Tag: summer

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Honey Lemonade: Simple and Refreshing!

 

August isn’t just the hottest part of summer— it also marks some of the last honey harvesting before winter! If you’re looking to beat the heat and make the most out of the honey you’ve collected this summer, this lemonade recipe is for you! And It’s not just refreshing— it’s sugar free!

  • 1 cup freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup honey (can be adjusted for more sweetness!)
  • 5 cups cold water

Mix your honey and lemon juice in a pitcher until thoroughly combined, then add cold water and stir. Keep chilled and serve over ice. Add sliced lemons for extra flavor and flare!

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August in the Hive

 

August is a big month for your bees! As the summer grows hotter, asters and other wildflowers create an abundance of pollen and nectar for the colony. This will help the bees as they start to prepare for winter, and you can support them in this process too!

This time of year, beekeepers should be checking hives for mites and other pests. Varroa mite populations increase in hives during the summer and hit a peak just as honeybee colonies are laying eggs and raising brood for the winter. To fight back against a mite population in your beehive, take precaution and follow the Honey Bee Health Coalition’s Varroa Management Decision Tool.

The most important thing we recommend for beekeepers in late summer is to help keep your bees cool. During the hot summer months, keep water available at all times, such as in bird baths, tubs, or other shallow containers. Even a simple bowl of water with rocks and sticks can be extremely helpful for those busy bees!

If your bees are happy, the keeper is happy!

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Getting the most out of your honey and beeswax

 

There’s no such thing as “too much” of a good thing—but if you find yourself with extra honey or beeswax after your harvest, here are some ideas to use up your supply while freshening up your life!

If you’re hosting a dinner party, or looking to liven up your hors d’oeuvres, try adding some honey! Next time you’re thinking about appetizers, pair your honey with soft fresh cheese such as chèvre or brie alongside jam, nuts, and toasted bread. If you prefer to skip straight to the entrée, sweeten up your tomato sauce! Instead of heaps of sugar to your sauce to cut the acidic bite of a tomato, use honey for a healthier sauce that still holds onto rich flavors. Couple your sweet charcuterie board and pasta sauce with a crisp white wine, and you have a match made in heaven!

You might’ve heard that beeswax is “nature’s most versatile product”. With your leftover beeswax, you have plenty of options to use it around the house or in your garden! Season cast iron pans, condition your cutting boards and wooden spoons, or prevent rust by coating your garden tools in wax. You can even make your own beeswax lip balm and body butter to treat yourself to some self-care!

Honey and beeswax are as versatile as they come! Make the most out of what you have and experiment with more sweetness in your recipes and around your household.

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Month in the Hive – July

 

Summer is prime bee season! Michigan bees have been foraging on all the blossoming flowers and trees, including sumac, milkweed, basswood and clover, in order to create a robust nectar flow.

Now that we’re in July, West Michigan bees are busy making honey in their hives. For beekeepers, there isn’t a need to be constantly digging around in the hive unless you’re managing swarm prevention. Be patient if you see a swarm as they usually disband, often within about 15 minutes or an hour.

During July’s hot and humid days, you may notice bees resting outside of the hive. This is completely normal as this is their way of keeping cool.

Throughout the month of July, continue weekly hive inspections, looking for the queen, and checking on the overall health of the hive.

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Month in the Hive – June

It’s bee season! Right now, Michigan bees are foraging on all the blossoming flowers and trees, including sumac, milkweed, basswood and clover, creating a robust nectar flow throughout the month of June.

While bees are out foraging, you might see them swarming as well. We’ve had a few calls about how to handle a swarm. No need to be alarmed – just a little patience and the swarm will usually disband, sometimes within about 15 minutes or an hour.

So why do bees swarm anyway?

A swarm occurs when the reigning queen and about half the bees rush out of the hive entrance together, clustering on a tree limb or another similar object. Bees will continue swarming as they look for a new home. Once the bees have found a new location, the cluster breaks up and the bees fly to their new hive.

The bees that did not leave the hive continue their work in the colony, collecting nectar and pollen and building honey combs. Within the colony, a new queen emerges and looks for rival queens. A “fight-to-the-death” combat ensues until there is only one surviving queen. Once the new queen has mated, she begins to lay eggs and the cycle begins again.

A bee’s natural instinct is to swarm when we have good weather. Since we haven’t had much rain lately in West Michigan, we’re seeing a lot of swarms. Just bee-patient and they’ll naturally move along.

Happy Bee Season!

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Month in the Hive – July

 

Now that you have your bees and they have been pollinating the flowers and trees the past few months, it’s time to stand back and let them make that delicious honey!

July is honey-making month, so it’s a good time to let the bees be as they work their honey magic. You do, however, want to keep an eye out for any swarms during this time. When this happens, the reigning queen and about half the bees will rush out of the hive entrance together, clustering on a tree limb or another similar object. This is called swarming, and usually only lasts for an hour or so as the bees look for a new home. Once the bees have found a new location, the cluster breaks up and the bees fly to their new hive.

The bees that did not leave the hive continue their work in the colony, collecting nectar and pollen and building honey combs. Within the colony, a new queen emerges and looks for rival queens. A fight-to-the-death combat ensues until there is only one surviving queen. Once the new queen has mated, she begins to lay eggs and the cycle begins again.

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Beeswax Fire Starters

Camping is the perfect time to relax and unwind, until the nerve-wracking task of starting a fire comes up! Don’t worry about how long it will take you to get a fire started when you’ve got this DIY natural fire starter craft. Ease your mind and expedite the fire-starting process with these nifty fire starters made with our very own GLBC Beeswax.

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Strawberry Honey Lemonade

August in Michigan is HOT! If you’re looking for a way to cool down, look no further than this Strawberry Honey Lemonade recipe. It’s the perfect combination of sour and sweet! So delicious, so refreshing. This recipe is bound to become a staple of your summer and your family’s new favorite refreshment. Sweetened with our natural, local honey, it’s is healthier than other lemonades that contain processed sugars. This recipe will provide your body energy rather than a sugar crash. Whip this up on a sunny Friday afternoon and enjoy all weekend long.

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DIY Bee Bath: Hydration Station for Bees

Do you want to make sure your garden is blooming to its max capacity this season? Ensure your flora are all being pollinated by creating an environment where bees want to and CAN visit while on their journey for nectar. It takes more than just flowers to draw bees in. You need to give them a reason to stay and linger long enough so they don’t overlook your many flowers. Having flowers and nectar for bees to consume is essential to attracting them, but an often overlooked necessity for bees is water.

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