Hivelights

Our 6th Annual Harvest Festival was a great day of activities and fun. Mother Nature smiled on us once again. The open hive demonstrations were very popular and honey ice cream was in high demand. The winner of the grand prize draw for a weekend getaway at a Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch Resort was Michelle Homeniuk. The Chinook Honey Company prize draw for a Bee-to-Bottle tour for 10 was Leslie Gray.  Thanks to all who came out and made it such a memorable day.

Our last honey harvest and extraction was done the week of September 12. Because it has been so dry, the nectar flow has really slowed down. As well, we got our 1st frost last week. Art and Renée have now done the first fall feeding and medicating and plan to wrap hives in late October. This fall weather has been beautiful so far and the bees are loving it!
The observation hive has been busting at the seams until this past week. Now the drones are being kicked out and it sure is interesting to see how the workers badger them to get them out the door. There are clusters of drones in various areas seemingly trying to hide. The queen has also slowed her frantic pace of egg laying. Now honey making and storage has taken priority over brood rearing. 

The 10th Annual Feast of Fields, presented by Slow Food Calgary, took place on September 11. The day was beautiful and the setting ideal in the garden at Rouge Restaurant. Art and Pat were pouring mead and expounding its virtues.

Our Farmers Markets are also soon coming to a close. The last Hillhurst-Sunnyside Farmers Market is this coming Wednesday October 5th. Millarville Market holds its last day on Saturday October 8th (Thanksgiving weekend). Come on out and stock up on our many honey goodies!

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Buzz Notes

Honey Pickled Beets are back! $7.95 for 500 ml
Honey Apple Butter Buzz is also back in production and available at $7.00 for 250ml
The holiday season is quickly creeping up. Check out our many gift bags or baskets and give a sustainable,
healthy gift. Custom orders are welcome!

Product of the Month

Honey Pickled Beets

Our Honey Pickled Beets are an annual favourite, and a real hit in our family. Even in their pickled form, beets have many nutritious benefits. In fact, they are a good addition to any weight loss diet, since they pack a lot of carbohydrates, but no fat. They are high in dietary fibre, which helps the digestive system and maintains good blood sugar levels. In addition pickled beets contain potassium (an electrolyte), magnesium (for the nervous system, immune system and heart) and vitamin A. Try them yourself or consider this as a nutritious gift for a friend! They are available in a 500 ml size for  $7.95.

Mead Matters

Participate in our new naming contest! We need a name for the spiced metheglin that will be released this fall. Winter Spice Metheglin jumps to my mind but we don’t want to infringe on Big Rock’s product line! The winner will receive bragging rights AND six free bottles of the new mead. Please forward your suggestions to us by email. There is no limit on how many times you can enter. Entries close October 24th.

As you can tell by the notes in Hivelights, Art has been very busy with the bees so the newest batches of Melissa’s Gold and Cherry Mi Amor have been languishing in their respective tanks.  It’s just as well that good mead isn’t made in a hurry! Once he has caught up with all the labeling that is urgently waiting, he’ll be up to his chin in filters, bottles and corks.

Stay tuned to this newsletter spot for a select mead offering coming up in October for newsletter recipients and facebook followers only.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Saturday October 15
"Food for Thought"
Absolute Baseball Academy quonset next to Viper Stadium
(McMahon Stadium, east entrance)
6 pm - 10 pm
Click here for more info

Friday, Saturday, Sunday November 11, 12 &13
"Millarville Christmas Market"
Millarville Racetrack
Click here for more info