HivelightsThe weather this month has been less than stellar but at least we seem to have avoided the snow! Here in southern Alberta Mother Nature is roughly 2 weeks behind and we’ve seen simultaneous blooming of dandelions, caragana, choke cherries and many wildflowers. It’s a veritable feast for the bees, if only the weather was warm and dry enough for them to fly. (I guess I’m beginning to sound like a true farmer!)
The observation hive has new brood that we added last week however there still is no queen. If we can get a long enough string of good weather our plan is to steal a queen from one of the home hives. This could get interesting! The Farmers Market season has started and this year we are actually attending two. At both we will have our mead available for tasting and sales, a wide variety of honey and our newly released Artisan Mead Vinegar as well (see below). It is our 2nd season at Millarville Farmers Market and it started Saturday June 12 with a wonderful sunny day. We are located in the same spot as last year, in front of the Community Hall. This year we are also at the newly re-organized Hillhurst-Sunnyside Farmers Market which runs every Wednesday from 3:30 to 7:30 pm. Unfortunately the Wednesday evening weather has been miserable for the last 2 weeks, but we’re delighted that many hardy souls are venturing out to try our great products and support local producers. |
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Buzz Notes
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Product of the MonthMead Vinegar
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Our newest product, from “Chinook Vinegar Works”, is Mead Vinegar. It is produced by adding a “Vinegar Mother” to our meads. The mother is a substance made of acetic acid bacteria that, when combined with alcoholic liquids, converts the alcohol into acetic acid with the help of oxygen. Mead vinegar is very similar to wine vinegars but has a much milder flavour. There are many ways to use it in the kitchen.
Saturday August 28 Millarville Farmer's Market Hillhurst- Sunnyside Farmer’s Market |
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Recipe from our KitchenBees and Honey in the NewsAncient bees found in Israel hailed from TurkeyThe origin of insects found in clay beehives in the Jordan Valley, the oldest known commercial beekeeping facility in the world, suggests extensive trading and complicated agriculture 3,000 years ago. http://www.latimes.com/news/science/la-sci-ancient-bees-20100608,0,4547302.story |
Teasing Trivia
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