Santa Ana River Valley Honey Company

Thinking of making your own beeswax candles or molds? Great! It’s not that hard but there are some tricks and cautions.

1) DO NOT melt beeswax outside. Within 10 minutes, bees from your neighborhood will find you. Within 25 minutes bees from miles around will be all over you and your wax, drowning in the hot wax and making a mess of your project.

2) DO NOT leave windows or doors open when melting beeswax inside.
See #1.

3) Wear a smock, apron or clothes you won’t mind getting wax on. You WILL get wax on you, your clothes and your shoes.

Bees can smell the melted wax from a mile away. If you melt on your stove, they will even come down the vent over your stove. Make sure the vent screens are secure.

Seriously consider using pots and utensils that you will use exclusively for wax melting. They can be cleaned but it’s very difficult and usually not worth the trouble. You can get everything you need at a local thrift store for under $20.

Completely cover the table you’ll be using with masking paper or newspaper. Cleaning wax off your table is no fun.

You can melt wax on your stove, in your oven or in a slow cooker or similar device. Beeswax melts at 140° F and will burst into flames at 400° F. Heat the beeswax slowly. Wax takes a long time to melt completely so be patient. Do not leave the beeswax unattended as a fire could destroy your home.

When melting on your stove, always use a double boiler. Never place beeswax directly onto a flame. It’s just not worth the risk.

In your oven, set the temperature to about 160° F. This is lower than the lowest setting on most ovens but high enough to turn the oven on.

You probably acquired your beeswax from a supplier who filtered the beeswax for you so filtering should not be an issue. If your beeswax does need filtering, a pot, a sieve, and a coffee filter or cloth will do the trick. Set the sieve on top of the pot, the filter in the sieve and the beeswax in the filter. Place the whole setup in your oven and let it sit at 160° for a couple hours or so, depending on the quantity of wax you’re filtering.

If melting a large quantity of wax, transfer some of the hot wax to a container that is easy to handle. Pour the hot wax carefully into your mold, slowing down as your mold fills. The last thing you want is to have to clean wax off your furniture and floor. Trust me.

Let the beeswax cool completely before removing from the mold. It takes longer than you’d think. If it’s still warm, wait. If you take the beeswax out of the mold too soon, you’ll have wax all over yourself and your floor.

For small spills, a razor blade works great, especially before it gets cold and hard. To get the last little trace of wax off a surface, warm it with a lighter and wipe up immediately with a paper towel.

Wrap your finished product in paper or plastic to protect it and your container. Store in a cool, dark location.

From http://healthline.com

Overview

Raw honey has been used as a folk remedy throughout history and has a variety of health benefits and medical uses. It’s even used in some hospitals as a treatment for wounds. Many of these health benefits are specific to raw, or unpasteurized, honey.

Most of the honey you find in grocery stores is pasteurized. The high heat kills unwanted yeast, can improve the color and texture, removes any crystallization, and extends the shelf life. Many of the beneficial nutrients are also destroyed in the process.

If you’re interested in trying raw honey, buy it from a trusted local producer. Here are some health benefits raw honey has to offer:

1. A good source of antioxidants

Raw honey contains an array of plant chemicals that act as antioxidants. Some types of honey have as many antioxidants as fruits and vegetables. Antioxidants help to protect your body from cell damage due to free radicals.

Free radicals contribute to the aging process and may also contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Research shows that antioxidant compounds in honey called polyphenols may play a role in preventing heart disease.

2. Antibacterial and antifungal properties

Research has shown that raw honey can kill unwanted bacteria and fungus. It naturally contains hydrogen peroxide, an antiseptic. Its effectiveness as an antibacterial or antifungal varies depending on the honey, but it’s clearly more than a folk remedy for these kinds of infections.

3. Heal wounds

Manuka honey is used in medical settings to treat wounds because it’s been found to be an effective germ killer and also aids in tissue regeneration.

Studies show that Manuka honey can boost healing time and reduce infection. Keep in mind that the honey used in hospital settings is medical grade, meaning it’s inspected and sterile. It’s not a good idea to treat cuts with honey you buy from a store.ADVERTISING

4. Phytonutrient powerhouse

Phytonutrients are compounds found in plants that help protect the plant from harm. For example, some keep insects away or shield the plant from ultraviolet radiation.

The phytonutrients in honey are responsible for its antioxidant properties, as well as its antibacterial and antifungal power. They’re also thought to be the reason raw honey has shown immune-boosting and anticancer benefits. Heavy processing destroys these valuable nutrients.

5. Help for digestive issues

Honey is sometimes used to treat digestive issues such as diarrhea, though there isn’t much research to show that it works. It’s proven to be effective as a treatment for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) bacteria, though, a common cause of stomach ulcers.

It’s also a potent prebiotic, meaning it nourishes the good bacteria that live in the intestines, which are crucial not only for digestion but overall health.

6. Soothe a sore throat

Have a cold? Try a spoonful of honey. Honey is an old sore throat remedy. Add it to hot tea with lemon when a cold virus hits you.

It also works as a cough suppressant. Research has suggested that honey is as effective as dextromethorphan, a common ingredient in over-the-counter cough medication. Just take one or two teaspoonfuls, straight.

Are there any risks?

In addition to beneficial prebiotics and nutrients, raw honey can also carry harmful bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum. This is particularly dangerous for babies. Raw honey should never be given to an infant less than a year old.

Symptoms of botulism poisoning in infants may include:

• constipation
• slow breathing
• sagging eyelids
• absence of gagging
• loss of head control
• paralysis that spreads downward
• poor feeding
• lethargy
• weak cry

In adults, symptoms can include an initial short period of diarrhea and vomiting, followed by constipation and more severe symptoms, such as blurred vision and muscle weakness. See a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms after eating raw honey.

I began my training as a stock broker at Gruntal & Co., 14 Wall Street, NY, NY. After retiring as an investment advisor in Southern California, I spent ten years in hospital security. In 2015, I was diagnosed with bladder cancer, had a kidney removed and have been cancer free ever since. I spent a lot of time reading, including about bees, their importance to our survival and the challenges they face for their own survival.

I assumed I could not raise bees myself because 1) my city did not allow bees and 2) I lived in the desert. After a year of reading about bees I decided to find a local beekeeping club to see what was and wasn’t possible in my area. Boy, was I in for a surprise!

Not only do bees flourish in Southern California but, I could raise bees on other people’s property. Many people love bees and desire them on their property but don’t have the time or expertise to raise bees themselves.

And so it began. With a lot of help from my mentor and other members of the club, I learned what was possible in my area. While waiting for my mentor to bless me with a small colony, I started making bee boxes and melting wax for other beekeepers. One day, while melting wax, a swarm of bees moved into a box sitting on the ground behind me. I didn’t even notice since bees were always around, stealing the honey and wax in the comb I was preparing to process.

A week later, my mentor picked up her boxes and discovered the colony that had moved into the box near the barbecue I use to melt wax. I was now officially a beekeeper. That very small colony has grown to occupy two deep boxes and three honey supers! Since that day, many more swarms have moved into boxes just sitting around at my house, attracted to the honey and wax in the boxes.

Because I am not allowed to keep bees at my house, I had to find someone who was willing to host them. Amazingly, it was easier than I suspected it would be. Several people responded to my ad and the only problem was deciding which of them would host my first apiary.

I was in business!