GloryBee Blog

New To Beekeeping? Here’s an FAQ For ‘Bee’-ginners

When it comes to raising your own bees, many are put off because of their inaccurate perceptions and think of it as complicated and time-consuming. While it does require quite a bit of knowledge to understand the beekeeping process, anybody can become a seasoned beekeeper with some effort and dedication. Here are some answers to common questions about beekeeping equipment and beekeeping tools.

What equipment is necessary to start beekeeping?
This question has a number of different answers. The truth is, many beekeeping kits are filled with things that some beekeepers may rarely or never use. Experts say that all you truly need to get started with beekeeping is a bee hive smoker, protective clothing, and a hive tool. Of course, you may want to invest in more advanced equipment when you start to develop your skills or acquire more hives.
How do I buy my bees?
Bees are available at a variety of locations, but many advise against purchasing them online. They say it can be difficult both to ascertain quality and to send them back to the seller if there is an issue with them. Experts recommend buying local. Not only will you be able to inspect the bees before committing to buy them, but you can ask any questions you have to the professional beekeeper onsite. Often times local bees will be better acclimated to your region than bees ordered over the internet.
How much honey should I expect?
Unfortunately, first-time beekeepers can't expect to get much Raw organic honey during their first year. This is because the bees are using the wax to build up their combs. You should also know that on average, a honey bee will produce one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime, and it takes eight pounds of nectar to make just one pound of wax, so patience is a virtue when it comes to beekeeping. Honeybeesonline.com says: "Certainly some first year hives can produce a full crop of honey, maybe 70-200 pounds of honey. But this would be in a perfect situation, or from a second year hive. So it is better to have no honey expectations the first year...year two is when you can expect much more."

Ultimately, it's important to know all the basic information about beekeeping before you get started. But one of the best benefits is that you'll get to harvest your own delicious and organic honey.

5 Adorable Ways to Re-purpose Honey Bear Containers

There's no doubt about it, honey is quite a versatile food item. Bees work pretty hard to make this product -- to make one pound of honey a honeybee would have to fly about 90,000 miles, the equivalent of three times around the globe. And this honey can be used in a variety of things, from adding flavor to food to enhancing your skin care routine.

One of the best parts about consuming raw honey is the adorable little bear containers they come in. Recycling these plastic containers is a great way to promote your love of honey while saving the environment at the same time. Here are some great ways to recycle these happy-looking bottles.

String lights

If you have an extensive bear bottle collection, this one is for you. Grab a few strands of string lights and stuff the lights into the bottles. If the string is thin enough, you can even put the cap on the bear and thread the lights through that to make them a bit more secure.

Party favors

All you need is some bear bottles, soap, water, and pipe-cleaners and you have got yourself adorable party favors for any child's party. These make-your-own bubble kits couldn't be easier, just fashion the bear's neck with a bow, stick the pipe cleaner wand into the bow, and you're all set.

A soap dispenser

Who said soap dispensers had to be boring? Paint your honey bear a color that matches your bathroom or kitchen decor, and attach a generic pump to it. Boom, an easy-peasy dispenser that will make anyone smile.

A coin bank

These bears can help children of all ages learn how to save and spend their money. Let your child decorate their bear how they'd like, cut a notch in the back of its head, and you have a great decoration that also serves as a home for all that spare change floating around.

A frosting dispenser

A honey bear bottle has a thin tip, which is perfect for decorating cakes and cookies than old-fashioned plastic bags. They act as perfect squirt bottles and keep in the fridge for a lot longer than other methods.

Have a lot of raw organic honey bears laying around, just looking to be used? Try your DIY-hand at these awesome crafts and see what you can create!

If you have any additional ideas on how to re-purpose these adorable containers, leave a message in the comments.

Reasons Why Anyone Should Try Out Beekeeping

Bees are responsible for the majority of foods you have in your home and these little floating submarines are quite an interesting species. If you have ever been remotely interested in how bees work to pollinate the world, or if you have ever been called a busy bee, then it may be time to consider taking up beekeeping as a hobby.

Here are some of the best reasons you should grab your beekeeping equipment and get started in the wonderful world of bees!

You'll get your own pot of gold

Even though it may be obvious, the output of bees is what makes everything worth it. Raw honey and bee pollen can be used in many different ways and considering that each American consumes about 1.3 pounds of honey per year, it is always in a constant supply! Are you wondering what exactly is the difference between honey from the store and honey from your own bees? We can't tell you -- you'll just have to pick up a beekeeper hat and trust us.

You'll have the best garden on the block

When beekeeping, another perk you can expect is to have beautiful flowers at all times. While you're at it, start growing your own garden and you can expect a bountiful crop with the help of your little flying friends!

You won't have to spend a lot of time with them (But can if you'd like)

Bees are independent animals and don't necessarily require a lot of upkeep. They often like to be left alone to do their bee duty, so you won't have to constantly be around them. However, there are times where you do need to use your bee hive smoker and other beekeeping equipment to find the queen and split the hive, but this only happens a few times a year

You can go anywhere with the bees

Think of your bees as pets -- you can live almost anywhere with them. This means you can raise them in the suburbs, on a farm, even in an apartment building. They're even better when you bring them into the city as they can help pollinate where bees aren't normally found.

Do these reasons convince you to try out beekeeping? We hope so!

Habanero Strawberry Chia Fresca

With the temperature rising, nothing can satisfy or cool you down like a good drink. We've partnered with Bob's Red Mill on just a recipe – Strawberry Chia Fresca! Enjoy summer's best strawberries with chia seeds, which are known for their omega-3 content, anti-oxidant properties and fiber. You also get a kick with using GloryBee's Habanero Honey. Spicy and sweet, this treat will knock your sandals off!

Time

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 2 servings

Ingredients

1 cup chopped Strawberries (6 oz.)
1/4 cup GloryBee Habañero Honey
1/2 Tbsp fresh Mint (1-1/2 grams)
1 Tbsp Bob's Red Mill Organic Chia Seeds
Club Soda

Directions

Puree strawberries, honey, and mint in a blender until smooth. Stir in chia seeds.

Portion puree between two serving glasses. Drink as-is or top with club soda and ice.

Make it a great summer cocktail by adding 1-1/2 oz tequila or vodka.

How To Use Honey As A Replacement For Other Sweeteners In Baked Goods

In 2014, there were an estimated 2.7 million honeybee colonies in the United States, a number that is periodically tracked by the USDA. These numbers aren't surprising, considering the number of people in the U.S. who love raw honey. But did you know that there are also a lot of recipes that allow you to use honey instead of sugar or another sweetener? Honey makes a great and more natural alternative to many everyday sweeteners. Here are just a few common sweeteners that you can start replacing with delicious, raw honey in your favorite baked goods.

Agave:
Honey can easily be used as a tasty, 1:1 substitute for agave. It's super simple -- just use the same amount of honey that you would if you were using agave. And if you want to add an extra fruity taste or unexpected flourish, consider using some flavored honey stix as a dessert garnish.

Sugar:
Honey is also a great substitute for regular white sugar. This one is flexible too, and you can easily alter it to fit your personal tastes. If you're using a half cup or less of sugar, you can use an equivalent amount of honey. Any more than that, however, and you may want to use slightly less honey. Some bakers also recommend reducing the other liquids in the recipe by up to a quarter of a cup for each cup of honey added. It's also a good idea to reduce the baking temperature by about 25 degrees if you're using honey to replace sugar. This prevents too much browning and helps to balance the dish.

Various Sugar Substitutes:
Sugar substitutes can be difficult to accurately measure, especially when trying to determine how much honey should be used to replace them. As a general rule of thumb, bakers suggest using about three ounces of honey for every teaspoon of substitute. This equals out to about one cup of honey for every tablespoon of sugar substitute.

Ultimately, natural, raw honey makes a great substitute for countless sweeteners; it just comes down to finding the perfect ratio. Keep in mind that raw organic honey is the most natural form of honey and free of any preservatives or additives. For more information about flavored honey stix, raw honey, or bulk honey for sale, contact GloryBee.

Watermelon Quinoa Salad with Fermented Honey

Looking for a nutritious, easy, and tasty side dish to bring to a summer barbeque? Looking for a unique way to get your family to eat quinoa? Wondering if you’d tasted the best quinoa recipe of the summer? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we’d encourage you to give this recipe a go.

Be sure to use only the best ingredients for this recipe from Bob’s Red Mill and GloryBee.

Time

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Rest Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

1/4 cup GloryBee Fermented Honey
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp fresh Lemon or Lime Juice
1/2 tsp Salt
3/4 cup very thinly sliced Red Onion (3 oz)
1/2 cup Organic Tri-color Quinoa
3/4 cup Water
Pinch Salt
4 cups cubed seeded Watermelon (1-1/2#)
1/2 cup crumbled Feta Cheese (3 oz)
1/4 cup chopped fresh Basil or Mint (1/2 oz)

Directions

In a small, non-reactive bowl, whisk together fermented honey, olive oil, citrus juice, and salt. Add thinly-sliced red onions and chill.

Bring water and a pinch of salt to a boil, then add quinoa. Reduce heat to low and simmer until grains are soft, about 12 minutes. Drain off hot water, rinse in cool water, and drain thoroughly. Place in a large bowl or spread onto a sheet tray and allow to cool and dry thoroughly.

To serve, toss watermelon with red onions and dressing. Gently stir in cooked quinoa and top with feta and basil.

Could U.S. Honey Bees be Dying off Because of Inbreeding?

Honey Bee populations in the U.S. have been on the decline for decades and no one is sure of the exact reason why. Here’s an interesting article from NPR exploring the possibility that maybe honey bees are suffering from too much in-breeding and are susceptible to varroa mites; however, Russian honeybees may be showing signs of resistance to varroa mites.

“Editor's note: This story is for mature bees only.

According to [Susan Cobey and] the WSU research team, the root cause of the U.S. honeybees' vulnerability to varroa [mites] is a dwindling gene pool that has left them short on genetic traits that help honeybees resist varroa elsewhere in the world.

"Honeybees aren't native to America," Cobey says. "We brought them here. But the U.S. closed its borders to live honeybee imports in 1922, and our honeybee population has been interbreeding ever since."

[USDA bee researcher, Robert Danka]… traveled to the Russian far east, where a local honeybee, Apis mellifera, has developed resistance to varroa.

These Russian bees groom themselves, biting and crushing the mites. They also have a prevalent genetic trait called varroa sensitive hygiene (VSH), aborting larval honeybees infested with mites and removing them from the hive before the parasite can spread. “

Scientists hope to introduce European and Asian honey bees to the U.S. honey bee populations and widen the gene pool of U.S. Honey Bees to deal with varroa mites naturally, without chemicals. To read the NPR article in full, go to: No offense American Bees, but your sperm isn’t cutting it

Cassia Cinnamon: What is Causing High Prices?

The market for Cassia Cinnamon has been very firm for the past 6-8 months and prices for some grades have doubled in price.

We’ve seen reports that the cinnamon-cassia prices are already at record-high levels, and increases are likely to increase in the near future.

Cassia supply is in a downward spiral for producing volumes of the past years due to a crisis of individual farmers deciding not to replant harvested cassia forests. Carry over inventory is non-existent from 2016.

Below are a few reasons we’re seeing an increase in cassia cinnamon prices:

- Cinnamon has little to no carryover from the previous crop year.

- Over the large part of the last decade, prices for cassia have been fairly low. These low prices have caused farmers to stop replacing cassia trees cut for production and instead plant palm, coffee, tea or chills. Because of the long lead time from plant to harvest, this is driving up prices.

- Raw materials have been decreasing sharply since the farmers in Kerinci and West Sumatra stopped planting trees a few years ago. Farmers in West Sumatra are not willing to preserve new sprouts coming up after cutting trees.

- In September we expect high demand from large companies such as McCormick, etc. This will likely cause prices to rise to a level that remains for 1st Qtr. 2018.

- Supply from China, Madagascar and Vietnam can often times be of a lower quality, but is still priced to match the preferred cassia from Indonesia.

- Long and heavy rainfall in growing areas that are severely hindered by lack of road infra-structure.

- Farmers feels that the market has not reached a fair market price at this time. These they are not anxious to sell and hold out for better prices.

- July is the month that millers are building inventory for the Christmas period, which is the largest season for consumption.

New research is showing that even small amounts of cassia cinnamon can potentially help with a multitude of medical issues. If this trend continues, it has the potential to add a tremendous demand if much of population tries this trend.

Disclaimer: This content is provided for informational purposes only. The information is based upon conditions at the time of writing and many factors can change the pricing and availability of crops. This information should not be considered purchasing advice. Please contact a GloryBee sales representative at 1-800-456-7923 to learn more

4 Summer Snack Essentials

Always finding yourself on the go? Too busy enjoying the outdoors to make homemade treats? Don’t worry about it, that’s what summer is for! GloryBee has four easy snack essentials to keep you feeling energized. Whether you’re hiking, biking or camping by the lake, these healthy snacks let you make plays on a whim--so pack your backpack with these revitalizing snacks and enjoy your summertime adventures without worrying about your next meal!

HoneyStix

Naturally sweet and convenient, GloryBee HoneyStix are perfect for snacking on the go. With more than 25 flavors of pure, naturally flavored honey in a fun-to-use straw, GloryBee HoneyStix offers the perfect treat that is better for you than processed sugar snacks and great for a quick boost of energy Enjoy rich flavor and sweetness, conveniently packaged to be take-along treats. Perfect anytime, anywhere.

Trail mix

Treat your taste buds to the delicious, all-natural flavors of Aunt Patty’s Trail Mix. A tantalizing blend of nuts mixed with sweet fruits, Aunt Patty’s Trail Mix is chock-full of healthy proteins and vitamins that give you long-lasting energy. With eight unique styles of healthy trail mix to choose from, every trail mix enthusiast will find a combination of flavors they will enjoy. Next time you hit the trails, be sure you pack your trail mix!

Veggie Chips

Your mom always wanted you to eat your veggies, and now you can. Slightly salty with a bit of crunch, GloryBee Vegetable Chips keep you feeling light and healthy even in the hot summer sun. Snack without consequences, as these chips will satisfy your hunger quickly and without the calories of regular potato chips. The perfect bite to savor while you float the river!

Vanilla Chai Almonds w/ Green Tea

Everyone knows about almonds. But wait--green tea? And vanilla? That’s right. A collision of two flavors, coating a delicious protein-packed almond. Crunchy sweet with energizing spices, Vanilla Chai Almonds w/ Green Tea will keep you ready for action . Grab a bag on your way to the winery, or munch with some friends at the coast—Vanilla Chai Almonds w/ Green Tea are the Rolls Royce of on-the-go snacks.

Don’t spend your summer making snacks, spend it making memories!

Top three Ways to Harvest Honey

People get into beekeeping for many reasons—for pollination, stress-relief, education, apitherapy (using bee venom for medical purposes), and to enjoy bee-made products from the hive (pollen, beeswax and propolis) However, the number one reason people get into beekeeping is for the honey.

Knowing when to harvest your honey is of extreme importance. Each region has its own seasons—for instance, in the Pacific Northwest the Honey Harvesting Season begins late July.

You can tell when the honey flow has ended and it’s time to harvest your honey when the majority of the plants in your area no longer are flowering. When you have removed your honey supers (Making sure you leave enough honey for your bees to survive the winter) you will need to decide what style of honey you want to harvest.

3 most popular ways to harvest honey

Extracted Honey: This is the most popular way for beekeepers to harvest their honey. The Wax cappings covering the honey are sliced off and the frames with the opened honeycomb are put into a cylindrical device called an extractor. The extractor spins using a hand-crank or electric motor and the honey is removed from the cells via centrifugal force. This produces delicious liquid honey that can be enjoyed immediately.
Creamed Honey: This style of honey is super-thick and popular in Europe. It involves a process that helps control the crystallization that occurs naturally in honey. The honey is removed from the frames, strained to remove wax and bee parts and then heated and cooled numerous times while stirring. After about a week you will have a semi-solid batch of delicious creamed honey.
Comb Honey: Just as the name implies, this is honey capped inside the honey comb. This is the least popular way to harvest honey as it is the hardest to produce. (Yet, it’s the simplest to harvest) Producing this type of honey requires the right weather, heavy nectar flow and intuitive timing. Ross Rounds and mason jars are typically put inside the beehives by beekeepers to entice their bees to produce the comb honey. When it’s time to harvest, you just remove the honeycomb and you’re done. The wax honeycomb is edible and the liquid honey inside the comb is delicious. This process is not for beginners, but it’s well worth the effort to learn how to make comb honey.

4 Tips Any New Beekeeper Should Follow

Beekeeping is a great hobby and is getting more popular every year. In fact, the USDA reports that as of 2014, the number of colonies managed by beekeepers was the highest it has ever been in a full 20 years.

But there are a few things every new beekeeper should know before they embark on this wonderful world. Here we explain.

Make a plan and be prepared
Before you start harvesting your bee colonies, you need to make a plan. Questions to ask yourself include how many bees you want to have, how big the colony will be, and will you need beekeeping tools such as a bee hive smoker? You also need to be prepared to invest in beekeeping equipment such as a beekeeper hat and gloves. These are specialty products meant to allow you functionality while tending the hive.
Don't forget the front door
While a bee colony is generally self-sufficient, it does need to be regularly monitored. You will need to look for healthy activity, such as a lot of bee pollen coming in the springtime. This means that there is a lot of protein feeding the colony, and things are going swimmingly. However, you do need to check for signs of yellow jackets or skunks as they can compromise the colony in a matter of a couple days.
Know where to stand
Make sure you are standing with the wind coming from behind you as to not get in the way of the bees flying in and out. Try your best to shade the sun and to move slowly -- and only enter the hive during the middle of the day when the majority of the bees are out foraging.
Know your ratio
One of the best beekeeping tools anyone can have in the hive is the queen bee. She must be protected at all times and in perfect health, so make sure to know your ratios for when she is laying eggs. A queen can lay about 2,000 eggs a day, and to make sure that they are developing properly the ratio should be 1:2:4. This means the ratio of eggs, to larvae, to sealed brood are all developing at healthy rates and the hive is flourishing.

Simply follow these tips and you will be ready to establish the best hive out there!

Fresh Blueberry Peach Pie with Honey Peach Glaze

Peach pie, oh my! Does anything sound better than a homemade peach pie during the summer time? We've updated this summer classic so that the crust utilizes coconut oil instead of lard or butter. For the fresh fruit filling, our secret ingredient is our Blueberry Honey. Dish up a slice with your favorite vanilla ice cream and enjoy!

Ingredients

For crust:

2 ½ cups organic pastry flour

1 cup of Aunt Patty's Organic Fair Trade Unrefined Virgin Coconut Oil – chilled and in solid form.

1 tsp Sea Salt

1 tsp baking powder

1 large organic brown egg

½ Tbsp. Aunt Patty's Organic Apple Cider Vinegar

½ cup of cold water

Directions

Combine salt and pastry flour together in large bowl. Cut in cold coconut oil until mixture forms small pea size crumbs.

In another bowl, whisk together egg, vinegar and water. Add baking soda and set aside for 3 minutes to rest.

Combine wet ingredients to dry ingredients in the large bowl. Once all combined, chill crust for 10-15 minutes. Once chilled, roll out crust on floured surface until slightly larger than desired pie pan – about 13”. Gently roll pie crust around rolling pin and unroll over pie pan. Gently press pie crust into place, turn edges under and crimp.

Bake unfilled pie crust for 15 minutes at 350 degrees or until golden brown.

For filling

7-9 free stone peaches

¾ to 1 cup of fresh blueberries

3 Tbsp. organic cornstarch

Lemon juice

½ cup of GloryBee Blueberry Blossom Honey

¼ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg

Directions

Peel and slice all peaches. Set aside 2 peaches for glaze mixture. Combine remaining peaches, all blueberries and cornstarch together in a large bowl. Squeeze lemon juice over peaches to prevent browning.

For glaze, combine remaining 2 peaches, honey, cinnamon and nutmeg in a blender. Blend until smooth. You may need to add water, 1 Tbsp. at a time to create smooth glaze texture. Transfer glaze to sauce pan and cook glaze until warm.

Once glaze has cooled a bit, combine with blueberries and peaches. Add fruit to pie shell and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Serve with homemade vanilla ice cream.