Guestbook

Berkey Bee Honey Farm

Home of the Best Local Honey and Hardest Working Bees!

Welcome...

2009 Season Report

The snow now covers the ground and the hives are at rest. As the year comes to a close it is time to reflect on the past year. 2009 is going down in the record books as one of the worst years ever for honey production. While we had big hopes last spring, a combination of weather patterns resulted in a very poor honey harvest. We barely had enough to keep the Farm Market supplied, and no extra to share with our friends and neighbors. Even the Farm Market was left short on occasion.

I now have in hand the honey report from the December 2009 American Bee Journal. Let me quote a little for you:

Our reporters continue to estimate their honey crops as below average or poor over much of the nation. In fact, some are now saying this may be their poorest honey crop on record - a record which has been broken all too often in recent years.

The good news is that our hives were able to build up nicely this fall in preparation for the winter. Each hive needs at least 70 pounds of honey to survive the winter, and the late nectar flows permitted the hives to add to winter stores. We planted an acre of buckwheat, hoping for some dark and flavorful buckwheat honey. It grew nicely but the bees consumed most of the nectar. A late freeze wiped out the basswood, which is an important nectar flow.

Yet hope springs eternal, and soon the winter snows will melt. We have 18 strong hives going into the winter. So rest blessed bees, keep the queen warm, and bring us strong brood this spring to gather the pollen and nectar that will come with the spring bloom.

The Berkey Bee Honey Farm is located in Richfield Township, Lucas County, Ohio. Our honey bees are raised locally from hardy overwintered stock. Our bees are not treated with any chemicals or antibiotics. You can be sure that our honey is 100% pure and natural, made by the bees for you from the nectar of local flowers.

The nectar flows here in Northwest Ohio start in April and continue through the first killing frost. Our primary nectar sources are sweet clover (yellow and white), white dutch clover, alsike clover, Basswood (American Linden), Catalpa, Black Locust, Strawberries, buckwheat, bullthistle, goldenrod and aster. Minor flows include members of the mint family such as common mint, catmint, russian sage and agastache.

Where you can buy Berkey Bee Honey

Berkey Bee Honey is sold at the following locations:

Chandler's Farm Market
6610 Memorial Highway
Ottawa Lake, Michigan 49276
734-856-8110

One Mile North of Sylvania, Ohio (Main Street)

You can be sure to find not only the best honey but also some very fine Fruits and Vegetables

Cookie Recipe!

Chewy Honey Nut Cookies makes 4 dozen More Honey Recipes can be found on the Recipe page. All recipes tried, tested and modified by Nana in the Berkey Bee Kitchen!

[Hint - When measuring honey, coat the measuring cup with no-stick vegetable oil to prevent it from sticking and to make sure you get every drop!]

1/2 Teaspn baking powder
1/2 Teaspn baking soda
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup Berkey Bee Honey
1 cup nuts, chopped
1 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
1 teaspn salt
2 cups seedless raisins
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups unbleached flour
2 tspns vanilla

In small bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda; set aside. In large mixing bowl crame margarine or butter; beat in honey in fine stream until well blended.
Stir in sour cream and vanilla. Blend in flour mixture and remaining ingredients. Cover and refrigerate dough about 30 minutes. Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls onto well greased cookie sheet. Bake at 325 F above center of oven for 20 - 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Let stand one minute, then remove to wire racks to cool.

More recipes on the More Recipes link at left!

Honey Tips

Store honey at room temperature, never in the refrigerator. All honey will crystalize over time. Simply warm it up by placing in the oven at very lowest temperature for about 4-6 hours.

Children under 1 year of age should not be given honey because it can in very rare instances cause problems.

Honey will not spoil and will keep indefinitely. But we encourage you to eat at least a tablespoon a day to keep you healthy and happy! Best wishes from the Berkey Bees!

Baked goods with honey brown faster and crisp faster than sugar batter.

Because honey's two main sugars, fructose and sucrose, are absorbed quickly by the body, honey gives quick energy to your whole family. Honey contains proteins, minerals, vitamins, and traces of local pollen. This insures that it is easily digested and local honey provides immunity for many people who suffer from hay fever.

Recent studies have shown that honey is the best remedy for a sore throat. I think the best way to take it for a sore throat is as follows:

First, make a pot of tea. Put a tablespoon of honey in your mug. Then take another tablespoon of honey and eat it. Pour tea over the honey in the mug, add some lemon or lime juice, stir and drink.

If you think you have strep throat, wait at least 20 minutes before pouring out the tea so the thick honey can help heal your throat.