East Texas Quarterly Magazine Spring 2014 | Page 10

When conditions are right,
they also get a bonus of
beeswax, and honey. But
honey bee numbers are
declining. Bees face more
challenges
than
ever
before.
New potent
insecticides, indiscriminate
spraying by homeowners,
Colony Collapse Disorder,
monoculture
cropping,
new diseases, Africanized
“killer” bee infestation,
small hive beetles, wax
moths-all hit our local
honey bees pretty hard.
Maybe you noticed fewer
honey bees in your fruit
trees, or no bumble bees
at all around your squash.
Feral honey bee colonies
used
to
serve
as
dependable sources for
pollination. Feral colonies
resulted
from
bees
Honey is nature’s perfect sweetener for humans. But it
is the staff of life for a bee colony. Bees work frantically
any time flowers are blooming to gather as much nectar
as possible to store for the long winter ahead. Each
worker bee will produce about 1/12 teaspoon of
honey during their brief life, only living an average of
21 to 28 days. But their hard work will insure the hive’s
survival. Beekeepers make sure bees have enough to
make it through winter, and only harvest any excess
above that. And what of that honey? Isn’t it all the same?
Well, not quite. Each type of flower will produce its own
flavor of honey. So the crystal clear honey of blackberry,
yaupon and holly tastes different than dark brown honey
of goldenrod and buckwheat. One other difference is
important. Large commercial firms heat their honey, and
run it through paper filters. That takes every speck of
pollen out. Unfortunately, it also destroys the enzymes.
Locally produced “raw” honey is not heated, and is strained
through cheese cloth only. This preserves the enzymes,
and allows microscopic pollen particles through. That
local pollen helps many people suffering from seasonal
allergies. So as good as commercial honey looks, you
should consider finding local sources. Check out the local
farmer’s market, feed stores, and even health food stores.
Locally, many beekeepers tend their colonies and reap
the rewards of well- pollinated gardens and fruit trees.

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East Texas Quarterly