52 Homesteading Skills in One Year Archives

At lunch one day a former colleague of mine once asked..."If you didn't have any bills to pay and could do anything you wanted, what would you do?"

What was my answer? You guessed it - I would start a farm.

Everyone at the table had a good chuckle including myself. Yeah, what a silly idea. Me, who knows nothing about farming.

"No, really," they asked. "What would you do? Wouldn't you want to move to the Bahamas, relax and sit on the beach all day?"

Actually, I would. For maybe 23 minutes. And then my fair skin would burn to a crisp and I'd be headed to the local real estate office to find out how I could purchase farm land in the Caribbean.

Despite my homesteading dreams, I likely would have stayed at my communications job forever. The work was enjoyable, the pay was good and the people I worked with were awesome.

But then I got pregnant. After my one-year maternity leave, I realized I couldn't go back full-time - I wanted to stay at home and raise my kids. It was during this time that I started to dream. To think about what I really wanted to do with my life.

Well, here I am, 7 years later, on the brink of bringing my silly idea to life. Of course, I do face some serious challenges and lack of knowledge is definitely one of them.

So I've decided to turn this obstacle into an adventure. You see, secretly I've always wanted to be like Frodo from Lord of the Rings - to embark on a great quest where I set out to battle evil and save the world. I suppose I could just play a video game, but I don't think I could sit still long enough. So instead I've decided to embark on a real world adventure.

Unfortunately, my homesteading quest does not involve saving the world - I am going to attempt to learn 52 new homesteading skills in one year.

When I first thought of the idea of creating a website, I imagined I'd just share some things we were learning. But as the weeks passed, I realized how much I enjoyed tackling these new projects and the idea of a challenge took root.

I know this isn't going to be easy. With two kids who love to "help", a husband who works full-time off the farm and home renovation projects to complete, let's be honest - this is going to be challenging. But as they say, if you're doing something you love, it really doesn't matter. Right? Well, actually, I prefer not to think about it for too long. Let's just get started!

If I can do this, so can you. Raise your pitchfork, shovel, trowel or whatever farming implement you have on hand and join me in my quest. Or just follow along. That's great too! And, as always, thank you for reading.

How to make water kefir: in 4 easy steps!

By Leave a Comment

A Healthier You: 12-MONTH FERMENTATION CHALLENGE #1. Water kefir

Jump to Recipe

My kids have entire sets of sweet teeth. I don’t think they possess even ONE sour tooth. So, enticing them to eat fermented foods will be the challenging part of this 12-month fermentation challenge.

But I hit the fermentation jackpot with our first experiment – water kefir. Shhhh….it’s actually healthy soda pop. This sweet, bubbly, probiotic-rich drink can be flavoured to everyone’s taste buds – even those with the sweetest teeth.

Cue the music. “Just a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down.”

Boy enjoying a glass of water kefir — *This sweet, bubbly, probiotic-rich drink can be flavoured to everyone’s taste buds – even those with the sweetest teeth* ***such as my son. Here he is enjoying a glass of mixed berry water kefir.***

Of course, water kefir is not only delicious, this low sugar beverage is packed with probiotics.

“Probiotics contain “good bacteria” that both support gut health and influence the function and regulation of the immune system. They also can decrease the number of respiratory infections, especially in children.”
– Chris D’Adamo, PHD, director of the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine

From clearing skin to preventing cancer, probiotics have been touted to have tonnes of health benefits – some of which may even be true. I don’t actually know. But, according to Harvard Health Publishing, probiotics can be helpful in the treatment or prevention of:

diarrhea
irritable bowel syndrome
ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
vaginal infections
urinary tract infections
recurrence of bladder cancer
eczema in children

Although I’ve tried making kombucha (another fermented drink made with tea) in the past, my enthusiasm fizzled over time. Water kefir is not only just as tasty as kombucha (in my humble opinion), it’s easier and quicker to make. You can also ferment smaller batches.

*Water kefir is immune-boosting and delicious. Doesn’t that bring a smile to your face?* I thought so. PS. *This is me enjoying a glass of water kefir flavoured with 1/4 cup of freshly squeezed orange juice and slices of orange rind.*

What is water kefir?

Water kefir (also known as tibicos or Japanese Water Crystals) is made with what are called kefir grains. It’s a strange name because these “grains” are not grains. They are actually a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast that look like translucent caviar.

Kefir grains may have originated centuries ago in Mexico where the grains “tibicos” were harvested from the paddles of the prickly pear cactus and later used to create this fruit-infused drink.

Although kefir can be made from milk, water kefir, as the name suggests, is completely dairy-free! It’s made with water and sugar. When you add the magic grains to the sugar water mixture and let it sit for 24 to 48 hours, the grains consume the sugar. You are left with a low-sugar, carbonated beverage filled with beneficial bacteria.

***Water kefir grains are not grains. They are actually a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast, which is gluten and dairy-free.***

What’s so great about water kefir?

Instead of popping expensive probiotic pills, pour a glass of this probiotic sparkling drink, which may actually contain more beneficial bacteria than a pill. In fact, some research shows that kefir grains may contain up to 56 different bacterial and yeast strains.

How to make water kefir

Step 1 – Order water kefir grains

I bought mine on Amazon from Happy Gut.

Step 2 – Feed Your Grains

Mix 4 cups of warm, chlorine-free water with ¼ cup of sugar. Stir to ensure the sugar dissolves. Then add 2 tbsp of water kefir grains. Cover with a kitchen cloth (so the grains can still breathe) and let sit for a day or two.

Water kefir prefers temperatures of 68-78°F (20-26°C). I place my kefir in the oven with the light on during the winter to keep it at optimal temperature.

Water kefir keeping warm in the oven — ***Water kefir prefers temperatures of 68-78°F (20-26°C). I place my kefir in the oven with the light on during the winter to keep it at optimal temperature.***

What type of water should I use to make water kefir?

It is not recommended to use chlorinated, filtered, or bottled water. Without enough minerals, your kefir grains could die. Instead, use mineral-rich tap or well water, which is nourishing to your grains. If your water isn’t rich in minerals, try adding a couple of raisins, molasses, or a dash of sea salt to your kefir.

What type of sugar should I use to make water kefir?

I use plain white sugar, which is easy for the grains to consume. You can also try sugars with higher mineral content such as rapadura, piloncillo or turbinado, which will help the grains reproduce. You can also use molasses but avoid raw honey. Raw honey has its own bacteria that can compete with water kefir grains. For more information on kefir and sugar, check out this post from Cultures for Health.

How much sugar is in water kefir?

The amount of sugar remaining at the end of a water kefir ferment will depend on the ingredients used and the length of culturing time. According to this study, all of the sucrose is converted after 24 hours. There will still be some fructose and glucose left in your beverage, which is why it has a sweet taste. However, the longer you ferment your kefir, the more the sugar will be reduced.

Lemon and ginger — ***Lemon ginger is our family’s favourite water kefir flavour.***

Step 3 – Spice it up!

Your water kefir should have fermented by now. Taste it and if it is overly sweet, it may not be ready. Leave it for another day and taste it again. It should still be sweet but with a slight tang. However, the longer you leave it sit, the tangier it will become as the kefir consumes more of the sugar.

Once you are satisfied with the taste, filter your kefir grains and add 1/4 cup of your favourite flavourings to the liquid. Our hands-down favourite was 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with a teaspoon of fresh ginger.

Bottle and let sit for another day. You’ll notice that your kefir will start bubbling. The bacteria and yeast are converting some of the sugar into carbon dioxide and as it continues to ferment, more and more gas and pressure are created. Note: The tighter you place the lid, the more carbonation. Of course, you do not want your kefir to explode.

It is recommended to burp (opening the bottle to release pressure) once a day unless the temperatures are over 75°F/24°C. Then you may have to burp your bottles more frequently. Once refrigerated, you only have to burp your kefir weekly.

Step 4 – Repeat

You will need to keep feeding your kefir grains every day. If left longer than 72 hours, your grains can starve and disappear. If you want to take a break from feeding them, store them in the fridge in sugar water and change it out every 7 days to keep them fresh.

THE TASTE TEST

Over the past few weeks, we experimented with different flavourings including fresh berries, lemon-lime and pomegranate blueberry. They were all tasty but our favourite was lemon ginger – 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with a teaspoon of fresh ginger. Here are some other ideas from Cultures for Health.

What do you do with extra kefir grains?

Over time your grains will grow and you can spread the kefir love and share them with friends and family.

How do I keep my kefir grains healthy?

Keep feeding them! The more you strain and feed your little friends fresh sugar water to culture, the healthier they will become.

So, who is ready to add more probiotics to their diet and boost their health? Are you in? Will you try making water kefir? Let me know in the comments.

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Want to make more fermented foods?

Check out my previous post on fermenting pickles.

Water Kefir

Sweet, fizzy and probiotic-rich, this refreshing and energizing beverage is the perfect way to kick start your day.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings 4

Equipment

a mason jar or wide mouth container to hold your kefir grains
Strainer
Wooden spoon
Kitchen towel
Glass bottles

Ingredients

4 cups chlorine-free water
1/4 cup plain white sugar
2 tbsp water kefir grains
a few raisins, a date, or a dash of sea salt (optional). If your grains fail to reproduce, they may need additional nutrition. Try adding a few of these optional ingredients.

Instructions

Order water kefir grains
Find a source of water kefir grains. I bought mine online from Happy Gut.
Feed Your Grains
Mix 4 cups of chlorine-free, warm water with ¼ cup of sugar. Stir to ensure the sugar dissolves. Then add 2 tbsp of water kefir grains. Cover with a kitchen cloth (so the grains can still breathe) and let sit for a day or two.
Water kefir prefers temperatures of 68-78°F (20-26°C). I place my kefir in the oven with the light on during the winter to keep it at optimal temperature.
Spice it up!
Your water kefir should have fermented by now. Taste it and if it is overly sweet, it may not be ready. Leave it for another day and taste it again. It should still be sweet but with a slight tang. However, the longer you leave it sit, the tangier it will become as the kefir consumes more of the sugar.
Once you are satisfied with the taste, filter your water kefir grains and add 1/4 cup of your favourite flavourings to the liquid. Our hands-down favourite is 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice mixed with a teaspoon of fresh ginger.
Bottle and let sit for another day or two. You'll notice that your kefir will start bubbling. The bacteria and yeast are converting some of the sugar into carbon dioxide and as it continues to ferment, more and more gas and pressure are created. Note: The tighter you place the lid, the more carbonation. But you do not want your kefir to explode. It is recommended to burp (opening the bottle to release pressure) once a day unless the temperatures are over 75°F/24°C. Then you may have to burp your bottles more frequently. Once refrigerated, you only have to burp your kefir weekly.
Repeat
You will need to keep feeding your water kefir grains every day. If left longer than 72 hours, your grains can starve and may disappear. If you want to take a break from feeding them, store them in the fridge in sugar water and change it out every 7 days to keep them fresh.

Notes

You will need 2 tablespoons of water kefir grains to ferment 4 cups of water kefir. You may scale the ratio depending on what size batch of water kefir you want to make.
It is not recommended to use chlorinated, filtered, or bottled water. Without enough minerals, your kefir grains could die. Instead, use mineral-rich tap or well water, which is nourishing to the water kefir grains. If your water isn’t rich in minerals, try adding a couple of raisins, molasses, or a dash of sea salt to your kefir.
I use plain, white sugar. However, you can also try sugars with higher mineral content such as rapadura, piloncillo or turbinado, which will help the grains reproduce. You can also use molasses but avoid raw honey. Raw honey has its own bacteria that can compete with water kefir grains. For more information on kefir and sugar, check out this post from Cultures for Health.

Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a small commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Thank you for your support! You can find the full disclosure here.

The best FREE DIY Beehive Insulation

By Leave a Comment

There must be a better way! That is my husband’s motto.

Sounds great, right? But this kind of thinking usually ends with our projects taking five million times longer to complete and me pulling my hair out exasperatedly and wondering…why the heck can’t we just do things the way everyone else does?

But today I’m eating my words. Because this cheap, DIY beehive insulation is genius – leaves. Last year, we used free maple leaves to keep our bees toasty warm throughout the winter and they SURVIVED.

This will be the second winter we will be trialing leaves as our beehive insulation and we will update this page as we continue our test.

Why do honeybees need protection from the cold?

Not all do. It depends on where you live. Honeybees originate from Africa. Although they spread north over time to some of the colder regions of Europe and Asia, they have not genetically adapted to the long, cold Canadian -40 degree C winters. So, as their caretakers, it is our solemn duty to protect them and I take this seriously.

Except for last year. I failed two of my newly split hives that I kept at my parent’s house. I still feel guilty and ashamed. Although I protected the outsides like all the rest of my hives, I forgot to place the insulation in the top cover. I couldn’t understand why two brand new hives with plenty of winter stores would perish in the cold. Until I looked inside the cover. Stupid! Yup, still kicking myself in the butt.

Do leaves really insulate?

What does Mother Nature use to insulate? Leaves. A thick blanket of leaves protects plants from the winter cold. But what you may not have realized is that they can also be used to protect your bees from the frigid winter temperatures. Last year, we experimented with using leaves around four of our beehives with excellent results.

The R-Value of fresh leaves (I couldn’t find one for dried) is about 0.54 (per inch) using the calculations from this study. To increase the thermal resistance, we made a thick, 1.5-foot wall of leaves, which results in an R-Value of about 9.65.

But leaves have an even greater superpower. They have a high heat capacity or thermal mass (similar to that of water), according to this study from the Journal of Biotechnology. This means they are able to buffer the bees from extreme temperature changes. Leaves hold onto heat, whether generated by the sun or from the bees flexing their wing muscles inside the hive to keep warm throughout the winter. The leaves hold onto this heat and slowly release it. Some heat may also be generated from the ground where we observed some decomposition.

Although there are many other methods you can use to successfully insulate your hives, we are really impressed with leaves for two reasons:

1. They are free.
2. They are compostable and sustainable.

How to use leaves as beehive insulation

Step 1

Ensure you don’t have any open cracks and crevices in your hives and that they are properly ventilated. If warm, moist air can’t escape from your hive, it will condense on the bottom side of the inner cover and drip cold water onto your bees. We use both an upper entrance and a quilt box on all our hives. You can read more about that here.

It’s also beneficial to have some sort of windbreak – this could be a fence, bushes or plastic sheet.

Step 2

Surround your hives with several wooden stakes. Hammer them into the ground about 1.5 feet from the hives.

Step 3

Staple Tyvek building wrap to the stakes.

Step 4

Fill the area between the hives and the Tyvek wrap with dry leaves (you do not want to use wet leaves that will mat together). Although we used whole leaves, shredded leaves may work even better to create fluffier, air-filled layers.

WARNING: The leaves will settle over time so make sure to add about a foot extra and then check on the hives every so often to ensure they remain covered.

Step 5

Ensure the bees can get in and out of the hive by extending the bee’s entrance.

Step 6

Cover the top of the hives with a plastic sheet to ensure the leaves don’t get wet. We used a clear, plastic sheet, but would like to try a black plastic to help absorb more of the sun’s heat.

Don’t forget about spring feedings

If you have to emergency feed in early spring, you have to be able to take your insulation apart. Be prepared for this by ensuring you can easily remove the plastic sheet on top of the hives and remove your hive rooves.

So, what do you think of this idea? Will you try using leaves as beehive insulation? Let me know in the comments.

PIN IT FOR LATER

A thick layer of leaves not only protects plants from the winter cold but bees too. Here's how to use free leaves as your beehive insulation.

How to keep eggs fresh for months – water glassing eggs

By 2 Comments

Water glassing eggs preserves your eggs for months.

I care for 32 chickens 365 days of the year and last winter I BOUGHT eggs. Never again! I’m egg-static to tell you I’ve discovered an ancient preservation technique that claims to keep your eggs fresh for up to a year.

Skeptical? Me too. Water glassing eggs is either going to be a delicious high fiving success or I will die from food poisoning after I taste test the first egg in 6 months. Isn’t this going to be a fun experiment? I know you’re dying to try this with me, right?

What is water glassing eggs?

I first discovered water glassing eggs after reading this 1917 circular from the Utah Agricultural College. According to the article, water glassing eggs dates back to at least 1913 and likely much longer as it states – “The preserving of eggs in the home is not a new practice and has passed the experimental stage.” Which was reassuring to read before I actually take a bite out of a 6-month-old egg.

The circular describes two methods of preserving eggs – using sodium silicate or using pickling lime (calcium hydroxide).

The recipes themselves are so laughingly simple, I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of them before. Basically, you mix sodium silicate or pickling lime with water and place your eggs into the solution, which seals and preserves the eggs. Months later you can enjoy fresh eggs as if you just plucked them from the coop, according to the circular: “The quality of eggs properly preserved for a period up to six to eight months is practically as good as fresh eggs.”

Before I explain how to perform this fascinating feat, let me explain why I don’t supplement lighting and instead have chosen to try preserving my eggs.

Why I don’t supplement lighting

Chickens need light to lay eggs. Mother Nature has designed the chicken perfectly so that chicks (with their limited feathering) only hatch in the spring and develop during the warm summer months. In fact, most breeds need 14 to 16 hours a day in order to lay eggs. In commercial settings, farmers simply use artificial lighting to keep their chickens laying year-round.

Although I have considered installing lights, I would likely have to install a heater as well so our chickens have both the energy to stay warm and lay eggs. Extra heat would also help ensure the eggs don’t freeze in case I’m not in the coop the moment they lay one (which almost never happens) in -30C degree weather.

Finally, as a small homesteader, I’ll admit I have gotten attached to these crazy chooks. I hope to keep them around for as long as I can. By not supplementing lighting, I can do that. Here’s how:

Chickens are born with all the eggs they will ever lay. If keeping chickens was your day job, the goal would be for the hen to lay all of her eggs as quickly as possible. In fact, in a commercial setting, farmers can achieve this in one year! Then the hens are culled. But by giving my chickens a break from laying eggs, I can draw out the number of years they will lay for and therefore keep them longer – without my husband complaining about the cost of keeping unproductive chickens.

In fact, I may be able to keep them out of the stew pot for up to 17 years if my chickens are anything like Victoria, the Black Rock hen who squeezed out two last eggs at the ripe old age of 17.

But now, this brings us back to the original question – What do you do in the winter when your hens aren’t laying? Enter water glassing eggs or liming eggs . Here’s how it works:

How to water glass or lime eggs

On your mark. Get set. Grab your lime. Ok, not the actual citrus fruit but what is often called “slaked, hydrated or pickling lime”. This is calcium hydroxide and we are going to use it to make a solution of limewater.

I have chosen to use limewater instead of a sodium silicate solution (the traditional water glassing method, which gets its name from the fact that as the water evaporates, the solution solidifies into a glassy solid). Why? Hydrated lime is a cheap, natural product that is readily available.

Materials

Calcium hydroxide (hydrated lime) – an inexpensive, white powder derived from limestone, which you can find at most hardware stores or at the grocery store (pickling lime).

“Lime itself is a solid, white compound of calcium and oxygen,” according to HomeScienceSchool. “It’s made from burning limestone (a “stone” made mostly of calcite), shells, and bones.”

A scale for measuring the hydrated lime

Container – I used a glass jar, but you could use a ceramic crock or a food-grade plastic bucket.

Water – If your water is high in minerals or you are on city water, it is best to use distilled or filtered water.

Gloves – The limewater will be very alkaline. I suggest using gloves to protect your skin.

Water Glassing Eggs Recipe

1 ounce pickling lime
1 litre distilled or filtered water (room temperature)
one dozen fresh eggs, clean and unwashed

Directions

Head to the coop and gather fresh, clean eggs. There must be no poop or dirt on the shells! You can’t even wipe them clean. This could remove the egg’s bloom coating, which keeps bacteria from penetrating the egg.

Carefully place the eggs pointy side down (eggs should always be stored this way to help prevent spoiling, according to this article from BBC Science Focus Magazine) into your container.

Finally, mix together the water and calcium hydroxide. It will look milky. But because this is a saturated solution, the lime will settle and continue to settle over time. Don’t worry. This is normal. Using warm or boiling water, will not prevent this from happening.

Pouring hydrated lime into glass container

Pour over your eggs. Leave about two inches of liquid above the eggs. Cover to prevent the liquid from evaporating over time. You may want to check on them occasionally to ensure they remain covered.

Don’t forget to date and label your container. Store in a cool, dark location until ready to use.

When you are ready to gobble up some fresh eggs, wash them well first before cracking them open. A drip of limewater could cause your eggs to curdle.

PRO TIPS – Water Glassing Eggs

You don’t have to gather all your eggs at once. You could select eggs on a daily basis over the course of a week or two continuing to add them one by one to the preserving liquid. This is what I have been doing.
Try not to move your container once you add your eggs. If an egg cracks, it’ll ruin your whole batch. (This may sound like a no-brainer, but if you are using a large container, just moving it a few inches can cause some cracking.)
Crack each egg in a separate bowl prior to using just in case one has gone bad. This is standard practice in our household especially when I find an egg that has been laid in a random location like inside our bag of shavings or under the doorstep. Sigh.
If all goes well, I’m told the eggs should no longer be porous after sitting in limewater. They should be well sealed. So, if you are planning to hard boil or steam an egg, you should pinprick the shell first to prevent the egg from popping or exploding in your water.

How long do fresh eggs versus preserved eggs last?

On your counter: about 21 days

In your fridge: about 50 days

Water glassing eggs: six months or more

Before you report me to Health Canada, the above numbers (sourced from the Chicken Whisperer Magazine) are for “unwashed eggs”. The eggs you buy at the store will NOT last this long. Commercial eggs have all been thoroughly washed, bleached and possibly coated with mineral oil.

In order for eggs to stay fresh, they have to retain their “bloom coating”. This coating is what keeps bacteria from penetrating the egg. When you wash your eggs, you remove this protective barrier. Here is a more scientific explanation.

What do water glassed eggs look and taste like?

It’s hard to believe, but according to the 1917 circular from the Utah Agricultural College eggs kept in limewater should taste exactly like a fresh egg. I’m skeptical. I will update this post in 6 months and let you know. I’ve also read they should look the same as a fresh egg.

What do I do with leftover hydrated lime?

We use it around the homestead to preserve wood. We whitewash both our barn and chicken coop.

When is the best time to preserve eggs?

Although there is no best time, I’m going to start now (the fall) before my chickens stop laying for the winter. But you may want to start water glassing as soon as your chickens start laying more eggs than your family can eat. This could be in the early spring or summer.

Now, who is going to join me in this eggs-periment? Have you tried or do you plan to try water glassing eggs? Let me know in the comments below and stay tuned for the results of my 6-month taste test.

If you liked this post, check out:

Got a few minutes? Try your hand at fermenting pickles?
What I wished I would have known about raising chicks
Converting an existing structure into a chicken coop

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Why You’d Make a Great Beekeeper

By 2 Comments

Benefits of beekeeping

Do you like to eat?

Yes? I knew it. You were meant to be a beekeeper. Loving food is a sure sign that you should keep bees.

What? You don’t agree? Well, without bees to pollinate our crops, a third of our food would disappear.

And let’s be honest. Who wants to eat nachos without salsa or toast without jam? That would be tragic, right? And that’s why we desperately need bees and people who love food to be beekeepers.

Still not convinced? Here are my top 10 benefits of beekeeping and why you should keep bees or have a beekeeper like myself install a hive in your backyard.

Top 10 Benefits of Beekeeping

Happiness

Do you like to be happy? Aha! I’ve found another reason you’d be a great beekeeper. We’ve all heard that “more stuff” doesn’t bring happiness (at least after you’ve met your basic needs). So, what will really make you smile? Experiences. Interesting experiences will boost your happiness and bring more meaning to your life. That’s right. Bees will do all this for you. Because I can’t think of a more amazing and mind-expanding experience than opening a hive of bees and watching thousands of these important pollinators at work. I can guarantee it will be an experience unlike any you’ve had before.

Stress Relief

Feeling a little stressed out? It seems that every time I turn around someone is touting the benefits of mediation from reducing stress to improving sleep and increasing happiness. So, of course, I tried it. And guess what? It doesn’t work for me. But that’s ok. I can do something just as good for my health – open a hive. If that doesn’t force you to live in the moment, I don’t know what will. So, you want to be more mindful? You want to focus? You want to achieve mental clarity and stay calm? Open a hive containing 60,000 bees. Trust me. You won’t be able to focus on anything except your every movement, the busy hum of the bees and the intoxicating smell of honey and beeswax.

In my opinion, there is no better way to be in the here and now, fully engaged in the activity at hand. And it all ends with honey. Now that is my kind of meditation. We homesteaders don’t have time to waste. We like our meditation to be productive. So, take a deep breath, centre yourself and get a hive of bees.

Fun

Can you think of anything more fun and exciting than dressing up like an alien and watching bees dance? Ok, maybe you can. But beekeeping is a lot of fun. Really! Once you get over the fear of being stung, you will realize that bees are actually very gentle, curious and fascinating creatures. In fact, the more I study them, the more I am amazed. In case you are curious, yes, bees can dance. This is one of the ways they communicate to other bees where and how far a source of nectar is located.

Honey…and lots of friends

You thought this was going to be first on my list of the benefits of beekeeping, didn’t you? But here’s a little secret of mine. I actually don’t like honey. That’s right. I have seven hives with plans to expand even more this spring and I’m not crazy about honey. But I do like to bake with it. Honey is the special ingredient that makes the most delicious and moist breads, cakes, muffins, pies and jam.

But it turns out that most people do love this liquid gold and are eager to get their hands on a jar of local, raw honey. In fact, you will be excited to discover that honey from your own hives actually tastes different and much more delicious in my humble opinion than what you can buy in the store. Just like the veggies that come from your own garden. So, don’t be surprised when your extended family, friends and neighbours suddenly take new interest in you.

Bonus: This sweet treat is one of the only foods that never spoils. A pot of honey found in an ancient Egyptian tomb was proved to be as wholesome as fresh honey.

Of course, honey has many other uses than just as a food, which brings us to the next benefit of beekeeping:

Your Health

Having local, raw honey is like having your own secret superpower. Do you have a cough or sore throat? Honey can help treat it. Do you have a cut? Honey can help heal it faster. Do you suffer from seasonal allergy symptoms? Honey can help reduce your symptoms. Honey is a powerful remedy.

That being said, I wouldn’t advise eating jars of it unless you are Winnie the Pooh. Honey is still sugar. But it is healthier and easier to digest than cane sugar. It contains high levels of antioxidants that fight oxidative stress and inflammation as well as trace amounts of vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, enzymes, amino acids and flavonoids. To be honest, I have no idea what a flavonoid is, but apparently honey has it, and it’s good for you. So, go ahead and add a heaping spoonful to your cup of tea.

Caution: Honey is not suitable for children under the age of one.

Honey Wine (Mead)

Did you know you can ferment your own sweet honey-based wine using raw honey? I didn’t. I had never even heard of mead until I went to speak at a Mother Earth News Fair. Jereme Zimmerman gave a talk on using wild yeast to create wild-fermented mead and my mind was blown. Check out his book, Make Mead Like a Viking. Or better yet, visit him at one of the upcoming fairs and try your hand at making mead during one of his workshops.

Beeswax

Forget about commercial products! You can make your own cosmetics, salves, creams, lotions and lip balms with wax from your own bees. Of course, you can also make candles, beeswax wraps, deodorant, soap and so much more. If you are a DIY like me, having your own source of beeswax is a must and a huge benefit of beekeeping.

A Productive Garden

Are you a gardener? Then raise your hand if you like having a productive vegetable garden? A backyard beehive is your answer to a great harvest. Bees pollinate blooms within a five-mile radius of their hive. Without them, your garden may look healthy and lush, but you won’t be harvesting basketfuls of your favourite veggies. And if you happen to have a fruit tree or a berry patch, the more bees that visit your plants, the better the size and amount of fruit they will produce.

Bees are the easiest livestock to keep

So far, my bees have been the easiest livestock to care for on the homestead. I don’t have to feed and water them every day. I don’t have to clean up after them. I don’t have to trim their hooves or keep them contained. And for several months of the year, I don’t have to do anything at all. Most of the work is done in the early spring when you are first getting set up or splitting hives and requeening. During the summer, most of the work is simply ensuring the bees have enough room to expand and that there are no diseases in the hive. Work picks up again in the fall when it is time to harvest honey and close up the hives for the winter.

Bees are a great conversation starter

Beekeeping is the most popular topic on my blog. It is also a fascinating topic for discussion whenever I first meet people. Let’s be honest. Most people think I’m crazy but they are always eager to learn more about bees and the benefits of beekeeping. And, of course, if I have honey for sale.

There are many, many more benefits of beekeeping. But I’m wrapping this post up because I’m now eager to go outside and check on my own busy bees. How about you? Do you want to venture into the heart of a hive? Are you eager to try beekeeping? Let me know in the comments below or feel free to ask me questions. I’m sure you’d make a great beekeeper!

PS. Beekeeping is not dangerous (unless you have an allergy)

If you have an allergy to bee stings, beekeeping can be dangerous. Fatal reactions are rare but it can happen. One of the first things I suggest you do before getting into beekeeping is to ensure you are not allergic

Otherwise, you will discover that honeybees are not aggressive. They are actually very passive creatures. But they will defend themselves if they feel threatened. So far, I have only been stung twice in four years. Stay tuned for another article on “how not to get stung”.

Want to read more about bees and the benefits of beekeeping?
Check out some of my previous posts…

The Bees are Coming…
How to Catch a Swarm of Honeybees…
How to Find the Queen Bee…
Healing Honey Hand Salve (and how to render beeswax)

A Healthier You: 12-MONTH FERMENTATION CHALLENGE #1. Water kefir

What is water kefir?

What’s so great about water kefir?

How to make water kefir

Step 1 – Order water kefir grains

Step 2 – Feed Your Grains

What type of water should I use to make water kefir?

What type of sugar should I use to make water kefir?

How much sugar is in water kefir?

Step 3 – Spice it up!

Step 4 – Repeat

THE TASTE TEST

What do you do with extra kefir grains?

How do I keep my kefir grains healthy?

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Want to make more fermented foods?

Water Kefir

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Notes

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for more!

Why do honeybees need protection from the cold?

Do leaves really insulate?

How to use leaves as beehive insulation

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Don’t forget about spring feedings

Read more about bees:

PIN IT FOR LATER

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for more!

What is water glassing eggs?

Why I don’t supplement lighting

How to water glass or lime eggs

Materials

Water Glassing Eggs Recipe

Directions

PRO TIPS – Water Glassing Eggs

How long do fresh eggs versus preserved eggs last?

What do water glassed eggs look and taste like?

What do I do with leftover hydrated lime?

When is the best time to preserve eggs?

If you liked this post, check out:

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for more!

Benefits of beekeeping

Top 10 Benefits of Beekeeping

Happiness

Stress Relief

Fun

Honey…and lots of friends

Your Health

Honey Wine (Mead)

Beeswax

A Productive Garden

Bees are the easiest livestock to keep

Bees are a great conversation starter

PS. Beekeeping is not dangerous (unless you have an allergy)

PIN IT FOR LATER!

Enjoyed this post? Sign up for more!