Honey is a fluid that is produced by bees from the nectar found in many flowers, canola, alfalfa, clover, wildflowers, sunflowers, blueberries and some fruit trees. It is made of 17% water and mostly Laevulose and Dextrose, along with vitamins, minerals, organic acids and enzymes with traces of the sugars maltose and sucrose as well.
Honey Bees themselves have two separate stomachs, one is used to store the nectar collected from flowers and the other one is used for personal digestion. Collecting nectar and pollen also play as important a role for the bees as it does in benefiting humans with honey. Bees need to create honey for themselves in order to provide energy for their flight muscles and for heating the hive during the cooler seasons. Pollen that has been brought into the hives is also a necessity that supplies a source of protein for the bee brood to grow.

Honey is best stored in sealed containers in cool, dark places. If the honey has become cloudy or is starting to crystallize you can re-liquefy it by placing the jar in a pan of hot water or heat it gently in the microwave. These methods also work well for Creamed honey for ease of use in baking.

Beeswax is produced by the female (worker) bee. Forming thin “scales” from their eight wax-producing glands on their abdominal segments it is then used to create the honeycomb and brood chambers within the hive. Honey is also stored inside the cells. Once a cell is filled with honey, a worker bee will cap the top with a thin layer of wax to keep it secure. Beeswax is used as an ingredient in many skin care products such as make-up, cold creams and shaving creams. It can also be found in products including furniture polish, chewing gum, crayons, water proofing materials and of course candles!

Pollination occurs when the pollen from one flower is moved to another flower by birds, bats, honey bees, wasps, butterflies, moths, flies and beetles. The wind may also play a role in pollinating some species of flowers. Pollination from honey bees yields a higher crop production by 2-8 times. It also increases the quality as well as quantity of crops. Without these important pollinators we would not have nearly the abundance of local Ontario produce we see at the markets or grocery stores. Not only do the honey bees pollinate the food we consume, they also have an enormous impact on our global landscape.
Flowering plants produce oxygen as well as help to purify water and prevent erosion through roots which hold the soil in place. They also play a role in our water cycle which depends on plants to return moisture to the atmosphere. Without honey bees to pollinate, the population of wild plants would rapidly decline.
That being said, it is extremely important to do whatever we can to help our honey bees. To start, keep those pesky dandelions in you lawn! They are the most common wildflower and our pollinators love them. Next time dandelions invade, consider waiting until the yellow bloom fades away before removing them. Another way is by planting a bee-friendly garden that includes flowers such as sunflowers, sedum, lavender and butterfly bush or by purchasing food from local farmer’s markets are all excellent ways to aid in the survival of honey bees.