Local Honey

The true value of local honey

I cannot put into words the delight in looking after bees – for us it’s not just about the end product, but the journey.

We have at any one time between 25-30 hives dotted about Devon in groups of 4’s and 6’s. We are lucky to be able to select some wonderful spots for the bees, all chosen with a view to provide them with lots of healthy foraging, water sunshine and protection from the winter elements. It’s quite a tall order to get this right, as they are intelligent & if we can’t find their ideal location they would soon move on.

The beehive coming out of winter has a small cluster of bees supporting the queen, and as soon as spring has sprung the hive bursts into action. The queen begins to lay eggs and the flying bees must fly and collect pollen to feed the emerging larvae and honey to feed themselves and of course the Queen. The faster the bees work for her, the faster she lays. The newly hatched bees join the cycle of life in the hive

Within a hive there will be three castes of honey bee, the workers, drones and the queen. On emerging from their cell in which three weeks earlier the queen laid an egg, a worker bee will begin its life as a house bee, cleaning its own cell and then tending and feeding an unhatched brood. They might become undertaker bees removing dead bees or debris from the hive. As they develop, they produce wax glands and so get involved in building comb in which the essential stores of honey and pollen are stored.  Later they can fly, and their stings develop so they might progress to being guard bees or foragers.

The queen is the mother and servant of the hive. She does not exercise monarchical power but can only act within the wishes of the colony; so, it is the workers who decide whether she lays eggs that will become either drones or workers or even a replacement queen. A harmonious colony is one where there are sufficient pheromones including one known colloquially as queen substance to keep things together

As a superorganism, each individual bee works for the good of the whole colony.  This is a small snapshot of the workings of a hive, and as bee farmers we have to monitor them carefully from February through to November.

The time spent on inspecting hives for disease and welfare is immense, alongside swarm control and finally the honey collection, straining, bottling, labelling and wax re-cycling. Our ethos is to be patient and kind and the time spent will reward us with wonderful honey and pure beeswax

The honey produced has integrity – it has been produced by bees that are left with their own honey to keep them fed overwinter, and only taken as their surplus. We do not replace their honey with sugar substitute, and all the honey taken is direct from our hives.

The bees are inspected regularly, and we are registered as bee farmers with Defra, and have regular inspections. All our bees are in exceptional health.

Our hives are in moorland areas, nature reserves, wildflower meadows, country estates and the like. The sites chosen are away from intensively managed land, where pesticides and chemicals can be routinely used, something that we would not have knowledge or control over. We hope that our honey is ‘organic’ and this is something that is very important to us, knowing that neonicotinoids are causing the decline of our pollinators.

So – why Local Honey and Why our Beeswax Alchemy label honey?

Our honey is…

RAW – meaning it is un-pasturised and the structure is unaltered. Raw honey has been used as a folk remedy throughout history and has a variety of health benefits and medical uses. It’s even used in some hospitals as a treatment for wounds. Many of these health benefits are specific to raw, or unpasteurised, honey.

Most of the honey you find in grocery stores is pasteurised. The high heat kills unwanted yeast, can improve the colour and texture, removes any crystallization, and extends the shelf life. Many of the beneficial nutrients are also destroyed in the process.

Coarse filtered – meaning lots of goodness, pollen and antioxidents within the honey – our hives may have as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals. Free radicals contribute to the aging process and may also contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Research shows that antioxidant compounds in honey called polyphenols may play a role in preventing heart disease.

Research shows that raw, coarse filtered honey can kill unwanted bacteria and fungus. It naturally contains hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic. Its effectiveness as an antibacterial or antifungal varies depends on the honey, but it’s clearly more than a folk remedy as history has shown. Honey is used in medical settings to treat wounds because it’s been found to be an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration. Studies show that Manuka honey can boost healing time and reduce infection. Further studies have shown that UK honey can be as beneficial as Manuka Honey.  (Honey used in hospital settings is medical grade, meaning it’s inspected and sterile, so we do not recommend the use of honey for wounds without consulting a medical practitioner)

Phytonutrients are compounds found in plants that help protect the plants -some keep insects away or shield the plant from ultraviolet radiation. Phytonutrients in honey are responsible for its antioxidant properties, as well as its antibacterial and antifungal power. They’re also thought to be the reason raw honey has shown immune-boosting and anticancer benefits. Heavy processing destroys these valuable nutrients.

Honey is proven to be effective as a treatment for Helicobacter pylori bacteria, a common cause of stomach ulcers. It’s also a potent prebiotic, meaning it nourishes the good bacteria that live in the intestines, which are crucial not only for digestion but overall health.

To soothe a sore throat, try a spoonful of honey. Honey is an old sore throat remedy. Add it to hot tea with lemon when a cold virus hits you. It also works as a cough suppressant. Research suggests that honey is as effective as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medication.

Single batch meaning every batch from every hive has it’s own unique taste and consistency. Our honey is never the same twice – but be assured it will always be good.

We must stress that Raw Honey is not suitable to babies under one year of age – this is because it is un-pasteurised and raw honey can also rarely carry harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum. This is particularly dangerous for babies.

And finally - The Environmental Benefits

Local plant life factors into the honey-making process. The honey produced is the by-product of the pollination process, where the bees gather the pollen and are rewarded with a drop of nectar for their endeavours.  The plant life sets seed or produces fruit and on goes the cycle supporting the wildlife around us. Support local honey and help the bee population as well. It’s vital wherever you are to support local bee farmers who are helping raise and maintain healthy bees.