I recently wrote about beekeepers using plastic frames for honey storage in beehives.  We avoid using these as we are concerned from a bee health point of view but also environmentally.  But it's not just the frames that are available in plastic, you can now buy full plastic beehives.  When the hive is at the end of its life what will happen to it?  I find it pretty concerning when there are so many people trying to avoid plastic use that industries are just coming up with more plastic ware!  Shouldn't manufacturers be coming up with smarter, more environmentally friendly options? Do they not care about the future of our planet?

It's not just at the end of the beehives life I'm concerned about.  If a beekeeper has American foulbrood (AFB) in their hive, the hive has to be burnt to eradicate it.  AFB is a disease of honey bee larvae and pupae. It wipes out an infected hive and is spread to other hives by the movement of contaminated hives and equipment, it's highly contagious.  It is pretty upsetting when you have to burn a hive but I think it would feel pretty bad watching the plastic burn.  Can you imagine what that does to the environment if beekeepers are burning plastic beehives and frames? I would love to see plastic beehives banned.  Just my personal opinion.
 

Purchase Sweetree honey with no plastic residue

Have you ever noticed a white film over beeswax products?  It's called a 'bloom'.  It develops over time due to cold air crystallizing the beeswax oils. It disappears when the wax is put into the sun for a very short time.  If it is a sunny but cold day then wait until the air gets warmer to use the heat of the sun rays or carefully warm with a hairdryer, fan heater, etc. They will then be completely back to normal! 
 

Check out our beeswax products

This month's 'Sustainable Me' challenge is to reduce the harsh chemical cleaners in our homes with natural alternatives.

It's the time of year we give our houses a spring clean from top to bottom.  It's a good opportunity to use more natural cleaners that are better for our houses, our families and the aquatic life that are exposed to it once it's washed down the drain.  There are lots of natural alternatives out there now and available in the supermarkets or you might like to try baking soda and white vinegar!
 

Here's What The Challenge Suggests:

Beginner: If you’re wary of baking ingredients as household cleaners, maybe the best way to begin is with commercially available eco-friendly cleaning products such as those available through the Earthwise or Ecostore brands.

Step it up: Start simple and find one or two cleaning product to change over. Baking soda as a scrub for your sinks, counters and tubs is a great way to begin.

Want more? Ditch your chemical cleaners and go all natural. There are lots of internet resources available for someone who wants chemical free cleaners – see the resources section below for suggestions of where to begin.
Every little bit (or drop) helps!

See the OSOF website to read more tips

Read more about:

• The Sustainable Me Challenge
• January Challenge - reducing one use plastic
• February Challenge - drive less
• March Challenge - reduce personal care product footprint
• April Challenge - preserve fresh produce
• May Challenge - reduce energy usage
• June Challenge - reduce non-recyclable paper tissue waste
• July Challenge - reduce plastic use
• August Challenge - reduce water use

Check out the eco friendly items in our online store!

This month is 'Bee Aware Month' in New Zealand the focus is on how important bees are for pollinating food and other products we consume.  
 

Why are Bees So Important?

Imagine the world without strawberries, kiwifruit, apples, nuts, chocolate or even denim jeans! These are all foods and products pollinated by bees!  Without bees, a huge 2/3 of our food would disappear.  

Bees around the world and especially in NZ cannot survive without our help, and in turn, we wouldn't survive without them.  Albert Einstein said, “If the Bee Disappeared Off the Face of the Earth, Man Would Only Have Four Years Left To Live".  So not only do bees produce a wonderful, natural food source, they also play a significant role in supporting our food chain.

 

How Can Everyone Help?

 

• One of the easiest things we can do is to plant bee-friendly gardens both in urban and rural areas.  Bees need food so they can help pollinate our food.  Bees will forage on these flowers for nectar and pollen which provide carbohydrates and protein for growth and energy.  Well-nourished bees are more capable of fending off disease and parasites.

• Provide a shallow pond in your garden for bees to land on the edges to collect water.  There are some great ideas in this blog.

• Find out what else we can do to protect our bees

• Buy local and support your local beekeeper