Honey and Tea Give-a-Way! Guess our baby's arrival date!

-posted by Jayne

•This contest is now closed.  Congrats to Heather who picked the date, March 4th!

As many of you know, we are expecting our fourth little honeybee to arrive in about 9 days.  Well.... 9 days (March 10) is what the doc tells us, but as you know, babies rarely come when they are "supposed" to arrive, so we thought it might be fun to do a little give-a-way and let you try to guess our baby's arrival date.  The winner(s) will be the one(s) that pick the correct date!  Here's what's up for grabs:

A 25 pack of Summer Honeysticks

One of these 8 oz honeys:  You pick: Tulip Poplar, Summer, or Fall

Three of these herbal tea sample packs from Brew Mama Herbalism

 My good friend Angie started a new Etsy store, Brew Mama Herbalism, where she sells her own tea blends as well as gift sets (containing our honey!).  Her teas are so unique and I've become quite addicted to her Herbal Chai.  It is almost impossible for me to sip this tea- I have a bad habit of chugging it (I'm not exaggerating).  The cardamom in the tea gives it such a warming flavor and uplifting scent.  I was never a fan of traditional Chai made with black tea- but this Herbal Chai is something entirely different.

Herbal Chai from Brew Mama Herbalism - my personal favorite!

Each person who correctly guesses the date of our baby's arrival will win:

All 5 items:
-One 25 pack of honeysticks
-One 8 oz honey: (Tulip Poplar, Summer, or Fall)
-3 Sample packs of tea from Brew Mama Herbalism- you choose the varieties

Here are the rules:
1.  You may enter only one time.  Please, no entries from your pets or young children that cannot yet use the computer.  ;-)
2.  The contest will stay open until March 10th.  This will keep it fair for everyone, as if I am overdue the chances for those entering after my due date will have better odds than those that guess early.  So guess early, but keep in mind that babies come early and late.  I have never been induced before and don't plan to this time either.
3.  Open to United States residents only.  Sorry, international followers!
4.  Winners will be notified no later than March 30th.  Thanks for your patience as we spend time with our family!
5.  Enter by commenting with your guess of the arrival date and your email address, unless you can be contacted through blogger, then a date will suffice.

Good luck!

This give-a-way is sponsored by Honeyrun Farm.

Signs of the Apocalypse

-Posted by Isaac

DEAD BEES!

THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!

 THE END IS NIGH!

Well, no, it's not so bad really. Pictured above is the worst yard so far. Three living, twelve dead. This was one that went into winter light on honey and got missed on the January round of feeding. But I also don't want to downplay it; it has been a horrible winter. I'm guessing our losses will be in the 60% range.

Can you find the dead queen? (She's marked.) (And dead.)

 Even the ants had it bad. I've been cutting firewood for over thirty years, and I can't remember finding so many dead colonies frozen stiff. Usually they're sluggish, but at least still alive.

If you read Sports Illustrated you know their little weekly blurb titled, "Signs of the Apocalypse." It's usually about some crazy-fool athlete, fan or coach doing or saying some crazy-fool thing.

Well, the end of the world is coming. (I assure you. It really is. If you can wait long enough.)
And the signs are everywhere.
Some of you who missed me at market this past weekend learned that I was in Florida having fun. And yes, I left poor Jayne, eight months pregnant, tending three young kids, walking barefoot and ragged through the snow... to sell honey in my absence. Was she covered in soot too? I guess she did mention picking up some extra work cleaning chimneys. Fine woman.
I brought her some shells.
Anyway, in my happy travels, I encountered some signs, some bad omens if you will, and I'm not exactly sure if the world is ending...  maybe you'll know.
Here are the crazy-fool happenings starting from day 1, the day before I left.

Day 1 - Dead Bees
I was able to make it to seven bee yards and the results I have already shared with you. Not Happy. Quite apocalyptic actually. And it wasn't an easy day. Most of the yards were inaccessible to even a 4WD so I had to hoof it carrying buckets of feed.

Day 2 - Six Hour Traffic Jam
We (my parents and sister Becky) fought a snowstorm almost all the way south, and just about the time we thought we were home free;

we came to a standstill in South Carolina. That was a new experience. Completely stopped for six hours! We took several long walks and engaged ourselves in some good southern conversation. I think I now realize why Duck Dynasty is so popular.

Moon rose, sun set, and we got rolling by nightfall.

 Whew!

"Thank you, sir. May I have another?"

 Why, yes, another catastrophe coming right up:

Day 3 - Semi Blows Up
Out of the snow and traveling fast, we saw smoke a couple miles ahead. Traffic slowed. But, we were still moving. For a while, without "the authorities" the line of cars continued to work their way around whatever it was up there.
Then the firetrucks appeared. We knew we were in trouble.

Sure enough, they stopped us. We were maybe thirty seconds from getting around, and everything came to a standstill. Again. Three hours this time.
At least we enjoyed a good show. Don't worry, nobody was hurt. Just a southern trucker having a little mishap. I think he was hauling Duck Dynasty t-shirts.

Day 4 - The Race
This was not the real reason for a Florida trip, but as always, I don't mind killing two birds...

Here was a kind of self inflicted apocalypse. Many of you know I like to run, but this was a 50 miler. I had never tried anything over a marathon. Oh boy...
Here's a shot from the woods about ten minutes before the 7 AM start:

Ah, spanish moss... so nice for those pre-race bathroom duties.

 Notice anything abnormal? For you northerners, I mean...
Sunshine? Shorts? Green grass? Blue sky?     What's that?

It actually turned out ok. Not so catastrophic after all.
Although the next morning I could've used a wheelchair.

25 down, 25 to go... Still not sure about this.

Day 5 - The Dead Sea

Ok, now I'm grasping at straws for this apocalypse theme...

But something was kind of weird on the beach where we stayed in the Panhandle.

Shells were washed up everywhere.

Buckets of them.

I've walked plenty of beaches and have never seen anything quite like it.
Even the people at our hotel, annual snowbirds, had never experienced this.
It's like an extinction event hit this tiny section of the Gulf of Mexico.

Big Wave! Look Out!

 Day Six -
Finally, something positive -- Live Bees!
Here was the real reason for heading south. I was looking for bees.
And I found them.

I know a Wisconsin commercial beekeeper who winters in the Panhandle, producing tupelo and gallberry honey. He also makes a lot of splits. I'm trying to become a beneficiary of all that splitting.
But that's a subject for a future blog post.

So back home again to the frozen north.

Frozen Tears

At least the sun came out today. And it warmed up. Maybe things will thaw out before spring... unless the end of the world comes first.

 

Photo: Alan Powdrill/Getty Images

We've Gone International

-Posted by Isaac

A few months ago, Jon, store manager at Saraga International Grocery called and wanted some local honey.

My first thought was no, not worth it... we would be on the shelves next to dozens of honeys from all over the world. Customers wouldn't automatically pick Honeyrun just because it was local. It would move slow and we'd be dealing with granulation issues. Besides, I had never even heard of Saraga (I'm so worldly!)
Well, Jon still thought it would sell and he's a convincing guy. He talked me into it.
Turns out he was right:

C'on Jon, check the shelves!

After dropping off the second delivery I strolled the aisles looking for some Honeyrun honey. Nary a drop to be had! One measly 8oz Fall honey stood as lone sentinel in the local honey section. Apparently the international shopper still wants local.
I continued my aisle strolling.

It's a cool store. Check it out if you get a chance. Many things to pique your curiosity. Interesting, fun, different...
Have you ever tried jackfruit?

The store is sectioned off by continents and countries and every aisle holds a culinary multicultural treat. With the honey selling so well in the American aisle, I'm thinking maybe we should expand overseas with the bee business.  McDonalds... DuPont... Why not Honeyrun Farm?
I think I've previously confessed my unrequited desire for a chalet in the Swiss Alps:

Or how about a division in Tanzania? We'll keep bees in the shadows of Kilimanjaro:

Or maybe a morning coffee on the Great Wall before lighting the smoker:

Don't worry, we'll faithfully continue to provide you, our loyal locals with the highest quality honey from our world headquarters in Pickaway County. The Saturday market logistics may become more complicated, but I'm sure it's nothing a few private jets can't overcome.

If you start to feel overwhelmed with traveling wanderlust, you can always make your way back to the American aisle to find good ole burgers, fries and ice cream. They've even got a section devoted specifically to the Midwest:

Fully stocked in the American Aisle:  Sugar!

Our honey can be found right next to the Electric Kool-Aid Corn Syrup Chocolate Chunk Creamsicle Sugar Bombs.

Thanks for buying international.

Grazie.

Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink

-Posted by Isaac

As a beekeeper, I have now felt thoroughly disgusted with weather woes several times this winter (This, the never ending winter from Hell.) Instead of complaining and filling you with my worries about the bees, I'll entertain with a good drinking song, and delve into another subject. (From Handel to Haggard in only a month!)

Enjoy.

This post is about turning honey into alcohol. And I know close to nothing about the particulars. I just know that a fair amount of our honey goes on this magic journey and occasionally the lucky benefactor is yours truly. 

First:

Here's the easy way of turning honey into alcohol-

Every Christmas I fill this ugly basket with Honeyrun products and put it at the doorstep of a good friend.

And every Christmas, back comes the same ugly basket filled with beer, wine and home-canned goodies. Not pictured was a large bottle of grape juice that the kids and my teetotaling pregnant wife finished off immediately on Christmas eve.

Easy Alchemy

The pickles have become a favorite of Maizy's. Just the other day she was sitting at the table crunching them down like chips. She paused, looked up with a goofy grin and said, "Ah, pickles are the life!" 

For more depth on the subject, I should have attended this:

i.e., college

 Maybe next year.
As I confessed, I know virtually nothing about brewing or making mead. I do however enjoy talking to the many beer and mead aficionados who regularly hit us up at market for another gallon or two of honey.
My expertise, though limited, comes more on the drinking end of things.
And Columbus provides ample opportunity. As many of you know, the craft brewery scene has exploded.
Here's a relatively new one:

Seventh Son has been buying our honey for a year now... exactly as long as they've been in business.

Hundreds of pounds of Summer honey and a few buckets of Tulip Poplar honey have gone into their Prime Swarm Saison. Check out the % alcohol on this one! I love their descriptive adjective "healthy."

Brewmaster Collin served me the first draft of the day early one morning.

I'm usually here monthly, dropping off a bucket or two. Sometimes Collin drives down to the farm. We talk "bees and brews" at length.
The owners of Seventh Son also own the Barrel and Bottle in the North Market. A growler is good for a refill at either place... convenient for me, I'm there at market every week all summer.

Let's change directions...

Here's another brewery making beer from Honeyrun honey.

Thanks, Angelo!

Barley's has been brewing Summer Harvest honey into an IPA for over three years.
In that time I've gotten to know brewmaster Angelo, who has been with Barley's for (I think) twenty some years. He knows his stuff. He usually just walks over to the market from their High Street location.

120 lbs of honey-- easy with a dolly.

So happy drinking, folks. I'm trying to stay upbeat through this insane cold drag of winter, but one of these days I'll have to go out and check hives. I'm hoping reality doesn't hit too bitterly hard.

"My mind ain't nothin but a total blank..."

How far do you ship your honey?

-posted by Jayne

How far have we shipped our honey?  This is a question I get asked quite frequently from friends and family who know I ship out packages of honey, soap, and candles to customers through our online shop on Etsy.  I've never really measured distances to find out the farthest location our honey has traveled, but I know it has gone to Canada several times, as well as Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and the US Virgin Islands.  But my favorite place to send our honey is to Alaska.

Caribou Herd in Alaska photo credit Rainey Hopson, www.salmonberryblood.blogspot.com

Why Alaska?  Well, I love the mountains, and I love to imagine what it would be like to live in snowy remote places.  I am really happy that Alaskans can buy our honey for very reasonable prices.  I can ship up to 5 lbs. of honey to Alaska for just 9.88.  Because it is extremely difficult (maybe impossible) to keep bees alive in Alaska, the price of good honey there is very very high.  Most beekeepers would need to start with new package bees every Spring, and hope for a good enough crop to pay for the expense of shipping those bees and supplies all the way to Alaska.  Thanks to the USPS and their dedication to providing rural areas with access to easy mail delivery, Alaskans can still get great honey at a reasonable cost.

One customer, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, lives in the Brooks range mountains of northern Alaska and frequently buys our honey through our Etsy store.  She has even been kind enough to mention us on her blog, www.salmonberryblood.blogspot.com, and has sent other customers our way.  With her permission, I am sharing some of her stories and pictures here, as well as favorite ways they use our honey.

Here is Nasugraq Rainey's brother-in-law drinking coffee outside the family cabin.  Rainey says they love using our honey to sweeten their coffee.

Nasugraq Rainey says that her favorite way to use our honey is in tea when they are camping:  "We often travel across the tundra all day long to get to certain far away spots for hunting and foraging, so we take quite a few tea and coffee breaks along the way. We always use glacier water and good honey! The Elders don't really drink coffee at all so they especially appreciate it when we carry our honey with us. The older kids that tag along LOVE it raw."

Sneaking up on caribou for a hunt photo credit: Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

This is a photo Rainey took last Spring when traveling to a fishing site. Snowy Alaska in May.  photo credit: Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

Ice fishing near Lake Chandler last April. photo credit:  Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

Rainey's family picking blueberries in the Fall. While Rainey picks berries her husband must keep watch with a rifle in case any bears come too close.  Photo credit: Rainey Hopson

I am mesmerized while looking at the pictures on her blog.  The hunting... fishing... and foraging.  Last week the temperature where she lives got down to -65 degrees!  What are we Ohioans complaining about with our current 1 degree weather?  I imagine this would feel quite warm to Nasugraq and her family.

Some other ways Nasugraq Rainey and her family enjoy eating honey is drizzled on ice cream, on fresh bread with butter, in milk kefir, as well as in lingonberry muffins.  Nasugraq makes a lot of her own berry jams with the wild berries they find while foraging.  Below is a picture of the Cloudberry (also called Salmonberry).  If you watch her Etsy store throughout the year, you may find some jams and jellies for sale!  I would love to try them out.

Cloudberries photo credit: Nasugraq Rainey Hopson

Nasugraq also uses our beeswax in some of the products in her etsy shop, www.salmonberryorigins.etsy.com.  Here is her "Origin's Eye Balm" made with Honeyrun Farm beeswax. 

Nasugraq's "Origins Eye Balm" can be used for healing and moisturizing the skin around the eyes.

You can view more of Nasugraq's beautiful pictures and read her stories on her blog.  I so appreciate you taking the time to share your stories with us Nasugraq!  We feel honored that you are able to enjoy our honey all the way up there in Anaktuvuk, Alaska.