for very long. Some beekeepers choose to mark their queens with a small dot of paint so that she can be spotted easily.

Eggs - The eggs are very small (only about 1.7 millimeters long) and tend to look like a grain of rice at the bottom of a cell. The best way to spot an egg is to hold the frame up to the sunlight. The queen will only lay one egg per cell. Being able to spot eggs within a hive is one of the most important jobs of a beekeeper. It is the best way to ensure your queen is alive and well.

Brood Cells - Three days after the queen lays the egg, it will hatch into a larva. Healthy larvae are white and resemble small grubs curled up in the cells. They will grow quickly, shedding their skin five times. Within five days, worker bees will cap the larvae cell with beeswax and then the cells become known as "brood cells". It is at this time that the larva becomes officially known as a pupa and over a period of 12 days fully develops into an adult bee. At the end of this 12 days, the pupa will chew through the thin layer of beeswax to join the other members of the hive.

Honey Cells - The bees will start to gather and harvest nectar from nearby flowering plants. They will begin to store this nectar in the brood box around the outer edges of the brood frames. Once the cell is completely filled with nectar, it is dried and then sealed with a thin, smooth layer of beeswax.

Pollen Cells - They will also start to gather pollen collected from nearby flowering plants. They bring this pollen back to the hive and store it again around the outer edge of the brood frame. Typically, you will find a ring of pollen cells around the brood cells and then the honey cells will form an arch around the pollen and brood cells (near the top and edges of the frame). The bees will use this nectar and pollen to feed the brood.

What You Shouldn't Be Seeing

Queen Cells - Rough in texture and about an inch in length, it sort of resembles a peanut shell. These are very important to keep an eye out for. The formation of a queen cell means that the colony is getting ready to swarm. If you see a capped queen cell, it's normally too late to prevent them from swarming; they've already made up their mind.

Too Many Drone Cells - Drones are the male bees within the colony. They normally appear in late spring and are the result of an unfertilized egg. Their sole purpose in the hive is to mate with the queen. They are larger than worker bees, have a round abdomen, large eyes, and no stinger. Some drones in the hive are completely normal. It is when you get too many that you have a problem. Too many drones in the hive means that your queen wasn't mated properly and is only laying unfertilized eggs. Drone cells are easy to recognize. They are domed and larger than worker bee cells. Typically, they are grouped together on the outer edge of a frame. If you find that the middle of your frame is composed of drone cells, most likely you have a "drone-laying" queen and she'll need to be replaced.

Spicy Bacon Coconut Chicken Skewers

Spicy and sweet, our bacon coconut chicken skewers are the perfect hearty appetizer. Sweet from the coconut sugar, and salty from the bacon, they're full of mouthwatering flavor. If you like your foods spicier, try adding red pepper flakes or brushing our Habanero Honey onto the bacon and grill the skewers. And by simply adding a side salad or extra vegetables, you've got a meal. Enjoy!

Ingredients

6 organic chicken tenders

½ cup Aunt Patty’sⓇ Coconut Sugar

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

12 strips organic bacon

Directions

1. Soak 12 bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes.

2. Preheat oven to 375℉.

3. Cut each chicken tender in half lengthwise.

4. In a medium bowl mix together coconut sugar, salt, and cayenne. Toss chicken tenders in coconut sugar mixture. Thread chicken onto skewers and wrap each with a strip of bacon. Place on a lightly oiled baking sheet.

5. Sprinkle any remaining coconut sugar mixture over skewers and bake until cooked through and bacon is browned, 20-25 minutes.

Use This One Strange Trick To Catch A Swarm This Season

When Life Gives You Lemongrass

Did you know that honey bees are attracted to the smell of lemongrass essential oil? It's true! In fact, lemongrass essential oil mimics the nasonov pheromone that worker bees produce. They use it to communicate with other bees about orientation and recruitment.

In a honey bee, the nasonov pheromone is made up of a variety of components including citral. Citral just so happens to be one of the main natural components found in lemongrass essential oil. Funny how nature works!

Make A Lemongrass Swarm Lure

Because honey bees are attracted to the sweet grassy and lemony fragrance, we have found that lemongrass essential oil is an effective swarm lure. It can encourage a swarm of honey bees to move into a cavity such as a Nucleus (Nuc) Box or hive.

The best way to use lemongrass essential oil as a swarm lure is by making it into a spreadable paste. Here's an easy recipe:

SUPPLIES

1/4 cup olive oil
3 ounces of pure, filtered beeswax
20 drops of pure lemongrass essential oil
Glass measuring cup
Pan of boiling water
8 oz. plastic or glass container

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Add olive oil and beeswax to the measuring cup. Place measuring cup in a pan of boiling water and gently warm until completely melted.

2. Add 20 drops of lemongrass essential oil and stir until well combined.

3. Pour mixture into the plastic or glass container and let harden into a spreadable paste.

You Catch More Bees With Lemongrass

Once you have your lemongrass paste ready, simply spread it on the different surfaces within your nuc or brood box. Be sure to include it at the entrance of the hive, on the top bars of your frames, on the top of the inner cover and around the edges at the top of the brood box.

It helps to have drawn out comb within your nuc or brood box, but you can also try it with new frames and foundation.

Hopefully, within a few days, scout bees from a swarm will check out the smell of your lemongrass scented box, and go back to tell the rest of the bees about the wonderful new home, and they will move in. Unfortunately, using lemongrass essential oil does not guarantee that you will catch a swarm, but from our experience, it definitely increases the chances!