GloryBee Blog

Puerto Rico’s hurricane destruction may have doomed the world’s honey bees?

You probably have heard of “killer bees”. In the 1970’s there was even a string of movies dedicated to sensationalizing these aggressive insects. But killer bees are not some made up Hollywood monster—they are actually overly-aggressive honey bees that originate from Africa.

Here’s an excerpt from an article in Newsweek detailing the one-of-a-kind Puerto Rican “gentle” killer bees and the dangers they now face following Hurricane Maria:

In 1956, 26 swarms of aggressive African bees escaped from their experimental quarantine in Brazil and bred haphazardly with wild honey bees. This mixing resulted in what is commonly known as the killer bee. Before long, the hybrids expanded beyond Brazil, flying north into other countries.

In 1994, a small killer bee population crossed the Caribbean (probably stowed away on a boat from Mexico) and made it to Puerto Rico. They infiltrated the domesticated colonies of European bees, toppled the queen and installed an Africanized one in her stead.

In the years that followed, beekeepers there noticed something very odd: These once-scary bees stopped attacking humans. In just 30 years, they made an evolutionary leap and became a strong, thriving honey bee population that was also gentle toward beekeepers. There is no other known instance of this happening anywhere else in the world.

In the past two decades researchers have realized that these gentle bees are still aggressive enough toward parasites to withstand a particularly nasty one called the Varroa mite. A bee that could withstand death by parasite could go a long way toward stopping colony decline.

In September 2017 Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico; laying waste to the island, leveling its infrastructure and causing the largest blackout in American history.

The gentle Puerto Rican bees are conceivably the strongest and most adaptable to ever exist, but even they may not ultimately survive the aftermath of Maria. If they die, the global honey bee population may ultimately die too. For now, our collective fate is uncertain...

To read this Newsweek article in its entirety, visit: Puerto Rico’s hurricane destruction may have doomed the world’s honey bees.

Beekeeping Resolutions for The New Year

A new year means a new beginning. It’s a time to evaluate where we are in life and to make goals to get to where we want to be in life. Most people make New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight or to stop their bad habits, but beekeepers aren’t like most people--beekeepers are rooted in nature and in tune with the changing seasons of the year. They think more about their bees than themselves. That’s why when beekeepers reflect back on the previous year, they don’t think about how much weight they put on, or how much traveling they did, they think about how many of their hives survived the previous winter and how much honey they harvested after the summer honey flow ended.

Here are the Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for Beekeepers:

1. I will treat for varroa mites 2-3 times a year.
  Like it or not, varroa mites are here to stay and are something all beekeepers must deal with at some point. There are many methods to treat for mites, so do some research and decide what methods appeal to you. It is suggested you use different mite treatments throughout the year to reduce the risk of the mites in your area becoming resistant to certain treatment methods.

1. I will have my equipment ready before the packages of live bees come in the spring.
  The winter is a down-time for beekeepers as the bees produce very few brood and stay clustered in their hives. Use this time to prepare for new bees in the springtime- such as making new boxes and embedding wax foundation into newly built wooden frames. Inventory your bee equipment and order those top feeders and smokers before your packages of bees arrive in the spring. Once you have the bees you will need to act quick, so be prepared.

1. I will actually do a mite count this year.
  Keeping track of the varroa mite populations in your hives will let you know if the parasites are getting out of control. Monitoring the mites gives you insight into when you have to intervene and treat for mites.

1. I will mentor a new beekeeper.
  The world needs beekeepers! 1/3 of the world’s food supply is pollinated by bees. Share your love for beekeeping with someone who shows similar passion and help keep the art and science of beekeeping alive and thriving.

1. I will split my hive BEFORE they swarm this year.
  The colonies of successful beekeepers grow in number. But if a colony gets too big for the space it’s in, it will swarm. Learn the advanced technique of splitting a hive, so you can make your one successful hive into two successful hives. It takes some work, but it’s better than your successful hive taking off to find a bigger space to live.

1. I will run for a position at my local bee club
  Most cities and counties have local beekeeper associations for beekeepers to meet and share knowledge with each other. Bee clubs also are a great place to learn about best beekeeping practices in your area. A beekeeping club is only as beneficial to its members as its leaders allow. By becoming a leader in your local bee club, you can inspire fellow beekeepers to do what is best for the bees and for the local environment.

1. I will put out my yellow jacket traps early
  If you’re noticing a lot of yellow jackets menacing your hives, it’s probably too late to curtail the problem. Get your yellow jacket traps out in early spring. Be sure to use yellow jacket traps that trap both queens and workers.

1. I will actually write in my bee log this year
  Each trip to your hives is a learning experience. Document each trip in a bee log. You can use a notebook or take notes on your cellphone. Note the weather and what flowers are in bloom. Document the “mood” of your bees and the brood patterns. How much pollen is coming in? Soon you will begin to recognize the cycles of the seasons and how your bees react to certain climate conditions. The more you know and can anticipate, the more success you will have as a beekeeper.

1. I will read beekeeping articles every month
  As a beekeeper, you will never know all there is to know. There is always something new you can learn. Being open to learning and researching the latest beekeeping discoveries and trends will keep you focused on being your best and vastly improve your beekeeping skills. Knowledge is power.

I will treat for varroa mites 2-3 times a year
Yes, we already said this one, but this is such an important beekeeping task that it’s worth mentioning again. Mites WILL infect your bees! And if untreated, your mite infested bees will infest a neighbor’s honey bees. And their mite infested bees will infest another neighbor’s bees. Be a good neighbor and treat for mites. It’s best for the bees and best for the local ecosystem.

Hap-Bee New Year!

Chickpea Cauliflower Curry

Weeknights can be busy, so finding a quick and healthy dinner can be a challenge. Try our Chickpea Cauliflower Stir Fry. The whole meal, including the rice, can be made in less than 30 minutes. You can also increase the protein by adding chicken - slice chicken breast thinly, saute in coconut oil before adding curry. Enjoy!

Ingredients

2 tablespoons Aunt Patty’sⓇ Virgin Coconut Oil

2 tablespoons red or yellow curry paste

1 (13.5oz) can coconut milk

1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced

1 pound cauliflower, cut into florets

1 (14.5oz) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 tablespoons Aunt Patty’sⓇ Coconut Sugar

1 tablespoon fish sauce or salt to taste

Juice of ½ lime, or to taste

Cooked brown or white rice, for serving

Chopped cilantro and lime wedges, for serving

Directions

1. In a large skillet, melt coconut oil over medium heat. Add curry paste and fry until fragrant and the oil is colored bright red, about 2 minutes.
2. Stir in coconut milk, pepper, cauliflower, and chickpeas. Cover and simmer until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes.
3. Remove from the heat and stir in coconut sugar, fish sauce or salt, and lime juice.

4. Serve over rice, garnished with cilantro and lime wedges.

Bees Knees Cocktail

Happy New Year! You're the Bees Knees and you know it. Time to celebrate with a fun cocktail! Orange Blossom honey simple syrup adds the perfect sweetness to balance the gin and lemon juice. Substitute club soda or ginger ale for the gin to make a non-alcoholic option.

Ingredients

¼ cup honey – Raw California Orange Blossom Honey
¼ cup water
Meyer Lemons – about 2-3
Two ounces gin
Ice
Fresh orange slice

Directions:

Create a simple syrup with the Orange Blossom honey. Combine equal parts honey and boiling water in a jar. Stir well then refrigerate to cool.
In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, combine one ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice, one ounce honey simple syrup, and two ounces of gin. Shake well and train into a glass. Garnish with orange wedge. Enjoy!

Pine Cone Fire Starters

Keep off the winter chill this season with these pinecone fire starters. They’re a great way to get your fire roaring, and a few drops of essential oils can add an extra dose of cheer in your home. We collected fallen pinecones to keep everything all natural, and used some left over supplies to bring these together in an inexpensive way. They also make great decoration and smell wonderful while waiting to be used.

Ingredients

Pinecones (ponderosa works best)
Candle Wax (flakes or pastilles work great!)
Wicking (any kind will work)
Double Boiler
Wooden Spoon
Wax Paper

Clean aluminum cans (Optional)
Essential Oils or candle fragrance (Optional)

Candle Dye (Optional)

Directions

1. Add your wax to your double boiler. You can use soy wax or beeswax, but around here we tend to reach for the beeswax first.

2. While your wax melts down, wrap your wicking around the pinecones, starting at the base and winding up. Leave a little extra wicking sticking out of the top, just like a candle. We used HTP wicking, best suited for beeswax.

3. Once your wax melts down, you can add your essential oils and candle dyes, if you wish. We used cinnamon on some of our pine cones and spruce on others for a nice winter feel. Give it a good stir to make sure it is combined.

4. Remove your wax from heat. Using the extra wick as a handle, dip and roll your candles in the wax to coat. Our tip—a clean aluminum can is great to pour the wax into for dipping. Most pinecones will fit right inside, but it is best to test this before you transfer your wax. 2-3 coats should cover the pinecone nicely.

5. Set pinecones on wax paper to dry. You can speed up the process by placing them in the fridge.

That’s it! Set in your fire place and light the wick to start the cozy vibes.

Answering Common Questions About Bee Pollen: Part 2

In the last post, we answered some of the most common questions about how to buy bee pollen for sale. However, it's important to know how to use bee pollen in order to get the most from it. Here's part two of our FAQ about bee pollen.

How is bee pollen consumed?

Just like raw honey, bee pollen can be consumed in many different ways. Some are as simple as taking bee pollen supplements as you would a vitamin. It can also be sprinkled on a variety of foods. Keep in mind, however, that those who are allergic to bees should never consume bee pollen.

What are the potential health benefits of bee pollen?

Bee pollen, usually food for young honey bees, is about 40% protein and is rich in amino acids. It has been claimed to increase energy levels, boost the immune system, and slow the aging process. Some even say that it can assist with preventing illness and allergy attacks and curing infertility problems. However, keep in mind: none of these claims have been backed by medical research, so use your judgment when determining whether bee pollen may be right for you.

How much bee pollen should I take?

You should always talk to your doctor before taking bee pollen. When consuming bee pollen, always start with small amounts and gradually increase the dosage. Adults are safe to take a quarter of a teaspoon at a time but should not exceed two teaspoons per day. Children, on the other hand, should start with just a few granules and can eventually work their way up to half a teaspoon per day.

How should bee pollen be stored?

Bee pollen should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer if at all possible. When heated, the bee pollen loses its nutritional value, so keep it out of sunlight as well. When properly stored in a cool dry place, bee pollen should last for about one full year.

What are some foods to try with bee pollen?

If bee pollen supplements aren't for you, there are plenty of ways to enjoy it with food instead. It can be added as a topping to yogurt or cereal, used as a garnish for chocolate and other desserts, and even blended into a smoothie for a delicious and nutritious boost. It can also be used as an ingredient in salad dressings, sprinkled over popcorn, or used as a coating for sugared almonds! Anything goes when it comes to finding creative ways to incorporate bee pollen into your diet.

Ultimately, understanding how to use bee pollen correctly is the key to getting all of its nutritional benefits. For more information about bee pollen supplements, contact GloryBee.

Answering Common Questions About Bee Pollen: Part 1

It's no secret that bees are an indispensable component of our ecosystem. In fact, bees pollinate more than $15 billion a year in crops in the United States. However, many people are under the impression that honey is the only bee product that can be harvested and is fit for human consumption. On the contrary, bee pollen is an increasingly popular food that has many unique qualities. Here's a FAQ featuring some of the most common questions about bee pollen.

What is bee pollen?

One pellet of bee pollen contains more than 2 million grains of flower pollen, the substance collected directly from flowers and plants. The bees work hard packing the pollen into granules using their special hairs and carry it back to their hives to feed their young. Beekeepers gather pollen using beekeeping equipment such as large screens that collect the granules from bees' legs as they enter their hives. The granules are then simply packaged, sold, and used for a myriad of different purposes.

Does collecting pollen harm the bees in any way?

No. Similar to organic honey collection, only a negligible amount of bee pollen is taken during the collection process. This is to ensure that the bees still have plenty of pollen to feed their own young.

Where can people buy raw bee pollen?

If you want to buy raw bee pollen for sale, contact your local beekeeper. GloryBee also offers a wide variety of bee pollen. Bee pollen should be free of chemicals and pesticides. It can also be found in some supermarkets, health food stores, and farmer's markets.

What color is bee pollen?

When considering the color of bee pollen, it's important to keep in mind that color is not an indicator of quality or freshness. It is most frequently seen in a bright yellow shade, but it can also appear red, green, brown, orange, and even purple. The main factor that determines the color of bee pollen is the flowers it has been harvested from.

Ultimately, understanding these facts about bee pollen can help you determine whether you may be able to benefit from it. Keep an eye out for the next post, where we'll discuss some of the benefits of bee pollen and how to best consume the unique substance.

Dark Chocolate Truffles with Coconut Oil

Chocolate to the rescue! Dark chocolate truffles are the perfect bite-sized treat to keep you going. Dairy free and gluten-free, and no-bake! Treats don't get any better than this!

Ingredients

8 ounces high-quality dark or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
½ cup full-fat canned coconut milk
1 tablespoon Aunt Patty’sⓇ Virgin Coconut Oil
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
½ cup finely chopped pistachios

Directions

1. Place chocolate in a small bowl. In a small saucepan, bring coconut milk, coconut oil, and salt to a boil. Immediately pour over chocolate, cover with a plate, and let sit 2 minutes. Whisk the mixture until completely smooth. Let cool at room temperature for about 1 ½ hours or until set.
2. Spread out pistachios on a plate. Scoop up the chocolate mixture in heaping teaspoonfuls and roll between your palms into balls. Roll the truffles in the pistachios to coat. Store refrigerated, but bring to room temperature before serving.

Buying A Package of Bees

The rewards of beekeeping extend far beyond just honey. Bees create more bountiful gardens and orchards for you and your surrounding community. In addition, they provide excellent health supplements like royal jelly, pollen and propolis.

To get started in beekeeping, the first step is to acquire some honey bees. GloryBee accepts orders for packages of live bees and nuc colonies (small established “nucleus” colonies) starting in December. You can pick up your bees at our Bee Weekend in mid-April.

The Bee Colony
There are 3 different types of bees in every colony:

Queen: (Female) One per colony. Lays eggs (about 2000/day)
Workers: (Female)Take care of the queen and the hive. Jobs include cell cleaning, nursing, wax building, honey sealing, guarding and foraging.
Drone: (Male) Sole job is to mate with queen. Cannot sting.

Italian Honey Bees

Brought into the US just after 1859, originally from Italy. Italian bees are considered the “worker” bees. By far, the Italian honey bee is the most popular bee for beekeepers in the USA. From our experience, the Italian bee is easy to work with. They are strong foragers and great at keeping their hive clean.

Appearance: Types of bees vary in color from dark to golden yellow. Their bodies tend to be smaller and their over hairs shorter than those of darker types.

Pros:

They have a strong disposition for breeding. Colonies start breeding early in spring, and maintain a large population in the fall.
Golden Queens are easier to locate.
Lower swarming tendencies than other honey bee types.

Cons:

Generally less gentle.
Inclined to excessive brood rearing, resulting in large food consumption in the late winter and early spring.
They are kleptoparasites! They frequently rob the honey stores of weaker or dead neighboring colonies. This is also a factor in the susceptibility to disease.
They don’t respond to external conditions as readily as other types.

Carniolan Honey Bees

Originally from parts of the Austrian Alps and North Balkan Yugoslavia and Slovenia. Carniolan bees are slightly smaller than other types of honey bees and are known as the “mellow” bee. Carniolan bees are incredibly gentle and easy to work with. Due to their region of origin, they are more likely to forage on cold, wet days and rank among the best for overwintering. Carniolan queens tend to continue strong brood production into late September. This means that you may have stronger hives going into winter.

Appearance: They are physically distinguished by their generally dusky, brown-grey color. Queens and Drones have nearly black abdomens.

Pros:

They are considered to be quiet, gentle and non-aggressive.
Carniolans respond quickly to changes in nectar and pollen availability by adapting the rhythm of their brood.
They have no inclination of robbing.
Conservative use of honey.
They can work in cooler temperatures which makes them suitable for PNW Beekeeping and more likely to overwinter well.

Cons:

Difficult to locate queen.
The size of their colony is dependent on the availability of a pollen source.
They tend to desire more storage base and therefore can be more prone to swarming.

Ordering your Bees

Orders can be placed over the phone or at our Factory Store in Eugene, OR.
1-541-689-0913 - 29548 B Airport Rd. Eugene, OR 97402
Bees must be picked up at our Bee Weekend in April. We do not ship packages of live Bees.
For more info, check out: GloryBee Bee Weekend

Honey Salted Caramels

If you enjoy making homemade sweets, we've got a fun recipe for you - Honey Salted Caramels. These also make a perfect treat to give as a gift. Wrap each in small wax paper squares, put a bunch in a gift box and you're set! Salty sweet goodness ready to go!

Ingredients

1 stick salted butter
1 cup Glory BeeⓇ Raw Honey
1 cup heavy cream
½ cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Flaky sea salt

Directions

1. Spray an 8” square baking dish with cooking spray, line with parchment, and spray the parchment.

2. In a large saucepan combine butter, honey, cream, and sugar. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Reduce heat to medium and simmer, whisking frequently and checking the temperature with a candy or instant-read thermometer, until the temperature reaches 250℉. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla until smooth.

3. Pour caramel into baking dish, place in refrigerator, and let set 10 minutes. Sprinkle with salt, return to refrigerator, and let set until firm, at least 4 hours. Use parchment to transfer caramel to a cutting board, and cut into small pieces. Wrap each piece in parchment or wax paper. Store refrigerated up to 6 weeks.

Top Gifts for Your Bees

When making your holiday gift list this season, we wanted to remind you not to forget about an important part of your family: your bees! As we approach the long, cold days of winter, it’s time to start thinking about treatments that will help get your bees through to spring. A few products that we like to treat our bees with include the following:

1. Super DFM Honey Bee Probiotics – a specially formulated powder that can be mixed with sugar syrup to help restore the natural bacteria balance in the gut of your honey bees. These microflorae are essential for breaking down food and for the absorption of nutrients. It is recommended to apply Super DFM 2 to 3 times per year including in the fall to develop winter bees and to resist problems from the long winter confinement, in the spring to restore and recover probiotics after winter confinement and during the beekeeping season to continue to restore bees after exposure to harmful stresses.

2. Honey Bee Healthy – a feeding stimulant made from 100% pure essential oils. It helps promote healthy vigorous hives when used as a feeding supplement in late winter, early spring or when there is a dearth of nectar.

3. Bee Pro Plus Patties – a high protein pollen substitute that provides the proteins, lipids, minerals, carbohydrates and B-complex vitamins that honeybees need to produce food for larvae. It is recommended to use pollen patties in late winter or early spring to prepare for the pollination season.

Another great way to show your bees you care this holiday season is to make a donation to SAVE the BEE®. SAVE the BEE supports the research of Dr. Ramesh Sagili and his team at Oregon State University’s Honey Bee Lab. Their research focuses on honey bee health, nutrition, and pollination with a goal of serving commercial beekeepers, backyard beekeepers, producers and all citizens that are interested in bees.

How To Manage Beehives In The Home During Home Renovations

As the one and only raw honey providers in the world, bees are far from being "pests"; though, they do sometimes build hives in less than ideal locations. For example, many homeowners find hives in enclosed places such as attics, porches, awnings, and wall interiors, which can cause issues during any home renovations or contractor work. But before you grab the closest bottle of RAID, you should know that there are plenty of humane ways to move or work around the hives without disturbing the bees. Here is a simple way to work around bees during renovations.

Know their habits:

Before combating your bee problem, it's important to recognize that bees aren't actually out to sting you. They're very good at sticking to their work and not getting distracted; the only exception to this is when they feel threatened. Even if a nest is damaged, the bees will most likely focus on rescuing other bees and repairing the hive instead of seeking vengeance. As long as you move with purpose and don't disturb them too much, you're highly unlikely to get stung.

Restrict the area:

First, it's recommended to confine the bees' available area. Buzzaboutbees.net provides an example regarding plumbing, but this technique will work for many types of work done around the house:

"Put something in place, which allows ‘in and out’ access for the bees, whilst covering the nest. Either that, or create a temporary ‘barrier’ to encourage the bees to fly in the direction of the outside, and away from the plumbing work. This could be something simple, such as a few empty cardboard boxes piled up between the plumbing and the bee nest."

Beware of allergies:

Many contractors have experience working around bees, but it's always better to be safe. Warn any contractors about the bees' location before they start doing any work on your home, because even though bees provide us with delicious raw organic honey, some people are highly allergic to them. Some contractors may have some sort of beekeeping equipment, such as beekeeping gloves, to make their work easier and less disruptive.

Bees are pollinators and are responsible for cross-pollination, which helps at least 30% of crops and 90% of wild plants thrive. Instead of using harsh chemicals to kill off the hive, do your part to humanely relocate or work around them. For more information about organic honey and safe beekeeping, contact GloryBee.