[dangolding]

We've recently decided to keep bees and I've also enrolled in a local bee keeping school (all in French, but hey, when in Rome!!!)

Having purchased all the necessary items yesterday (I get the bees later), the man in the shop gave me a jar of his own honey.

Now, I don't actually like honey (we're keeping them for polination and "because we can") but I did try a spoonful of the "home made" honey from the shop owner.

All I can say is "oh my god!" I cannot believe how totally amazing it tastes - absolutely nothing like the stuff in the shops

If you only do one thing this year - you've got to try honey "made" from a local hive - the taste and texture is completely and utterly amazing.

Polination aside, the taste of the honey justifies the modest costs involved.

I know I'm over excited about this (I'm a big kid really), but I just cannot over emphasise how amazing the taste was.

So, don't get chocolate eggs for Easter - ask your other (better???) half for a bee hive!!!

[Aunt Sally]

Absolutly Dan  :!: It's far superior to anything you can buy in ordinary shops.

I get local honey and in fact it is the best for you as it contains 'local' pollens which can help to desensitise hay fever sufferers.

[dangolding]

I didn't know about the hayfever aspect - thanks for that  

One thing that I also found out from the bee shop is that beekeepers don't get rheumatism (sorry if the spelling is wrong) or arthritis.

Thinking it was just local folk lore, I googled it and it appears that there is quite a bit of truth in the matter and there is currently some serious medical research

[Oliveview]

I bought a jar of local honey a couple of weeks ago from the local market, as you say, it is so very different from the shop bought supermarket stuff
Pamela

[mikebucks]

Good luck with your future bees. I did a course last year and had the bees since april last year, I took off a little honey and was deelighted with the taste. I have been told the difference is partly because the commercial brands "heat treat" the honey . I have yet to see if the bees are off interest to my chickens!

[poultrygeist]

Love stories like this. Nice to hear you've found something which can arouse so much passion. Thanks for sharing it.

Never tried locally produced honey. But I might just give it a go.

Would love to keep bees but I think we have enough on for now.

Good on ya Dan.  

Rob

[Fat Hen]

Would love to keep bees again.  I live in town centre(ish) with small garden.  I do make nests for wild bees though.

We had 4 hives at school when I were a kid and got really into it.  Always fancied keeping bees if had the land.

[PAH48]

One thing that I also found out from the bee shop is that beekeepers don't get rheumatism (sorry if the spelling is wrong) or arthritis.

Now you tell me :roll: <------ them sticks for real you know :!:  :roll:
    PAH 'in
PS love the real stuff, shop stuff no! no!

[NormandyMary]

Can I put my order in now dangolding? I dont know how far we are from you! Ill try anything to help my poor arthritic joints.

[Foxy]

dangolding very interesting!! My  OH is very keen, would really like to know how you get on  

[Dabhand]

I swap soap for honey with my neighbour,  It is the most amazing honey I have ever tasted.  Mostly rapeseed and very clear and runny and so sweet.  I love it on my porridge... yum