News for the beekeeping community from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Ryan F. Quarles, Ed.D., Commissionerkd •kd Tammy Horn Potter, Ph.D., State Apiarist
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Woodford artisan offers beeswax candle array
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David Miller, of Woodford County, sells his beeswax candles in his neighborhood at farmers’ markets. He is also an accomplished woodworker and artisan. Click here for the price list of the pictured candles, ranging from $1.50 to $17.99. Contact David at (859) 983-2127 or by email.
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L.J. Maxx, artist, Product ID number 723931.
Used by permission of Greeting Card Universe.
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Bee of good cheer
Special gift to BeeLines readers!
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Choose your personalized, bee-themed holiday card from among
44 designs available at Greeting Card Universe (GCU). It's a clever way to thank your faithful customers, send holiday greetings to vendors and partners, and stay in touch with your prospects. Send one, two, 20, 200, or any number in between –quantity discounts are available.
Also, GCU will create custom designs by request, at no additional charge,
in a 48-hour window, said GCU community officer Mindy Rosso.
Discount offer expires 1/1/21.
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Beekeeper's novel a warming holiday read
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Bees shepherd faith journey in beekeeper
Neena Gaynor's novel
A woman’s journey to her identity drives the story of The Bird and the Bees, a novel by Hawesville beekeeper Neena Gaynor, available for holiday giving on Amazon.
Review by Tammy Potter
For many of us, our pandemic-1 enforced holiday vacation plans are more likely than last year to include propping up with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate in front of a fire.
The Bird and the Bees (2020) is just such an enjoyable, thought-provoking novel.
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XXNeena Gaynor, the cover of her novel, and XX(below) one of her beeswax candles.
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Author Neena Gaynor's well-drawn characters confront grief, addiction, depression, and anger management issues – difficult topics that Gaynor attacks head-on.
The bees are part of a subplot; they comfort main character Larkin Maybie as she quests to find her identity and test her convictions. Gaynor explores with authority how elusive a faith journey can be for some, and how necessary it is for others
Larkin is helped by many in her journey from Appalachia to Presque Isle near Erie, Pennsylvania. Especially helpful is the handsome professional baseball player, whose presence sports aficionados will enjoy.
Those searching for a compelling read during a season of challenged faiths will find this book a thoughtful gift.
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Luxurious lotions, hand creams, soaps, balms
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Bee Genuine Soaps – Public health expert Mary Sheldon features organic ingredients and locally-grown herbs in her skin-healing salves (plaintain and wild violet, frankincense, elderflower for mature skin, and dandelion arnica for bruises and muscle pain); beeswax candles; elderflower under-eye balm; lemon balm salve; dandelion body butter; tattoo-healing balm; and Good Gracie dog shampoo bar. Contact Mary on this website. Also, in Lexington you can buy her products at The Hive Salon, or at High on Art and Coffee.
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Willow Creek Beekeeping in Elizabethtown is run by a CKHP, KSBA, Kentucky Proud, and Homegrown by Heroes member. Owner Burt Thompson is also president of the Hardin County Beekeepers Association. Burt sells habanero-flavored honey, beeswax-and-honey-glycerin soap, and beeswax-and-honey hand cream, all made from the business’s own wax and honey. He can’t right now fulfill orders online, but contact Burt on the website, he’ll work something out. (Also, they can’t ship outside the U.S.)
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Holiday honey from Certified Kentucky producers
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Gifts, supplies at HoneyBear holiday open house
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Dec. 12. Christmas Open House at HoneyBear Farm/Honey Depot Beekeeping Store & Apiary, 14005 Taylorsville Road, Louisville 40299. All COVID protective sanitation measures will be in place. Face marks and gloves are recommended for attendees and required for staff, and those symptomatic should give it a pass.
HoneyBear produces and sells goat’s-milk soaps, beeswax candles, pottery, gifts, and complete beekeeping hardware and supplies. Owners Ruth and Joel Gonia invite readers to check out many HoneyBear events, schools, classes, and items for sale at their website.
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Need COVID help? Apply before Dec. 11
Honey, fruit, vegetable, horticulture, tree nut, maple sap, and indigo producers whose operations have been directly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic must email their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by Dec. 11 to take part in USDA's Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2).
The program will assist agricultural producers who face market disruptions and who have incurred increased costs because of COVID-19. Payments are based on 2019 honey sales, with new producers using 2020 sales-to-date.
You do not need to have been a prior FSA program participant. You do not have to have a crop report on file. For complete procedures, conditions, and restrictions, visit farmers.gov/cfap/specialty.
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Pikeville's Neil Hunt
voted KSBA 2020
Beekeeper of Year
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Neil Hunt has served as president of the 90-member Pike County Beekeepers Association, as a speaker for several beekeeping schools, as a director of the Kentucky Queen Bee Breeders Association Inc., and as a member of the Chasing Feral Swarms board. The honor was bestowed by a panel of former Beekeepers of the Year, and announced at the November virtual KSBA meeting.
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Education opportunities
1Purdue: Free virtual lunch-and-learns Dec. 1, 81
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Purdue University presents WINTER CLUSTER: A lunch and learn series for beekeepers and bee enthusiasts. The two remaining free virtual sessions are at noon EST Dec. 1 and Dec. 8; register here.
Dec. 1. “Urban Beekeeping,” with Tim Paule and Nicole Lindsey. In East Detroit, Nicole and Tim are transforming their community, one hive at a time. Working to convert an estimated 90,000 vacant housing lots into urban bee farms, Tim and Nicole are bringing life back to their community. Watch an impressive 6-minute film here that follows their work.
Dec. 8. “Tools and Techniques, ” presented by Bastin’s Honey Bee Farm, 5002 West County Road 450-S, Knightstown, Indiana 46148. Bastin's raises honey bees, produces honey, and supplies beehive equipment. Check out their Facebook page here.
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Start off 2021 with winter education!
Rittschof lab personnel at Eastern Ky. Bee School
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Westwick, who joined the Rittschof lab in fall 2018, studies developmental social environment affecting honey bees' adult neural energetics and behavior.
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Jan. 16, 2021. The Eastern Kentucky Winter Bee School (virtual) will feature a keynote address from University of Kentucky (UK) doctoral student Rebecca Westwick (left), research assistant in the Rittschof Laboratory. She will present 10-10:55 a.m. EST on “Laying Workers: Biology and What it Means for Your Hive.” Also speaking will be UK entomologist and lab director Dr. Clare Rittschof, Sarah Preston of the Certified Kentucky Honey Program (CKHP), Lindsey New of the USDA Farm Service Agency, and Tammy Potter, state apiarist. No fee, but registration required here.
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Jan. 23. Northeastern Kentucky Winter Bee School, Northeast Kentucky Beekeepers Association, Boyd County. 1760 Addington Road, Ashland, KY 41102. Registration 8-9 a.m. EST. Classes 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: $20 non-members, $25 couples, $15 members, lunch provided. State Apiarist Tammy Potter keynotes a slate of expert speakers. Visit the NKBA Facebook page for updates.
RSVP to (606) 739-5184.
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KADF grant approved for new Green RIver extracting equipment
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The Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund (KADF) announced Green River Beekeepers Inc. was approved for $960 in Taylor County funds to purchase new honey extracting equipment. This new equipment will be safer to use by the 336 beekeeper members.
KADF press release. More: Micharl Pellittiere II, by email or at (270) 932-2300.
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'Queen B' Beyoncé rules 80,000 subjects!
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“Queen B” Beyoncé Knowles got the fans in her “Beyhive” buzzing when she told British Vogue she keeps two actual beehives at home, with 80,000 bees.
Editor-in-chief Edward Enninful asked the 39-year-old superstar to share a surprising fact for the December issue cover story. She replied, “I have two beehives. Real ones. I've had them at my house for a while now. We make hundreds of jars of honey a year.”
She noted her two daughters, 8-year-old Blue Ivy and 3-year-old Rumi, “both have terrible allergies, and honey has countless healing properties.”
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RECIPE / Honey cough syrup
Honey-infused cough syrups are big on the drugstore shelves this year. Here's how to make your own, harnessing the curative reputation of your own locally-raised honey.
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- Zest of 2 lemons (about 1 1/2 T.)
1111peeled, sliced, or 1/2 t. 1111ground ginger
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In a small saucepan, combine lemon zest, sliced ginger and 1 c. water. Bring mixture to a boil, simmer for 5 minutes, then strain through into a heat-proof measuring cup.
Rinse the saucepan out and pour in 1 c. honey. On low heat, warm the honey, but do not allow it to boil. Add the strained lemon ginger water and the lemon juice. Stir the mixture until it combines to form a thick syrup.
Pour into a clean jar with a lid. Can be refrigerated for up to 2 months.
Do not give to infants under age 1. Their systems are not yet developed well enough to safely process honey.
Other dosages:
xxxChildren ages 1 to 5: 1/2 to 1 t. every 2 hours.
xxxChildren ages 5 to 12: 1 to 2 t. every 2 hours.
xxxAge 12 to adult: 1 to 2 T. every 4 hours.
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Best of the holiday season, to you from BeeLines!
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Resolve to stay on top of the Kentucky beekeeping and honey industries in 2021, with news from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky State Beekeepers Association,
local beekeeping associations, state universities, and other agriculture organizations.
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