Bee populations are diminishing worldwide. In recent years, nearly all wild bee colonies have died out. Not only are we losing their wonderful honey and beeswax, but also their loss poses a serious threat to global agricultural production. Chemical use as well as pests and viruses, against which bees have no natural defenses, threaten hives here in Hawaii, too. Without beekeepers dedicated to caring for them, honeybees could disappear in our lifetime. Their importance to planetary and human health cannot be underestimated. Many farmers, beekeepers and concerned individuals are galvanizing to cultivate and sustain these valuable pollinators.
Archeologists and historians believe that honeybees were first domesticated in classical times. Remains of ancient clay and straw hives have been unearthed in present-day Israel, suggesting that commercial honey production may be at least 3,000 years old. The Greek philosopher, Aristotle recommended honey in his writings as a salve to heal wounds. It is also believed that Alexander the Great may have been buried in a coffin filled with honey in order to preserve his body for eternity.
The industrious bee travels thousands of miles and borrows nectar from millions of flowers to create just one pound of honey. Carrying the nectar they have gathered in a special compartment in their stomachs, they transport this sweet fluid to their hive. Once they arrive, they deposit and fan it to evaporate most of the water. This process yields the sweet, concentrated liquid we know as honey. Many also know that this is one of Mother Nature’s most versatile products. Not only is it delicious but it also has many healing properties.
Once beauty’s best-kept secret, honey is generating a bit of buzz in the industry today. This sweet elixir contains amino acids, vitamins, minerals, probiotics and powerful enzymes whose antimicrobial properties help to break down dead skin so it can be sloughed away. Honey can soothe a sore throat, improve sleep and promote relaxation. It can also aid in healing minor abrasions and cleanse and moisturize our face, body and hair. Its smooth, thick texture gently exfoliates the skin, keeps moisture close to the skin and helps protect the body.
Consider adding honey to your own skin care routine. Soft, radiant and nourished skin is just a few tablespoons of honey away. A wonderful cleansing and moisturizing face wash can be made by mixing one tablespoon of raw, organic honey with one teaspoon of baking soda and massaging the mixture onto wet skin. Allow the wash to remain on your skin for up to 15 minutes for maximum benefits, then rinse your face thoroughly with warm water and feel the glow.
Bees also provide us with another potent beauty product, beeswax. This product is an amazing example of dedication and hard work, as each bee must eat eight to 10 pounds of honey and fly the equivalent of six orbits around the earth to produce one pound of wax. Beeswax, a natural secretion from bees’ abdominal mirror glands, serves as the building material for the hexagonal structures of the honeycomb. Just as the beeswax provides structure and support to the hive, it can also offer its supportive properties to our bodies. As a cosmetic ingredient, it provides a protective barrier to hold moisture close to the surface of our skin, benefiting dry and damaged areas. Until the 1950s, when petroleum was introduced, beeswax and honey made the near-perfect base for most beauty products.
With the many benefits bees offer, you may want to encourage honeybees to your garden by cultivating flowering ornamentals as well as herbs and vegetables. You might also consider building a top-bar hive for your yard that allows the bees to come and go more freely. These hives do not separate the queen from the hive and allow the construction of a more naturally shaped honeycomb. More information on these simple hives can be found on the Internet. If you decide to become a beekeeper with several hives, you’ll be able to produce enough honey to share as well as providing for your family’s needs.
If you’d rather purchase honey for your personal needs, know that not all honey is considered equal. Be sure to purchase raw, unheated, organic honey if you want all the beneficial nutrients. Avoid the generic grocery store “honey bears,” which may be only colored and artificially flavored corn syrup. For the best product, shop at a local health food store or farmers market and help support the local beekeepers and their bees.
Karen Kriebl and her husband, Tim Bruno, use only sustainable practices on their farm in Honaunau. She authors a blog about the useful properties of Hawaiian agricultural crops at “From Seed to Skin” on luananaturals.com.
Tropical gardening helpline
Nadia asks: Would ramsons grow here and do well or do they need colder weather? If they did grow here, would they be green all year or die back as they do in Britain?
Answer: Ransoms are a member of the allium or onion family that are native to Europe. Allium ursinum is also known as wild garlic and sometimes as bear’s garlic as their bulbs are favored by bears as well as by wild pigs. They are not well-suited to growing in tropical climates as they require cold temperatures followed by warmer weather to break dormancy. They may grow well at elevations where nights go below 40 degrees or the seeds could be refrigerated for a few months to mimic winter weather. You can learn more about growing them and order seeds at seedaholic.com/allium-ursinum.html.
A North American variety Allium tricoccum is commonly known as ramps, spring onion or wild garlic. It grows in much of the eastern United States and Canada. Ramps, both leaves and bulbs, are popular in the cuisines of the rural uplands of the American South and in the Canadian province of Quebec. Like ransoms, ramps usually appear in the fall as well as the early spring whenever the weather is cool, the ground is wet and deciduous trees are leafless. They are not known to grow in tropical climates.
Unlike many onion relatives ransoms and ramps have wide leaves that produce a strong garlic scent that can be discerned from a considerable distance. In the wild, they usually appear in cool, wet, shady, woodland areas but their tasty leaves only last a few weeks. The edible underground bulbs remain and the stalk bearing white flowers graces the area eventually for a longer period producing seeds for the next season before dying back. Though common in temperate climates during the fall or spring, they do not appear at lower elevations in Hawaii. Fresh ramp seeds have a dormant, under-developed embryo. The seed requires a warm, moist period to break root dormancy and a subsequent cold period to break shoot dormancy. If you live in a cool, wet area of the island and want to try growing them, seeds and information on growing them are available at seedman.com/ramps.htm.
If you can get ransoms or ramps to grow, you will find the leaves as well as the bulbs very versatile and delicious. They can be used raw in a salad or finely shredded and mixed into an omelet. They can also be boiled and made into a kind of pesto-like pate. If you do get them going, let us know.
Email plant questions to konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu for answers by certified master gardeners. Some questions will be chosen for inclusion in this column.
This column is produced by Diana Duff, an organic farmer and cosultant.