Though the “swarm season” may have another week to go before it hits fully (and it WILL after a full week of rain next week) – customers from North Texas are already calling for removals of bees that have established in areas of their homes, trees, and yards.
Yesterday was removal #7 for the 2016 year for me. The homeowner took photos and put together a nice powerpoint presentation of the removal of honeybees from his yard – that had taken up residence in an old cracked trash can in his yard.
They have a good demeanor, and will be moved into a commercial hive after next week’s spring rains.
The Texas Agrilife Extension office is presenting a Garden 2 Table event – this Saturday March 5th- from 8:30am-1:00pm at Methodist Dallas Medical Center | Hitt Auditorium – at the corner of Colorado Blvd. and Bishop Ave.
I will be offering two “Bee Talk” presentations/Q&A sessions throughout the morning, and will also have honey available for purchase at the event. Come see the honeybees in the observation hive, as well as all the other presentations and activities!
To the untrained eye – this may simply look like an innocent portable outdoor solar-powered skylight. However, to the trained and experienced eye – a solar wax melter is seen.
Take off the lid, and you may see the remnants of honeycomb that has been cleaned of it’s honey by honeybees – and then placed onto the tray in this box to melt, filter through a cloth, then drip into a pan below.
Today’s (2-16-2016) temperature in my area is only 71 deg. F – yet the temperature in the solar wax melting box reached temperatures over 140 deg. F (which is the approximate melting point of beeswax).
I generally filter my wax in this manner at least 3 times. The wax can range in color from a pure white (with brand-spanking-new wax) to a bright yellow, or a light brown for old brood-comb.
This process uses a cloth filter to catch the solids from the melted wax. Afterwards the leftover comb remnants that are non-wax (i.e. the brood casings from the cells) can be used in swarm traps to attract swarms to a specific swarm-trap-box, used as a fire-starter for campfires, or can simply be added to my garden to compost into the soil and be recycled by the Earth.
Cookie tray with comb remnants on it. A hole is near the bottom lip of the tray – with a filter around the hole.
Underneath the tray is a bread loaf pan that catches the liquid wax as it drips through the filter. It collects in the pan, and when the sun goes down, it cools slowly, and the loaf of wax can either go through the process again to be further filtered… or can be used for projects.
This loaf-pan almost overflowed into the wax melting box. I checked on it just in time to keep a mess from happening. A new drip-pan was placed underneath, and more wax is ready to melt and filter. After this block of wax cools off, I will melt it over a double boiler, then pour onto smaller molds for easy use in projects.
If you are in need of having a honeybee swarm picked up, or a full colony of bees removed from a structure – please see the following links for my contact information: (These same links are in the top menu bar on this website as well.)
Also please understand that most bee removal specialists are overwhelmed beginning in March with calls. In peak season I personally receive between 30-40 calls per day – and do 1-3 full removals per day. If I do not answer the phone, I am probably in a hive – so please do leave a message and I will return the call as quickly as possible.
Marta Cordell, a health and wellness coach, introduced herself to me at a recent holistic show where I was vending. She had purchased some of my mesquite tree honey earlier in the year, and used it in her recipe for macaroons. It sounded fantastic, so with her permission, I would like to share the recipe with you.
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Hi Rex,
I ran into you at the Holistic Festival recently, and promised you a recipe for macaroons! These work beautifully with the mesquite honey, as it has a light flavor that pairs well with the lemon. They are raw, vegan, paleo, low in sugar and high in good fats. Hope you and your readers enjoy them as much as my family and friends have!
Meyer Lemon Macaroons
2 cups shredded coconut, unsweetened
2 Tbsp coconut flour
1/3 cup coconut oil
Juice of 2 Meyer lemons
Zest of 1 Meyer lemon
¼ cup Harmony Hollow Honey
Very small pinch of salt
Mix all ingredients together, cover bowl, and let sit at room temp for about 30 minutes, to allow the coconut to absorb the lemon flavor. Drop by spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with silpat, parchment or waxed paper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. Remove from paper, and store in a sealed container in the refrigerator.
Warmest Regards, Marta Cordell Health and Wellness Coach, CTNC, CADE
You In Full Bloom
O: 972.422.9144 M: 972.948.1183
Rex Smith – Texas Master Beekeeper will be speaking at 1pm on Saturday Dec 12th in Midland, Texas – at the Midland County Horseshoe Pavilion. This is an event for preppers, homesteaders, and survival enthusiasts.
Harmony Hollow now offers a proprietary blend of beeswax and neatsfoot oil as a conditioner “paste” for leather. Solid at room temperature, it softens easily with the warmth of your hands, and can be worked into your untreated leather.
I personally use it to condition and waterproof my leather boots and gloves. It keeps them soft and waterproof. Available in 4-oz tins with a screw-top lid.
Use an old cloth or plastic bag (over your fingers) to apply the conditioner. Let sit overnight, then I then warm the boot with a hair dryer to allow the oils to soak into the leather more deeply. Depending on the dryness of the leather initially, I may then reapply the conditioner several days later. Re-apply as necessary depending on your environment.
Treat an inconspicuous spot first to see how your leather will fare. Note that neatsfoot oil is known to permanently darken light leather. (see pics – the treated boots are darker).
Two 8-ounce – skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, each cut into eight ½-inch strips , (for a total of 16 strips)
1 cup – panko bread crumbs
2 tablespoons – wheat germ
Dipping Sauce – .
⅓ cup – Harmony Hollow Honey
¼ cup – creamy peanut butter
1 tablespoon – lite soy sauce
½ tablespoon – orange juice
½ small – clove garlic, minced
¼ teaspoon – ginger powder
Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray, and set aside. Place the honey, canola oil, ginger, salt and pepper in a large bowl and whisk together to combine. Microwave on high until the mixture is warm and softened, 12 seconds. Add the chicken and toss until each piece is well coated with the honey mixture. Place the panko and wheat germ in a large shallow bowl or on a large plate and use a fork to gently mix together. Coat each chicken strip with the panko mixture and place on the prepared baking sheet. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the breading is golden on both sides, 12 to 15 minutes. Turn each piece halfway through cooking. While the chicken is baking, prepare the dipping sauce. Place the honey and peanut butter in a bowl and warm in the microwave on high for 15 seconds. Stir in the soy sauce, orange juice, garlic and ginger powder until well combined. Place the dipping sauce in individual bowls and serve with the chicken fingers.
1/2 cup – plain yogurt, (non-fat, low-fat or whole milk)
2 Tablespoons – vegetable oil
2 Tablespoons – Harmony Hollow Honey
1 Tablespoon – apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon – Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon – kosher salt
4 cups – red seedless grapes, sliced in half
Directions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread almonds on a baking sheet and place in oven for 12-15 minutes or until lightly toasted; cool.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together yogurt, oil, honey, vinegar, mustard and salt until smooth. With a rubber spatula, gently fold in almonds and grapes.
Comments
Recipe created for the National Honey Board by Chef David Guas- Bayou Bakery, Coffee Bar & Eatery
Serving Suggestion
Serve as is for a sweet treat for kids, or place over a bed of baby arugula to make a grown-up salad. To pack in a school lunch box, layer grapes and dressing in a plastic cup, parfait style, and sprinkle with almonds.
And – Because of temperatures – I probably will not have the observation hive at this event – as it is too cold to open the hives to get a frame of bees to display.
