GloryBee Blog

Honey Caramelized Banana Sundae

Did you know that we would not have ice cream without honeybees? Yep - it's true. Cows eat clover and alfalfa which are both pollinated by honeybees. Cows make milk which we turn into ice cream! Yet another reason why we love our honeybees.

Ice cream sundae's are a sweet way to celebrate honeybees. We turned it up a notch by adding honey caramelized bananas and a creamy, rich chocolate sauce. Try it and let us know what you think. Cheers!

Ingredients

¼ cup cocoa powder

4 tablespoons Glory Bee Ⓡ Organic Clover Blossom Honey - divided

1 ounce dark chocolate, finely chopped

1 tablespoon Aunt Patty’s Ⓡ Virgin Coconut Oil

2 large bananas, peeled and halved lengthwise

½ teaspoon flaky sea salt

1 pint coconut ice cream or vanilla ice cream

¼ cup dry-roasted pistachios

Directions

1. In a small saucepan whisk together cocoa powder and 2 tablespoons honey until cocoa is dissolved. Whisk in ½ cup water until smooth, bring to a boil, and reduce heat to simmer for 2 minutes. Whisk in dark chocolate until smooth. Set aside.

2. In a medium skillet melt coconut oil over medium. Whisk in remaining 2 tablespoons

honey until smooth, then place bananas in skillet. Cook, flipping once, until golden brown on both sides, about 1 minute per side. Remove from heat and sprinkle with salt.

3. To serve, scoop ice cream into bowls, and drizzle with chocolate sauce. Top with bananas and pistachios

The Why and How of creating an annual sustainability report

Why create a sustainability report? In short, an annual report on sustainability is GloryBee’s way of demonstrating a commitment to traceability, honesty, and accountability to creating a business for a better future. The annual report always highlights new achievements, and it always takes a good hard honest look at the data. For example, in 2017 GloryBee improved on water use for the 4^th straight year running. We also decreased our recycling for the second year running. The sustainability report looks at everything, and reports on it all.

The how: Keeping track of the important metrics for sustainability can be a daunting task and requires some organization.

Materiality: What do we need to know?

The Sustainable Food Trade Association, and B Lab have helped GloryBee decide what is important to the sustainable food and manufacturing community. Greenhouse gas emissions, energy and water use, employee retention and internal promotions are just a few metric that are measured and reported on publically every year.

Scope: When to start?

Some companies measure their year from January to December, like GloryBee, while others offset slightly. One benefit to offsetting slightly – you can produce a sustainability report by January. At GloryBee we don’t get all of 2017’s metrics collected until February of 2018, and then the sustainability manager and marketing need a little time to create the magic. Both ways work, but year to year, consistency is important.

The Search: Where do these numbers come from?

Finding all the numbers is a bit like being a detective. Accounting has many numbers, but so does Operations, HR, and Product Management. Some numbers come buried in a utility bill collected from each site. GloryBee technically has 6 locations (though only 3 addresses) for utilities, and gets energy from two electricity companies, plus natural gas, propane, bio-diesel, and CNG.

The Report: Balancing between data and marketing.

Data and science, metrics, numbers, KPI’s, best practices, next steps, program goals; this is all good information, and it goes in the sustainability report. But so should fun, hopeful, informative, positive branding. The marketing department works their magic to create something that looks and feels like GloryBee, but is different than a promotional piece, more informative and engaging.

The sustainability report is a look-back at the previous year’s challenges and achievements, as well as a peek inside the operations of the company. A good sustainability report provides an informative and engaging way to show the metrics and forward momentum, and keeps the company moving forward. It can be used as a tool for new employee sustainability education, customer engagement. It can be shown to suppliers as a best practices target, and to stakeholders in the community as a demonstrated commitment to sustainability.

Pacific Northwest Population to Increase by Over 10 Million This Month

GloryBee® is hosting our 44^th annual Bee Weekend event on Friday, April 20 - Saturday, April 21. This free two-day community event is packed with beekeeping education, distribution of pre-ordered packages of live bees, live demonstrations, honey sampling, onsite food vendors and family friendly activities. With all of the activities and education opportunities, you don’t have to be a beekeeper to attend – and it is fun for the whole family!

Bee Weekend will be held on Friday, April 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and on Saturday, April 21 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. GloryBee founder Dick Turanski, and second-generation President, Alan Turanski, will be demonstrating live bee installation into hives and will be available for any questions you may have about beekeeping and the installation process. The demonstrations are a must-see; for non-beekeepers, they offer a rare chance to see a colony of bees up close. Demonstration times will be on Friday, April 15 at 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 21 at 9 a.m., 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Also, don’t miss Dick’s Bee Amazed presentation, a talk for anyone interested in learning about bees at 10 a.m. on Saturday.

The GloryBee Factory Store will be open during this event so you can purchase honey, beekeeping supplies, bee-related gifts, apparel and more. Come see the bees up-close and learn more about these tiny and amazing pollinators!

Honey Lover’s Guide To Making Homemade Honey Liqueur

As the summer approaches, many people are preparing to attend parties where: a) they're either expected to bring something, b) there's alcohol involved, or, c) both. During these types of gatherings, preparing your own unique drink such as honey liqueur is the perfect way to celebrate the sun and make sure everybody thoroughly enjoys themselves. Sure, you could buy something at the liquor store, but preparing it yourself makes it extra special. With that being said, here's a quick guide to help you make your own honey liqueur.

Choose Your Honey Wisely

The main ingredient in honey liqueur is obviously honey. There are countless varieties of raw honey to choose from, many of them with different flavor profiles. While clover honey is the most common and tends to be the least expensive, it's also considered to be the mildest variety. If you do choose clover honey, adding a bit of orange zest and cinnamon can help richen the flavor profiles and create a subtle aftertaste. If you aren't a fan of orange, there are countless other natural flavor enhancers, including lemon zest, chamomile, and vanilla. Feel free to get creative!

If you choose a flavored honey or stronger honey, it may be better to skip the extra flavorings because they could negatively affect or overpower the natural taste of the honey itself. But above all, make sure the honey you use is pure 100% raw honey. Make sure it doesn't have any honeycombs, either -- this helps to avoid straining the wax from the liqueur.

Combine With Alcohol

Making honey liqueur is quite simple. Just pour two cups of vodka into a glass jar and add one and a half cups of honey. Gently stir the mixture until the honey dissolves completely. After that, it needs to age for at least a month. Keep it in a cool, dark place and stir it with a wooden or metal spoon at least once a week to ensure maximum quality.

Americans consume about 1.3 pounds of honey per person per year, and there are always creative ways to incorporate delicious raw organic honey into your diet. For more information about bulk honey for sale, contact GloryBee.

Golden Goodness: 5 Interesting Ways to Use Honey

You may like it in your tea, drizzled over yogurt, or even on ice cream. Honey, one of the oldest foods in the world, is such a versatile food item. Thanks to the powerful honeybee, we are graced with a ton of honey byproducts such as raw honey, bee pollen, and pure royal jelly that all grace us with their golden goodness.

But did you know that there are plenty of more ways you can use raw honey in your daily life, besides just adding it to your tea at the end of the day? It’s true, and here are some unusual uses for honey to try out today and put those honey bears to good use!

Pamper yourself

Honey is a natural humectant, which means that it draws water to the top layer of your skin, leaving you feeling moisturized and looking glowy. Honey can be used all over the body and some ideas include adding a capful to your favorite body lotion, putting it on as a reprieve for dry lips, and even slathering it on your face for an easy and quick facial. When using raw honey alone, let it sit for at least 10 minutes, then wash off.

Add it to your energy bars and shakes

Honey is full of natural sugars, which can be great to boost your energy either before a workout or when you first wake up in the morning. A simple tablespoon added to any granola bar recipe or even to your morning oatmeal will do.

Put it on a scrape in a pinch

While it's no replacement for your average wound treatment, honey is a natural antiseptic and can be applied to a wound as a way to clean it in a pinch. Be sure not to overuse it however, as more than a light layer can suffocate the wound and cause issues in the healing process.

Incorporate texture with honeycomb

There are plenty of different ways you can eat honey, but have you thought about eating the honeycomb? It can and should be done! We love it when paired with peanut butter and bananas on toast.

Calm down at night

Prefer your nightly tea plain? Try adding honey and you’ll soon find yourself catching some Z's in no time. This is because even though it's sweet, honey isn't filled with processed sugars that will keep you awake. It is soothing and tasty all at the same time, so what more could you need?

When you stop to think about it, honey is pretty amazing. And the effort that goes into creating this multi-purpose treat is no less so. In fact, to make just one pound of honey a honey bee would have to fly the equivalent of three times around the globe. So put their hard work to a good use and experiment with honey in all different shapes and forms. We promise your taste buds will thank you.

Exploring The Various Ways To Enjoy Bee Pollen: Part 2

Bee pollen, usually food for young honey bees, is about 40% protein and is rich in amino acids. In the last post, we revealed two yummy recipes that are perfect for adding bee pollen and enjoying its flavor and nutritional benefits. But if you're still unsure, there are plenty more ways to add bee pollen to foods you enjoy without sacrificing taste.

Here's part two of our guide to help you explore some of the many ways to ingest, enjoy, and reap the benefits of bee pollen.

Bee Pollen Popsicle

For those who enjoy sweeter treats, bee pollen popsicles are absolutely perfect! Just like smoothies, they're versatile and almost impossible to mess up. Try freezing your favorite smoothie recipe into popsicle molds if you have a recipe in mind. If not, blueberries are full of antioxidants and work as a particularly great base for bee pollen popsicles, especially when combined with the gooey texture and fruity taste of bananas. Take both of these fruits and add almond milk, coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla. If you have organic bee pollen capsules, break one open and add it to each popsicle. If you have organic bee pollen powder that's less refined and more granular, you can also roll each popsicle in the pollen after they're frozen for an extra crunch and a very unique texture. Again, this is a recipe you can be highly creative with, so don't be afraid to experiment!

Bee Pollen Salad Dressing

Salads are already full of healthy ingredients, so why not amp up the nutritional value by adding a dose of bee pollen to your favorite homemade salad dressing? This versatile recipe works with virtually any salad, so there's absolutely no need to compromise on taste. Simply assemble your salad as you typically enjoy it -- lettuce, spinach, kale, and other leafy greens should typically be the base -- and after loading up your salad with your favorite veggies and sources of protein, you can add bee pollen in one of two ways. You can either mix it in with the dressing or sprinkle it on the salad as a whole.

All in all, the sky is the limit when it comes to determining which foods and recipes are perfect for reaping the many organic bee pollen benefits. For more information about organic bee pollen capsules, contact GloryBee.

Exploring The Various Ways To Enjoy Bee Pollen: Part 1

Bees pollinate more than $15 billion worth of crops every single year in the United States. But forget about the financial value for a moment and consider this: without bees, most of the plants we eat would cease to exist and our food chain would collapse. In fact, bees have a number of incredible benefits to our ecosystem, and bee pollen is just one such example.

And while many people think that the benefits of bee pollen stop at the fruits they help grow, there are actually a surprising number of organic bee pollen benefits. The primary way to ingest bee pollen is through organic bee pollen capsules, but if you remove the organic bee pollen powder located within the capsules or buy it separately, it's easy and fun to get creative with the ways you ingest bee pollen.

Here's part one of our guide to help you explore some of the many ways to ingest, enjoy, and reap the benefits of bee pollen.

Bee Pollen Popcorn

Most people love to drench their popcorn in loads of salt and butter. Without adding these unhealthy ingredients, however, air popped popcorn is actually very healthy. Consider sprinkling bee pollen powder on some air popped popcorn for an extra flavor and nutritional boost. Melted coconut oil can serve as a healthier alternative to butter as well. If you enjoy this combination, don't be afraid to get experimental and add any other nuts, seeds, or healthy ingredients in order to make the combination resemble more of a trail mix. This power-packed combination is full of protein, fiber, and healthy fats to keep you energized all day long.

Bee Pollen Smoothie

Many health nuts may be surprised to hear that bee pollen is versatile enough to be used as an ingredient in most, if not all, smoothies. If you have a favorite healthy smoothie recipe in mind already, adding bee pollen powder to the mix can give it a flavor and nutritional boost.

If you don't have a favorite recipe in mind, consider this unique blend of ingredients: a peach, a cup of almond milk, a scoop of ice cream or frozen yogurt, some basil leaves, two tablespoons of honey, and half a teaspoon of almond extract. Add about a teaspoon of bee pollen powder, blend until smooth, and enjoy!

The best way to determine your favorite way to ingest bee powder is simply to experiment with using it as an ingredient in various foods and drinks. Keep an eye out for our next post, where we'll discuss some more delicious recipes that are absolutely perfect for adding and reaping organic bee pollen benefits.

Beekeeping Gloves: Are They Necessary? The Answer May Surprise You…

In 2014, there were an estimated 2.7 million honeybee colonies in the United States, a number that is tracked by the USDA. And while it's true that beekeepers play a major role in sustaining our planet's honeybee populations, anybody interested in beekeeping needs to suit up with the proper beekeeping equipment. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, beekeeping tools such as beekeeping gloves are necessary for both protection and preservation. Here are the two main reasons beekeeping gloves are such a necessity for beekeepers.

Hand Protection

The primary benefit of beekeeping gloves -- not to mention the most obvious -- is that they're designed to provide complete protection against bee stings. This is essential because bees often use their stingers as a defense mechanism when they're being handled incorrectly because they perceive it as a threat, and the hands are the part of the body that's closest and most vulnerable when interacting with bees. That's why gloves are especially essential for those who are still beekeeping beginners. Still, while many experts tend to forego the use of protective gloves, they're an asset for beekeepers of any and all abilities and experience levels.

Quality Preservation

The secondary reason beekeeping gloves are so essential involves preserving the purity of the entire contents of the colony. This includes raw organic honey, bee pollen, and even the bees themselves. When dirty, unprotected hands enter the hive and interact with the bees, there's a major potential for the introduction of a germ or bacteria that can compromise the entire hive. Experts say dirty hands can even spread diseases and cause deaths within a beehive colony!

Ultimately, understanding these two major reasons for investing in beekeeping gloves can help you raise healthy hives while staying protected. Keep in mind that as you begin to grow more comfortable working with the bees, you can eventually invest in thinner gloves that provide the same quality preservation benefits without the thickness and sting protective elements. Whichever type of gloves you're comfortable with, rest assured that there's a suitable option for you. Always prioritize both your own comfort and the comfort of the bees in your beekeeping efforts and endeavors, and don't hesitate to reach out to a professional if you have concerns about maintaining the quality of your beehives.

The Buzz On Bee Pollen: Allergies, Veganism, And Much More

Over the last 10 years or so, honey has become one of the most coveted foods around. Not only can it be used as a natural sugar substitute, but raw organic honey can even help some seasonal allergy sufferers. Due to its increasing popularity and the fact that bees are becoming scarcer, the retail price of honey has almost doubled since 2006. Recently, a new bee byproduct has emerged; now, it's trendy to search for bee pollen for sale and add it to your daily yogurt and granola for an extra energy boost in the morning. We've answered some common questions about bee pollen for sale and for consumption in the past, but we're talking more in-depth about this product in today's post.

Can you take bee pollen if you have certain allergies?

Always talk to your doctor before taking bee pollen or any bee products. While bee pollen is considered to be a superfood by many experts, it's important to note that it may not be advisable for everyone to consume it. If you are allergic to bees, suffer from hay fever, or have allergic reactions to pollen, you should consult with your doctor before ever buying bee pollen for sale. You should also talk to your doctor before trying bee pollen.

No matter what, until you know your status, you should proceed with caution. While bee pollen is not inherently dangerous by any means, people may experience different reactions to it. Your body will let you know if something is amiss after you've ingested a small amount for the first time; if you do not experience sneezing, watery eyes, or swelling of the lips, throat, or tongue 24 hours after consuming bee pollen, you probably won't have a negative reaction. Some people do claim that taking small amounts of bee pollen can lessen their reaction over time to seasonal allergy triggers. However, you should consult with a medical professional before testing your allergy limits in this way.

Is bee pollen vegan?

People who follow a vegan lifestyle will often avoid eating honey and bee products from their diet. Royal jelly capsules are also out, since extracting royal jelly can be stressful on bees. However, the answer to whether bee pollen is vegan or not is somewhat of a personal choice. Some vegans consider pollen to fall under the same umbrella as other bee products, while others consider bee pollen to be OK to consume. In addition, because beekeepers will often keep bees to benefit the environment in addition to producing honey and other related goods, many vegans feel that consuming bee pollen is fine. It's really up to the individual to determine whether bee pollen might be an ethical and healthy part of their diet.

How is bee pollen usually consumed?

One of the best things about buying bee pollen for sale is that it can be used in so many versatile ways. As we mentioned earlier, it can be added to yogurt or granola, but it can easily be blended into a smoothie, sprinkled into a salad dressing, used as a garnish for popcorn or dark chocolate, or consumed as a topping for just about anything. Although the taste can be described as sweet and flowery, it can still be used as a welcome complement to savory foods. Note that bee pollen should be stored in a refrigerator or freezer, as light and heat will decrease its nutritional value.

For those who get the go-ahead from their doctor and feel comfortable with incorporating it into their diet, bee pollen can add valuable nutrients and a whole lot of energy to your daily routine. To find out more about our bee pollen and honey, contact us today.

Pre-wired Wood Frames – Tradition with Efficiency

Wood frames with wired pure, beeswax foundation have been the preferred combination of frames & foundation for traditional beekeepers ever since the Langstroth hive was invented in 1851. However, due to time constraints to assemble and wire beeswax foundation onto wood frames, this combination has grown less and less popular over the past 15 to 20 years as new, more efficient forms of frames and foundation (i.e. plastic) have been developed.

From our experience, it’s not only more natural and healthy for the bees, but also much easier to get a new package of bees started on pure beeswax foundation. Since it’s made by them, bees prefer this over any other type.

Now, there’s a way to have the best of both worlds (tradition and efficiency) by using our new pre-wired wooden frames.

Pre-Wired Frame Installation Instructions:

Beeswax foundation can easily break when it’s cold. We recommend working in a room that is warm and that the foundation is at room temperature.

1. Using a hive tool or knife, remove the wedge from the top bar of the frame.

1. Insert the bottom edge of the foundation into the grooved bottom of the frame. The top edge with hooks should lay against the top bar of the frame where the wedge was removed. Make sure the hooks are facing out.

1. Place the wedge piece back onto the frame over the hooks of the foundation. Press firmly down to make sure the foundation is in place.

1. Flip the frame upside down on a solid work surface and reattach the wedge to the frame using a small hammer and frame nails. Start with one nail in the center of the wedge making sure the nail goes completely through and into the top of the frame. Finish with 2 more nails, each one about an inch in from each side of the frame.

1. Place the frame on a form board with the horizontal wires facing up.

Embed the wire into the wax with a spur wire embedder by running the tool along the horizontal wires, pushing down gently.

Now your frames are ready to use!

New To Beekeeping? Here Are Some Dos And Don’ts To Keep In Mind

Beekeeping is a recreational and environmental hobby that is quickly growing in popularity. In fact, the USDA reports that as of 2014, the number of colonies managed by beekeepers was at the highest it has been in 20 years. It's relatively simple to get started with beekeeping, but it's also important to know what to expect from your first hives.
Want to learn more about this highly rewarding hobby? Here are just a few dos and don'ts about beekeeping for beginners.

DO: Suit up with protective beekeeping equipment

Many of the more advanced beekeepers choose to forego their beekeeping equipment in lieu of experience. However, protective beekeeping equipment is an absolutely must for beginners because they don't quite know how to properly handle the bees and hives with care. Beekeeping gloves help protect your hands from bee stings, as can a beekeeper hat and other protective beekeeping tools. Again, as your skill and comfort level working with bees grows, you can choose to wear only the protective beekeeping equipment you feel is necessary.

DON'T: Forget to check zoning laws

One critical step of the beekeeping process involves checking zoning laws. You want to make sure you're legally allowed to keep beehives on your property and that your property has adequate space to manage the hives. You should also know that typically, two hives per one tenth of an acre is what's allowed. While urban beekeeping is growing in popularity, make sure you follow all relevant local laws and regulations first.

DO: Obtain bees from a reputable source

It's very disheartening, but purchasing bees from the wrong seller can result in getting essentially a 'bad batch' of bees that are infected with a contagious disease. This unfortunate situation can only be solved by stopping the spread of the disease. This involves destroying not only the hive, but any beekeeping equipment that has been used on, and starting over from scratch. Avoid the trouble and purchase state-inspected hives only! Do a quick Google search to find quality sources in your area.

DON'T: Attempt to build new equipment

When first starting off with beekeeping, you want to purchase new or used beekeeping supplies as opposed to building them yourself. The equipment isn't expensive, and it's best to be a buyer until you truly understand how every piece of equipment works.

Ultimately, knowing these dos and don'ts can help you maintain happy hives as a beekeeping beginner. For more information about new and used beekeeping supplies, contact GloryBee.

Oregon Residential Beekeeping Legislation: What is House Bill 2653?

If you are thinking about starting to keep bees in your backyard or if you are already a residential beekeeper in Oregon, we've got great news to share!

House Bill 2653 was created in 2015 by the State of Oregon to bring together well-educated beekeepers, community members, and government officials to ensure the stability of pollinator populations in urban areas. The bill requires the Oregon State University (OSU) Extension Service to produce written Best Practices Guidelines that detail the best practices for residential beekeeping. When applied, these practices are meant to maximize the benefits of beekeeping, reduce the risk of nuisance, and provide clear guidance on how to deal with nuisance issues if they arise. Under HB 2653, all local city and county governments shall review their current beekeeping ordinances, and make any changes or additions to their ordinances by January 1, 2019. They then must assess whether these guidelines, in conjunction with local nuisance ordinances, are sufficient to balance the needs of the public, property owners, and beekeepers.

To learn more about HB2653 and what it is all about, visit here.

For a copy of OSU's Residential Beekeeping Best-practice guidelines for nuisance-free beekeeping in Oregon, visit here.

We are proud to live in a state where educators, community members, beekeepers, and government officials can come together to discuss the importance of pollinators and work together to find solutions that work for all!