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LIFESTYLE

REAL HONEST HONEY
Honey is seasonal and, sadly, it is becoming one
of the most adulterated food items in South
Africa. Cheap imports and creative versions of
honey are on the increase and it is very di cult,
if not impossible, to tell the di erence between
natural honey and man-made honey. Ethical
beekeepers and honey bee farmers simply
cannot compete with adulterated honey
prices. So how do we address this? How do
we support the honest, hard-working honey
bee farmer and how do we know which is real
honey?
I have spent a long time trying to address these
questions with a value proposition which
delivers premium raw honey, protects our
honey bees through education and support
our beekeepers by paying fair prices for real
honey. The best guidance I can give is that you
need to know where your honey comes from.
Ask questions about the honey extraction
process, apiary location, type of foraging and
who the beekeeper is. Be prepared to pay a fair
price for real honey. Keep in mind that no two
honeys are the same. The nutritional properties
of honey along with the colour, aroma and
avour is determined by the type of foraging,
weather patterns and the type and quality of
soil in which the owering plants and trees
grow.

South Africa is well known for our amazing
selection of honeys, believed to be some of the
best tasting in the world.
It takes 12 honey bees their entire life’s work to
WHEN HONEY BEES MOVE IN… accredited experts. However, if the colony is produce 1 teaspoon of honey; surely a reason
In Celtic mythology, the honey bee is a messenger in a manhole situated outside your perimeter to savour every sacred drop!
between our world and the spirit realm, and is wall, then the respective telecommunication
often associated with wisdom. In ancient Egypt, company have the mandate to select For further information relating to honey bee
it was believed that the sun god Ra created the their own honey bee removal service. It is talks and private honey tastings, please email
honey bee from his tears and that messages important to consult your body corporate or natasha@lyonfamilysa.com, SABIO member,
were delivered to earth by honey bees ‘dripping’ home owners association in this regard. Southern’s Beekeeping Association member,
straight from the face of Ra. training steward - Honey Judge Guild of SA. For
Ideally, honey bees should be removed at more information on World Bee Day visit www.
Due to the diversity of well-established gardens, night when all the bees are in the hive. A honey worldbeeday.org.
we have some amazing sanctuaries for honey bee colony can vary between 30,000 – 60,000
bees. It can also be scary when a swarm of bees. Up to a third of the bees will be out
honey bees moves in. As I learn about this foraging during the day. A daytime removal
super organism and its highly complex social may result in the ‘girls’ arriving back home
structure, I realise that honey bees are defensive with their treasures of nectar and pollen, only
insects and not innately aggressive. When to nd the rest of their family gone. Honey
gardens have a selection of indigenous and bees are social insects and without the rest of
exotic forage plants, honey bees are likely to the super organism they will die o . However,
‘move in’. Perhaps, if you believe in mysteries, the the length of time the bees have occupied
honey bee’s arrival is a sign of spiritual wisdom. . their home, combined with other variables,
will determine the viability of a daytime
Honey bees will naturally occupy roof removal. SABIO accredited experts will re-hive
cavities, meter and pool motor boxes, drums, the swarm, where possible, so that the bees
waste bins, bird logs, hollow tree trunks and can be relocated successfully.
any space in which they feel at home and
protected from the elements. Every colony’s As with any professional service, Honey Bee
choice of home is unique and many factors Removal experts charge a fee for their time,
determine if, when and how the bees should labour and travelling costs. Please visit the
be relocated. Generally speaking, if the honey South African Bee Industry Organisation's
bee colony is located within your property, website www.sabio.org.za to locate a quali ed
you have the mandate to select and pay for honey bee removal expert near you. Details of
your own honey bee removal. Never attempt Honey Bee Associations across South Africa
to do this yourself and please use SABIO can also be found on SABIO’s website.

BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 2 2020 • 23