Bee Brains & Bee Flowers

Don't underestimate the bee brain.  Bees are considered to be among the smartest in the insect kingdom,  with their highly developed colonies, and the hierarchies that exist therein.  In fact, though the brain of a bee is only a cubic millimeter, it has the densiest neurophile tissue (the stuff that makes our brains work) of any animal.  That includes us too.

This plant is Borage, and is nicknamed "bee's bread" because bees love its nectar-rich blooms.  This is the herb plant for those with great taste and who like to taste their plants too.  The hardy annual has leaves that taste like cucumber, and planting them near tomatoes actually improves your tomato's flavor.  Mainly, the bees would love you if you planted some Borage.

No Bake Peanut Butter Honey Candy

Call it candy, call it a cookie, or just a snack.  It's healthy, easy, and yummy.  If you are one of those that like peanut butter and honey mixed together, you'll definitely like these.

Peanut Butter Honey Candy
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 cup dry milk
1 1/2 cup raisins
1 1/2 cup pecans and/or walnuts

Variations:  Add dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, oatmeal, chocolate chips, golden raisins for color.  Have fun, get creative.

Blend honey and peanut butter together in a bowl.  Gradually add dry milk, mixing well.  Mix in raisins and nuts.  Shape into a log, wrap tightly and store in refrigerator.  To serve, cut into 1/2 inch slices.  I also tried rolling it into balls and mashing them, this way they turned out like cookies. 


When mixing the first 3 ingredients, it may help to microwave them for 20-30 seconds, it will make the peanut butter easier to stir.  These are good at either room temperature or refrigerated.  If they are cold, it makes them chewier, a little extra honey and it makes them softer.

This is by far the easiest and best honey recipe I have found.  If you try it, let me know what you think.

Recipe pubished Emory-Adventist Hospital

The NEST

Dancing Bee honey is now available at a new location in Carrollton, Georgia.  The NEST,  with antiques and more, is located at 209 Alabama Street.  This brand new store is now the most fun place to shop in Carrollton.  Donna Maner and Becky Smith are the owners of The NEST and we'd like to invite everyone to stop by and visit. 

In addition to some great antiques and Dancing Bee honey, The NEST offers goat milk soap that is handmade locally and has some delicious scents.  You will find custom made tu-tu's for your little dancer by MMT Modeling Agency.  Check out the art gallery in the back, including stained glass by a local artist and greeting cards with original photography by a local photographer.

And don't forget the Gathering Place.  When you need a spot for a bridal showers, parties, office meetings and such; The Gathering Place is a room available for rent at a modest price for your get together.

If you shop so hard that you need a break, they have that covered too.  The Roost is the refreshment area with a quaint table and chairs to relax and socialize.  Enjoy cookies and tea everyday, and you can even try Dancing Bee honey in your tea while you're there.


I am very excited to be a 'nester' (that's what Donna and Becky call their dealers).  The NEST is in walking distance of the downtown square and also has parking on both sides of the building.  If you need to lay-away an item, that's available too.  Come by anytime and check out The NEST!

http://www.thenestonalabama.blogspot.com/
http://www.thenestonalabama.com/
Also find them on Facebook.

The Nest sits between Vogelberg's Bakery and the Cultural Arts Center near the intersection of Hwy 27 and Alabama Street.

See you there!

Raw Vs. Processed

What exactly is the difference between Raw and Processed honey?  First, let's understand the purpose and effects of heating honey.  Honey naturally has many many health benefits.  These benefits can be destroyed however if the honey is heated to 120 degrees or more. 

A large commercial honey producer (that you typically see in grocery stores) will heat their honey to make it easier and faster to run through their machines and bottle.  This is called processed honey.  Also, heated honey typically takes much longer to granulate than nonheated.

Most local honey is bought specifically for it's health benefits, mainly helping allergy sufferers.   As a standard rule, local honey producers do not heat their honey.  Sometimes it is necessary to warm it, but not above 90 degrees.  At this temperature, honey's healthy properties are maintained.  Since it is not 'heated', local honey can granulate between a few to several months after harvesting.  If it has granulated, it is necessary to warm it just enough to make bottling possible.  This is called raw honey because it is still in the same condition that it was harvested from the hive.

If you have a bottle of honey that has started crystallizing, it's easy to fix with a water bath.  Simply loosen the lid and and place it in pot of warm water.  If the bottle is mostly or completely crystallized,  you can reliquify it with the bottle only half covered with water.  The main thing is not to rush the process with to much heat, slower (lower heat) is better.
You can put the jar in the microwave, but it will cause the honey to get hotter faster and you risk overheating it.  If it starts boiling, it's gotten way to hot.  The simplist way I've found is to leave a bottle in my car on a very hot summer day with the windows rolled up.  That works every time with glass jars, plastic bottles - not so much.

Granulation is a natural process and does not mean the honey is spoiled.  The length of time it takes to granulate after harvesting has mostly to do with the types of flowers it comes from.  Cold temperatures also increase the speed of granulation so never put it in the fridge.  The best place to store honey is on your counter.

Enjoy your healthy honey.

Feeding Time

Today was feeding day again and since it was so warm, we were able to get into the hives and check on everybody.  The bees like to keep the inside of the hive at about 95 degrees and we won't go poking around in them if it's 55 or below.  If  we did that, it would simply take them to long to get the temperature back up again.  In the winter they regulate the temp by forming themselves into a ball shape cluster that is constantly moving.  The energy created by their body movements produces heat.  They're such clever little creatures.

Now back to feeding.  Back on August 8, we tried the ziplock bag method, but by the time we got bags in each of the hives, we knew that we'd go back the feeders we'd been using.  Danny mixed up 20 gallons of sugar water and we put 1-2 gallons in each hive that had gotten low on their honey stores.  Two hives still had capped honey, which means they haven't had to get into their stores that they had at the end of summer.  One hive actually had new honey.  This means that they are healthy hive and have been able to get out on the warm winter days and forage.

A month ago, we ordered 15 hives that will be ready for pickup in April.  At that time we will have 29 hives if the 14 we have now survive the rest of the winter.  Today we found that we had lost one hive due to starvation.  When we looked in the main hive body, we found the bees dead and in the ball shape they use to keep warm.

Our hives are located next to a fence at the edge of our property.  Our next door neighbor has a number of cows and today several of them mosied over to check out what we were doing.

Beekeeping Meetings

The GA Beekeepers Association Spring Meeting is almost here.  It is February 12-13 in Moultrie, Ga.  Some of the speakers will include, Jennifer Berry from the University of Georgia Entomology Dept, Master Beekeeper Bill Owens, Ted Dennard, and Mike Hood.  There is always a great variety of classes offered at the Ga Beekeepers meetings.  Fred and Ann Rossman of Rossman Apiaries in Moultrie will be hosting the Friday night Fish Fry and Entertainment.

To register for the Spring Meeting visit http://www.gabeekeeping.com/ for more information.

If you live in Henry county or the nearby area, you are welcome to attend the Henry County Beekeepers Club monthly meetings.  They are the first Tuesday of each month at 7pm in McDonough in the Public Safety Building Community Room.  They are also holding a Beekeeping Short Course on February 27 from 8am-5pm.  You don't have to be a member to attend the monthly meetings or short course.  Everyone is welcome.  You can find more info at http://www.henrycountybeekeepers.org/.

The Atlanta Botanical Gardens is the location for Metro Atlanta's One Day Short Course: An Introduction to Honey Bees and Beekeeping.  The cost is $95 and includes breakfast and lunch.  Enjoy presentations by educators in entomology and experienced urban beekeepers. There will be displays of beekeeping equipment and hive products, honey tasting, and educational materials related to the presentations.  A goody bag of honey bee related items, free admission to the botanical gardens and free parking. 
Visit http://www.beekeepingshortcourse.com/ for more info.

Get Ready Now

It may be 20 degrees outside and I may want to stay inside my home as much as the bees do, but there is still work to do.  January is a good time to check all my equipment.  I know I have a few supers that are showing signs of rot.  I use the ones in poor condition to store frames.  Several hives need some touch up painting.  I'm also checking the condition of the frames.  If any have turned black or are damaged, they'll be replaced. 

If you are just starting out or need to replace a queen and haven't placed your order with a supplier yet, it's time to hop to and get it done.  If bee suppliers aren't maxed out on filling orders yet, they soon will be.   

It's also time to make sure you have enough equipment.  If not, you can order anything you need from a supplier in the right hand side bar.  Get what you need now and you'll have plenty of time to get it all assembled and painted.

Waggle Dance

Check it out, honeybees really do dance.  The bees perform the waggle dance once they arrive back at the hive after foraging.  They use it as a way to communicate to the others the distance and direction to nectar, honey, pollen, water sources and even new housing.

The direction and duration of the dance correlate to the direction and distance of the flowers, etc.  The farther the target, the longer the dance is.  They also use the sun as their version of a compass to give directions.

Follow the link below to view the waggle dance.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7ijI-g4jHg&feature=related

Cinnamon & Honey

Here's an interesting report on the benefits of eating honey mixed with cinnamon.  It was published by Canadian magazine Weekly World News on January 17, 1995.  The report doesn't say how these things were proven, but they may still be worth a try and you may want to get your doctors opinion on some of them.


Upset Stomach - Honey taken with cinnamon powder cures stomachache.

Gas - According to studies, it is revealed that honey is taken with cinnamon the stomach is releaved of gas.

Immune System - Daily use of honey and cinnamon strengthens the immune system and protects the body from bacteria and viral attacks.  Scientists have found that honey has various vitamins and iron in large amounts.  Constant use of honey strengtens the white blood corpuscles to fight bacteria and viral diseases.

Indigeston -  Cinnamon sprinkled on 2T of honey taken before food, relieves acidity and digests the heaviest of meals.

Longevity - Tea made with honey and cinnamon powder, when taken regularly arests the ravages of old age.  Take 4 spoons of honey, 1 spoon of cinnamon powder and 3 cups of water and boil to make like tea.  Drink 1/4 c, 3-4 times a day.  It keeps the skin fresh and soft.

Pimples -  Three tablespoons of honey and 1t of cinnamon. Apply on pimples before sleeping and wash it the next morning with warm water. 

Skin Infections -  Appling honey and cinnamon in equal parts on the affected parts cures eczema and all types of skin infections.

Fatique -  Recent studies have shown that the sugar content of honey is more helpful rather than being detrimental to the strength of the body.  Senior sitizens, who take honey and cinnamon in equal parts, are more alert and flexible.

Bad Breath -  People of South America, gargle first thing in the morning with 1t of honey and cinnamon mixed in hot water.  Their breath stays fresh throughout the day.

Colds - Those suffering from comon or severe colds should take 1T of honey with 1/4 spoon cinnamon daily for 3 days.  This will cure most chronic cough, cold and clear the sinuses.

Cholesterol -  2T of honey and 3t of cinnamon mixed with 16 ounces of tea water, given to a cholesterol patient, was found to reduce the level of cholesterol in the blood by 10% within 2 hours. 

Hair Loss - May apply a past of hot olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon before bath and keep it for approximately 15 minutes and wash hair.  It was found to be effective even if kept on for 5 minutes.

Toothache - Make a paste of 1t cinnamon and 5t honey and apply on the aching tooth.  This may be applied 3 times a day till the tooth stops aching.

Bladder Infections - Take 2 tablespoons of cinnamon and 1 teaspoon of honey in a glass of lukewarm water and drink.  It destroys the germs in the bladder.

Insect Bites - Take one part honey to two parts of lukewarm water and add a small teaspoon of cinnamon, make a paste and massage it on the itching part of the body.  It is noticed that the pain recedes withing a minute or two.

Arthritis - Arthritis patients may take daily, morning and night, one cup of hot water with two spoons of honey and one teaspoon of cinnamon.  If taken regularly even chronic arthritis can be cured. 

For the complete report, go to http://www.angelfire.com/az/sthurston/honeyandcinnamon.html

To Do List - November

Hives don't really need constant attention, and it would probably annoy the bees if they got it.  It would be like someone taking the roof off your house regularly, pulling you and your furniture out and giving you the once over.  And if that was done when it was cold, rainy or windy, I imagine it would tick anybody off. 

That being said, they do need to be checked periodically to ascertain the overall health of the colony, to make sure they have an adequate food supply, and prepare them for each season.

Now is a good time to reduce the entrances.  As cold weather arrives, the population begins to drop due to the limited food supplies available throughout the winter.  Less total bee population means less bees to guard the entrance against robber bees and potentially mice looking for a warm dry winter home.

Feed the bees occasionally with a 2:1 sugar water solution.  This will help their honey stores last a bit longer.  Check to make sure the bees are not honey bound.  This means that the queen has run out of room to lay eggs because so many of the cells are full of honey. 

It is also a good time to get your honey and wax ready for gifts.  I enjoy using decorative jars in organza bags as a simple yet always welcome gift bags.   Sometimes I also add small beeswax ornaments, soap, dippers and/or a christmas ornament.  Honey lovers are always excited to receive these.

Atlanta Body Retreat

Atlanta Body Retreat in Marietta, Georgia is a new location you can pick up Dancing Bee Farm honey.  It is owned and operated by Sloane Warren, a neuromuscular therapist who has been practicing for 8 years and has 6 certifications.  You can find her practice at 140 Vann Street, Suite 400, Marietta, GA 30066; and can reach her at 404-271-7247.

Atlanta Body Retreat offers several types of massages and treatments including Deep Tissue, Neuromuscular Therapy, and Myofascial Release. You can also try the Aromatic Hot Stone Treatment or the Prenatal Massage specifically for expectant mothers.

These treatments release toxins and stress from your body and can improve your overall health and well being.  They can transform your spirit, promote a state of calm tranquility, and even decrease recovery time from surgery.

If you aren't able to make it to Sloane, she can come to you.  Call her to book an in-home Spa Party or Special Event.  It will be an occasion you'll never forget.

I've had one of Sloane's massages, and it felt like I was going to melt right off the table.

Retreat Yourself at http://www.atlantabodyretreat.com/

You, the Beekeeper

• Do you like trying new things? 
• Are you adventurous?
• Did you know that you can do something to help our environment?
• Want to create your own cool fun?

Seriously, instead of just reading about keeping bees, why not actually try it for yourself?  Do you have a backyard and a little spare time?  Why not give it a try?

Even if you don't know the first thing about keeping bees, and yes I know that may seem intimidating, there are many great resources to help you get started.  There are videos for beginners and an unlimited supply of books available.  Local beekeeping associations are a great place to start, some even offer short courses so you can get some hands on training.  You can also

meet some local bee keepers there that are an invaluable source of information.  Some local county extension offices also can be a good place to start, they may also be able to put you in contact with local bee keepers that can answer your questions. The internet is also a huge resource. 

If you need some help finding information, videos, books, local beekeeping associations, let me know and I will help you out all I can.  Just google 'beekeeping basics' to start with lots of free info.

So what do you need to know first?  Most communities allow residents to keep bees in their yards, but not all do or they may have restrictions on it.  It's a good idea to check your local ordinances to make sure. Decide if you have the right type of location in your yard.  A spot with full sun or as much sun as possible is best, avoid shade as it can attract pests.  The entrance can face any direction but since daylight directly effects the length of a bees daily work schedule, most keepers face the hive southeast to take advantage of the early morning light. 

Keeping your hive off of the ground will keep it dry, also avoiding problems.  There are several methods for making a hive stand, a common one is using 4 cinder blocks, making two stacks of two each.  Another benefit of a hive stand is the added height so you don't have to bend over as much when you're working the bees.  Placing the hive away from high traffic areas is a must. 

While it's generally true that honey bees wont bother you if you don't bother them, you certainly don't want it next to the patio or kids play area.  Also not recommended is near your property line, you don't want to make the neighbor's nervous if they are not bee people.

Before you buy your bees, learn something about how to manage them.  Brushy Mountain Bee Farm has a great video for beginners, taking a bee keepers short course is also a good idea, then there are all the books that are available.  After you've done your research and you still don't feel like everything's clicked with you or if the information overload feels overwhelming, don't worry about it.  All that's actually normal.  The best way to learn beekeeping is doing. 

Yes, I can tell you that keeping bees is rewarding, challenging, educational, and loads of fun; but telling you simply doesn't compare to you experiencing it yourself.  We think that honey bees are unbelievably intelligent and have loved learning so much about them.  Most people have some questions about bees once they learn that we keep them and we love sharing as much information with them as we can.  Because we keep bees and sell honey, we have met many new people and made a lot of friends over the years.  Sometimes I like to open a hive and just watch them for a while just because they are neat to watch.  And yes, keeping bees is one of the coolest things we've ever done.