Urban Beekeeping: 5 Steps for Starting Out

Are you a city dweller who dreams of beekeeping? You might have thought it was impossible unless you moved out into the country. Or maybe you’ve heard of Urban Beekeeping, but you thought it was too dangerous or impractical for you?

Don’t be dismayed. More and more cities are realizing the benefit of bees; after all, 90% of wildflowers benefit from cross-pollination from bees, in addition to 30% of crops. New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia are among the growing list of major cities that allow Urban Beekeeping.

Step 1: The Research
While it may be tempting to run out and buy those bees and beekeeping tools, there is a lot of information you need first.

The most important thing to understand is your city regulations or ordinances on beekeeping. While urban beekeeping is becoming more and more accepted, there are still a number of cities that prohibit it. If you are unsure where to start, check out your country extension office

Step 2: More Research
You’ve discovered your city allows for urban beekeeping. Congratulations! Now it’s time to get an understanding of your new hobby. Borrow a book from your local library, take a class, or better yet, find a beekeeping club. It is vital that you understand how to raise your bees safely for your neighbors, your bees, and yourself.

Step 3: Plan Your Hive
Make sure you have a place to put your hive. Backyards and lower rooftops can work well for beehives. If you are planning on having a rooftop hive, make sure you okay it with your landlord. If you plan on having a hive in your yard, build a fence high enough so that a bee won’t accidentally run into your neighbors passing over the top of it.

One thing to note: while bees are typically low maintenance, you will be responsible for providing access to water. A bird bath or rain catcher will likely suffice.

Step 4: Buy Your Beekeeping Tools
There are several options you can take. The first is to purchase a complete beginner’s beekeeping kit. This will include all your basic beekeeping equipment including your beekeeper hat, gloves, hive tool, bee hive smoker, bee brush, and feeder. You will also need to choose which of the many commercially available beehives is right for you and your space.

If your city has a community of beekeepers, you may be able to find used beekeeping tools for sale, cheaper than what you might be able to find otherwise. Make sure to only purchase used equipment from trusted sellers.

Step 5: Buy Your Bees
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for! It’s time to buy your bees. The most important thing is to pick a variety of bees that will thrive in your busy environment. You don’t want to face the wrath of your neighbors (or law enforcement) because you chose an aggressive variety.

Once you have your hive up and running, there isn’t much difference between rural and urban beekeeping. Just remember to harvest your honey responsibly, and take care to minimize swarming, which occurs when an older queen breaks off from an overcrowded hive.

For more information about how to maintain your hive, feel free to look back over our archives! And good luck with your adventure!

Common Mistakes For New Beekeepers

It's no secret that bees are an absolutely essential part of our ecosystem. Bees pollinate more than $15 million a year in crops in the United States, and more and more people have been buying beekeeping kits and other beekeeping equipment to experiment with their own beekeeping in hopes of harvesting that sweet, delicious, organic honey in their own backyards. Despite all we've come to learn about beekeeping, there are still many mistakes being made, generally by those who are new to the activity. Here are some common mistakes novice beekeepers make.

Mistake: Harvesting too much honey.

It can be difficult to ascertain just how much honey you should be taking from your hives. As a general rule of thumb, experts recommend not taking any honey from the colony in the first year. This is because the bees are not usually strong enough to make extra honey, and they need every drop they can to survive through the year. For stronger colonies, the amount of honey you should be harvesting depends on your location. Warmer climates allow more honey to be harvested, while bees in colder climates need more honey to survive the longer winters. If you're not sure, err on the side of caution and be conservative with your honey harvest.

Mistake: Not knowing when a colony has lost its queen.

The fact is that a colony that loses its queen simply cannot survive in the long term. Many new beekeepers assume that a colony that loses its queen will exhibit a drastic change in behavior almost instantly, but that's rarely the case. Bees will continue going about their business as usual, but without a queen to lay eggs, the colony will eventually die out. That's why it's important to look carefully for eggs every single time you inspect the colony.

Mistake: Not wearing protective gear.

New beekeepers often neglect the fact that protective gear is essential for managing a colony. Without a proper beekeeping kit and beekeeping tools, you may end up getting stung and killing some of your delicate bees. For full protection, beekeeping gloves, suits, and protective footwear are essential.

Ultimately, it's important to do plenty of research before taking up beekeeping. For more information about beekeeping equipment, contact GloryBee.

Basil Watermelon Granita with Agave

Granitas are our secret tool to impress dinner guests. A traditional Italian iced dessert similar to a shaved ice or sorbet, the basil in the recipe gives your taste buds a delectable treat.

Watermelon Granita with AgaveIngredients:

6 cups watermelon cubes
1 cup loosely-packed basil leaves, plus more for garnish
¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon Aunt Patty’sⓇ Light Agave Syrup, divided
Juice and zest of 1 lemon (about 3 tablespoons juice)
1 cup heavy cream

 

Directions

1. In a blender combine watermelon, basil, ¼ cup agave, and lemon zest and juice. Blend until completely smooth. Pour into a 9 x 13” pan and place in the freezer.
2. Every 30 minutes, remove granita from the freezer and scrape with a fork. The granita should be ready in 2½-3 hours.
3. In a medium bowl, combine cream and 1 tablespoon agave. Beat with a hand mixer until softly whipped. Divide granita between serving bowls and top with a dollop of whipped cream and a fresh basil leaf to garnish, if desired.

Make your own Aloe Vera Gel

"Summer time" can be "Bummer time" if you get a bad sunburn. Many people find that Aloe Vera Gel is great for relieving the uncomfortable pain associated with sunburned skin. Unfortunately, not everyone is lucky enough to have access to aloe vera plants to make their own Aloe Vera gel. This super simple recipe makes a powerful aloe vera gel that will help give you relief after getting too much sun.

Please note, the Germaben II is an important ingredient, as it is added as a preservative to help prevent bacteria growth. This ensures your aloe vera gel is safe and long-lasting.'

Ingredients

99   gr – Aloe Vera Liquid
0.6 gr – Xanthan Gum
0.6 gr Germaben II

Directions


1. Using a kitchen scale, measure out 99 Grams of Aloe Vera Liquid.
2. Using a kitchen scale, measure out .6 gram of Xanthan Gum.
3. Mix Well.
4. Let Rest for several hours so the Xanthan Gum can hydrate fully.
5. Using a Kitchen scale, measure out .6 grams of Germaben II
6. Once the Aloe gel forms evenly, add .6 grams Germaben II
7. Mix well

Bees and Beers

Interesting story from Scientific American about how scientists Anne Madden and Rob Dunn are making beer from Bumble Bee and wasp yeast! Typically the yeast used is one of two types—ale yeast and lager yeast so this is exciting news for beer fans!

“Beer, wine and other booze is made with yeast—single-celled microorganisms from the fungus kingdom. More than 1,500 yeast species are known around the world, and yet humans have essentially relied on only two types of alcohol-producing yeast—ale yeast and lager yeast—since the earliest days of brewing 9,000 years ago...

Yeast live in flower nectar, where the microbes feast on boatloads of sugar. The yeast produce alcohol, along with those sweet aromas that tickle our noses, which in turn attract the buzzing bugs. Bees sometimes get drunk off this fermented nectar...

So far, Madden has found two yeasts, one from a single wasp and one from a single bee, capable of making beer.

“People tend to ask us how many insects died to make beer, and the answer is very few. Once the yeast is separated, we can use the yeast for eternity without going back to those insects” Madden said. “To make all of the different bumblebeers that we’ve made, we’ve killed two bugs. You’ve likely killed more bugs on your way to a bar to get beer.”

Just goes to show that in addition to pollination, honey, wax, royal jelly, etc, there are so many other benefits pollinators have to offer! It’s more important than ever to help save these amazing creatures.

Click here to read more of the Scientific American Article, “The Beers and the Bees: Pollinators Provide a different kind of Brewer’s Yeast.

Habanero Honey Chicken Meatballs

Consider this recipe a lighter take on your standard meatballs. Bypass the ground beef and use ground chicken or turkey. Don't worry - no skimping on taste here! We use our Habanero Honey to impart a sweet, spicy flavor. You can make it your own by adding diced chilies or shredded vegetables like zucchini or carrots.  Enjoy on lettuce cups or with a side of quinoa or rice. Perfect for summer entertaining as an appetizer too! Enjoy!

Ingredients

Habanero GlazeMeatballs:
1 pound ground chicken
½ red onion, very finely chopped
¼ red bell pepper, very finely chopped
¼ cup minced cilantro
1 egg
¼ cup dry bread crumbs
1 clove garlic, minced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
Glaze:
½ cup GloryBee® Habanero Honey
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon habanero hot sauce
½ teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
Wraps and sides:
1 head butter lettuce, leaves separated
3 scallions, thinly sliced

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 450℉. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
  2. In a large bowl, combine chicken, onion, bell pepper, cilantro, egg, bread crumbs, garlic, oregano, and salt. Use your hands to mix together just until combined. Do not overmix.
  3. Measure out meat mixture in level tablespoonfuls, and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, and bake until internal temperature reaches 165℉ and meatballs are lightly browned, about 10-12 minutes..
  4. While meatballs cook, prepare the glaze. In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, stir together honey, vinegar, hot sauce, and pepper flakes until mixture is smooth and glossy, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
  5. Brush meatballs with glaze and return to oven for 1-2 minutes. To serve, divide meatballs between lettuce leaves and sprinkle with scallions. Serve leftover glaze on the side.

June 2017 Quinoa Market Report

Did you know that only two countries supply the majority of the world with Quinoa? Bolivia and Peru account for the majority of the world’s quinoa production. Recently due to the popularity of quinoa across the world, farmers in the USA and India have begun supplying a small percentage of product to the word market.

Weather

Harvest from Peru and Bolivia area usually starts in late April, but this year it was late May due to El Nino. El Nino is an irregularly occurring and complex series of climatic changes affecting the equatorial Pacific region that brings unusually warm, nutrient-poor water off northern Peru and Ecuador. El Nino typically brings flooding and this year was no different. The weather had a major impact on this year’s crop where regions of Peru were greatly affected by El Nino impacting production in those areas.  Other regions or Peru and Bolivia had sun and rain arrive at the right time, and produced a great crop.

Pricing

White quinoa is the most commonly known among consumers. Many farmers grow this product and the pricing is stable when compared to last year. We’ve seen volumes stay consistent this year compared to last year.

Red Quinoa is not as common as white quinoa.  Because the price has been nearly the same as white quinoa, farmers were not as motivated to plant as much red quinoa. This has caused the price to be higher than white. Thankfully the yield was good this year so prices could potentially be lower than last year.

Black Quinoa yields less per acre than white and red. Because of this low yield, farmers do not like to plant black quinoa.  However, pricing will potentially remain the same as 2016.

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.

5 Foods That Are Even Better With Honey

It's no secret that honey is renowned for its natural and sweet flavor. And while honey is an acid with a pH low enough to inhibit the spread of some bacteria (3.2-4.5), many people prefer to use it to give an extra flavor boost to some of their favorite foods. Here are some foods (and beverages) that are perfect with a touch of honey.

1. Tea: If you're a tea drinker, you've probably heard of this method before, or maybe you've even tried it yourself. Adding a spoonful of organic honey to your tea gives it an all-natural touch of sweetness.

2. Fruit: Honey makes a fabulous addition to nearly any fruit. If you're feeling adventurous, consider brushing some organic honey on a perfectly ripe peach or pear, and throw it on the grill. In just a few minutes, you'll have a delectable piece of caramelized fruit that tastes more like a dessert than a health food.

3. Butter: Mixing honey into your butter is the best way to indulge and take your bread or toast to the next level. Honey whips the butter into a softer, smoother consistency that can be added to almost anything. The extra sweetness makes all the difference in the world.

4. Fish: This may sound bizarre, but adding honey to your fish can give it an unbelievable flavor boost. Just create a mixture of soy sauce, black pepper, salt, and dijon mustard, and add a spoonful of honey before you thoroughly whisk it together. This flavorful sauce can be added to almost anything, but it's especially great for fish.

5. Nuts: If you've ever had roasted nuts around the holidays, you understand how delicious and satisfying they are. Adding a dollop of honey to nuts before you roast them really helps to bring out their underlying natural sweetness. This technique works great for almost any type of nut, but it works especially well for walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and cashews.

Ultimately, these are just a few foods that go great with honey, but there are plenty of others. If you're considering trying these methods, think about buying bulk honey for sale instead of smaller sized bottles for maximum efficiency. For more information about honey bears for sale, contact GloryBee.

Eight is Great Because of Weight

Langstroth hives, which are box-type beehives that hold removable frames, are the most popular hives in use today. They were invented by Reverend Lorenzo Langstroth in the USA more than 150 years ago and have withstood the test of time. Many “new” type of hives have popped up during the past century, but quickly faded away in popularity because of the Langstroth’s simplicity and extreme effectiveness.

Working on 8 frame hiveFor many decades, 10-frame Langstroth hives have been considered the traditional hives for beekeepers. These 10-frame boxes measure 16” wide by 19 7/8” long.

There are three depth sizes available:

  • Deep: 9 5/8”
  • Medium: 6 5/8”
  • Shallow: 5 7/8

Ten-frame boxes can hold a lot of honey. In fact, a 10-frame deep box that is fully packed with honey weighs about 80 lbs. That is some heavy lifting!

  • Full Deep: 80 lbs.
  • Full Medium 50 lbs
  • Shallow 40 lbs

Handling this weight can be overwhelming and especially difficult for older beekeepers or those with mobility challenges. A recommended option is to use 8-frame boxes. These boxes are exactly like the 10-frame boxes, but as the name implies, these boxes hold eight frames instead of ten. The dimensions for 8-frame boxes are 14” wide by 19 7/8” long.

Because 8-frame hives have two fewer frames and use less wood for the boxes than 10-frame hives, they weigh more than 20% less.

Besides the reduced weight, there is not much difference between 8-frame and 10-frame hives. Eight frame hives have less space inside them for the bees to live, so you have to be mindful of how crowded your boxes are getting or your bees could decide to swarm and leave your hive to find a new home with more room. Beekeepers who pay attention to the needs of their bees and use sound bee management practices should have no problems maintaining their 8-frame hives.

Choosing bee boxes is a personal choice and we recommend you use whatever size box works best for you. The most important thing is that your bees remain healthy and thrive year after year.

 

 

 

 

Three Impacts Honey Bee losses have on the Economy

Honey Bees have faced increasingly unprecedented die-offs in recent years. Although climate change, parasites, pesticides and industrial agriculture are believed to be part of the problem, more research is needed to better understand threats facing bees. A world without bees would be devastating for our food system. Without the honey bees, we risk an uncertain future.

Because honey bees are the only pollinators that can be moved to different locations, they are considered the world’s most important pollinators. According to a White House Fact sheet, honey bees are responsible for the pollination of 87 of the world’s leading 115 crops, contributing to 35% of global food production.

Honey bees are responsible for contributing more than 15 BILLION dollars each year to the U.S. economy through their vital role in keeping fruits, vegetables, and nuts available for our diets. The honey bee die-offs are effecting the economy in three significant ways:

  1. Declining bee populations are creating a demand for honey bees that surpasses the supply of honey bees. In California, pollination fees have quadrupled over the past 10 year- going from $50 per hive to $200. These costs are passed on to the consumers and are a drain on the economy, as those dollars could be invested in other ventures if honey bees were in plentiful supply.
  2. Commercial beekeepers have spent more than 2 BILLION dollars to replace over 10 MILLION hives throughout the last 6 years, according to the New York Times. Because beekeepers have to pass these costs on to farmers, who in turn pass these costs onto consumers, less crops are being produced and exported- meaning less foreign revenue coming in and helping boost our domestic economy.
  3. The Beef and dairy industries are also dramatically affected by honey bee losses. Clover, alfalfa hay and other forage crops are pollinated by honey bees. The cost of feedstock has risen significantly over the past few years, leading to noticeable increases in beef and milk at grocery stores. As consumers spend more money on the nutritional staples their families need, they have less money to spend on other things, depleting even more money from the national economy.

You can help!

SAVE the BEE is a partnership of businesses, consumers, beekeepers and scientists. Their goal is to end the crisis of declining bee populations. By driving awareness, funding research into both cause and solution and educating beekeepers, they are helping us better understand the challenges bees face and giving us resources to help.

Take action at SAVEtheBEE.org

 

 

 

5 Foods you Didn’t Know Were Pollinated by Bees

Pollination is necessary for flowers to develop seeds. It’s the process of transferring pollen from the stamen (male part) of a flower to its stigma (female part). Most plants are not self-pollinating. They require help from bees, who visit flowers for nectar and pollen. While bees are foraging for food among flowers, they are pollinating the plants, which begins seed production and leads to delicious fruits and vegetables.

It is estimated that honey bees are the most important of all the food pollinators. They are responsible for the pollination of more than 70% of the world’s most widely consumed crops, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. In fact, honey bees are responsible, either directly or indirectly, for one out of every three bites of food we eat.

Coffee Blossom Most everyone knows that bees pollinate almonds and avocados, but did you know that bees are to thank for these five foods?

  1. Onions- Onion nectar is high in potassium, which means onions are not at the top of bees “favorite” plants to visit, but honey bees are important in helping fertilize onion plants through pollination.
  2. Cherries- Sweet cherry tree pollination is done primarily through honey bees. Most cherry trees require cross-pollination, which is when a flower is pollinated by the pollen from another flower or plant. Honey bees are needed to get the pollen from one cherry tree to another.
  3. Pomegranates- Pomegranate seeds are packed with antioxidants but these plants don’t generate seeds without pollination. Pomegranate trees don’t require cross-pollination, but they do need the help from honey bees to get their pollen to the right part of the plant.
  4. Coffee- Coffee nectar contains low doses of caffeine, so bees really love to drink coffee nectar and get energized. Coffee plants can self-pollinate in some instances, but they produce more than 50% more coffee beans when honey bees fuel up on their nectar and help with the pollination.
  5. Vanilla- chocolate is solely pollinated by tiny insects called midget flies, but vanilla is pollinated exclusively by bees. Vanilla plants have a flap of plant tissue that separates the stamen from the stigma, so bees are absolutely essential for vanilla pollination.

Our planet is so fortunate to be populated by Honey bees, but the scary news is: honey bees are in danger. They have been facing unprecedented die-offs in recent years. In the past year alone, commercial beekeepers have reported losing 44% of their bees. Climate change, pesticides, parasites and industrial agriculture are all thought to be contributing factors to these die-offs, but more research is needed to understand what the true cause may be. To learn what you can do to help save the bees, go to SAVEtheBEE.org.

ABOUT SAVE THE BEE

Led 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 honey, bees fertilize food crops and plants, including most common produce and many nuts. By driving awareness, funding research into both cause and solution, and educating beekeepers, Save the Bee aims to end the crisis of declining bee populations. Together, we can Save the Bee!

Do Honey Bees compete with Native Bees?

Bees on beehiveHoney Bees were brought from Europe to North America in the 1600’s and quickly became the most important food pollinators, responsible for the pollination of over 70% of the world’s most widely consumed crops, according to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization.

Native Bees, like bumble bees, are thought by some to be better pollinators than honey bees because they spend less time at each flower they visit and are able to pollinate more blossoms in less time. They also mainly gather pollen, as opposed to the honey bee, which tends to be searching for nectar sources.

One of the greatest values honey bees have over native bees is their mobility. Unlike Native bees, honey bees can be moved from farm to farm. Honey bees are absolutely critical in pollinating almonds and avocados as well as many other major U.S food crops.

However, it is thought that that this transfer of the honey bee from place to place has weakened it to be susceptible to stresses and diseases, which is leading to dramatic honey bee die-offs. In the past year beekeepers have reported 44% colony losses. This crisis could lead to an uncertain future, as a world without bees would be devastating to our food system.

Interactions between native bees and honey bees are rare, but do occur. Studies have shown that Native bees are more “polite” and are not likely to stop at a flower a honey bee is on, but honey bees don’t seem to mind as much if a Native pollinator is on a flower they’d like to land on. Although there may be some instances of interference and exploitative competition between Native Bees and honey bees, it is not enough to show conclusive evidence that one affects the other adversely.

Veteran Beekeepers have observed that having a combination of honey bees AND native bees in their gardens can provide a 15% or greater yield than if you just had one or the other.