Regina and District Bee Club

Hi all…..

Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you  know about the Regina and District Bee Club that I belong to.  If anyone out there in the Regina Area is interested in Beekeeping and wants to learn more, a great starting place is the Club.  We recently hosted a Field Day at our farm for the Club.  We had great weather (believe or not) and a great turn out of beekeepers and non-beekeepers/beginners who had an interest in starting a hive or two.   We had honey taste tests,  some “bee trivia”, a longest smoker contest, and opened a hive to check out the bees.  It was lots of fun!

The club has recently lauched a website, and is also sending out quarterly newsletters to it’s members.  Cost to join is $25.00 annually.   

Check it out….and join the fun!

www.reginabeeclub.ca

 We are excited to be able to offer paypal as an option for payment to our on-line customers.  Simply send us an email containing your order, (sales@zeebeehoney.ca)  We will do up an invoice through paypal and email it back to you.   Your invoice will include shipping charges should you choose to have it shipped.  Local orders can be picked up as shown below.

Location:

Zee Bee Honey is located just outside Regina, Saskatchewan.

Shipping/Pick-up Instructions:

Pick-Up:  Arrangements can be made to pick-up your orders at the local farmers’ markets that we participate in.  (We accept only cash or cheque on site at Markets)

Regina Farmers’ Market:

Dates:              May 1, 2010 – October 9, 2010

Time:               Wednesdays and Saturdays

9:30am – 1:30pm

Location:         1900 Smith Street   (Beside City Hall)

                        Regina, Saskatchewan

Cityview Farmers’ Market:

Dates:              June 11, 2010 – August 27, 2010

Time:               3:00pm – 6:00pm

                        Friday

Location:         Behind the Ice House Restaurant

                        White City/Emerald Park, Saskatchewan

Shipping:  Shipping options will be determined on an individual order basis.  We can ship almost all of our products.  (You pay the shipping costs)    Postage will be determined individually for each order and will be included on your invoice.

Ever Wonder What ‘Mead‘ is?????   

Before we were involved in the Honey Industry….I had no idea what Mead was!   For those of you in the same boat as me…I’ve pasted the definition from good old Wikipedia below:     

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mead (pronounced /ˈmiːd/) is an alcoholic beverage, made from honey and water via fermentation with yeast. Its alcoholic content may range from that of a mild ale to that of a strong wine. It may be still, carbonated, or sparkling; it may be dry, semi-sweet, or sweet. Mead is often referred to as “honey wine.”[1]

Depending on local traditions and specific recipes, it may be brewed with spices, fruits, or grain mash. It may be produced by fermentation of honey with grain mash;[2] mead may also be flavored with hops[3] to produce a bitter, beer-like flavor.

Mead is independently multicultural. It is known from many sources of ancient history throughout Europe, Africa and Asia, although archaeological evidence of it is ambiguous.[4]Its origins are lost in prehistory; “it can be regarded as the ancestor of all fermented drinks,” Maguelonne Toussaint-Samat has observed, “antedating the cultivation of the soil.”[5] Claude Lévi-Strauss makes a case for the invention of mead as a marker of the passage “from nature to culture.”[6]

At Zee-Bee we have sold alot of honey to Mead makers over the past few years, and because Mead-Makers are a very generous lot…..some of them have given us a sample of the finished project to taste.   Mmmmmmm!   We have tasted some that was carbonated, another that was fruity and sweet.   Fun to try new things!   Every year I plan to make some and it never gets done!  Maybe this year!!!!    I know where to go if  I need help.   I have recently learned about a great club located in Regina - ’ Ale & Lager Enthusiasts of Saskatchewan’  or ALES        (www.alesclub.com)     I believe they meet at Bushwakker Brew Pub (2206 Dewdney Ave)    Hmmmmmm!         Sounds interesting!

I am excited to announce that some of my customers have entered their homemade Mead….(made with Zee-Bee Honey of course) into the  ALES Homebrew Open Contest, and the results have been GREAT!

Our friend Kevin Bedel won a Silver Medal in 2007, and a Gold and Silver in 2008

Our friend Paul Compton won a Silver Medal this year for his “Big Bad Cyser”     (Cyser is a blend of honey and apple juice fermented together) 

Congratulations on your wins !    So nice when hard work pays off! 

Best of luck to all you future Mead Makers….including me!  Who knows maybe we will compete against each other some day!             

Cheers!

Regina Farmers’ Market

Hi everyone!

Guess what….summer is coming!  With summer comes the “Outdoor Farmers’ Market”!     Hooray!

Regina Farmers’ Market has had to change locations for the 2010 summer season.  Since there will be construction happening in downtown Regina this summer,  the Market’s Scarth Street home is now unavailable!!  The Market has moved to the 1900 blocks of Smith Street and McIntyre Street’s.  (Surrounding City Hall)  Outdoor Markets open May 1st., and will be open for business every Saturday and Wednesday thereafter  9:30 – 1:30!  We hope you can find the time to pop down for some fresh baking, jams, crafts, hot house tomatoes, peppers and yummy cucumbers, pies, perogies, beef, chicken, wild boar, jewellery, wool products, lefsa, pickles…….and of course honey!    If you enjoy buying local and eating fresh……you will have come to the right place!     See ya soon!

Natural Beeswax Floating Heart Candle

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Roses are Red

Violets are Blue

Honey is Sweet

 And it’s so very good for YOU!

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Health Benefits of H♥ney

Honey is a natural energy booster. ♥

It is well known for its effectiveness in instantly boosting endurance and reducing muscle fatigue during exercise.

 Honey is a great immunity system builder.♥

Honey has antioxidant and anti-bacterial properties that  help to improve our digestive system and help us stay healthy and fight disease.  A tablespoon of honey before bed will help us sleep…..and a restful night means a healthier, happier,  and stronger YOU!

 Honey is a natural remedy for some ailments. ♥ 

Honey is bacteria resistant, so it is a useful treatment for wounds.  Cuts, abrasions and scalds can be covered in honey to prevent bacteria from entering and healing is encouraged.

Hi everyone…..

We are just home from a warm winter getaway in Mexico.  We came home to snow and ice yesterday and a blizzard today….sure is good to be home!!!!  (Just kidding!!!!)

Having nothing better do do during the blizzard….I began surfing the web.   I was looking up “Honeymoon.”  We had noticed a few young couples carrying large white wedding dress bags off the plane and also noticed that our resort was hosting a wedding while we were there.

Did you know that traditionally, HONEY played a big part in the celebration!!

Wikipedia says:  In many parts of Europe it was traditional to supply a newly married couple with enough Mead (a sweet wine made from fermented honey.)  for a month, ensuring happiness and fertility.  Years ago a month was referred to as a “Moon”…. Thus the term “Honeymoon” came into existence!

I also read that in Greek Mythology……it was said that Cupid dipped his arrow in honey to fill the lovers heart with sweetness.

How romantic…….

It has inspired me to add  a “Wedding Favours” Product line to Zee-Bee Honey.  We have some great small  glass hex jars that can be personalized with the Bride and Grooms names and date or, a cute little 41/2 inch Honey Bear.   Wouldn’t that be “Perfectly Sweet”!      

How about some heart shaped Beeswax floating candles!    Wouldn`t that show that “Love is buzzing!“

We want our marriages to last a lifetime……so why not give the gift that lasts a lifetime!  It was “Meant to Bee`

Give me a call if you are planning a wedding and are looking for wedding favours that are “Sweet as can Bee“

Beeswax Floating Heart Candles

I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of my customers for all their support throughout the year.  I really appreciate it.  I truly enjoy speaking to all of you at the market and sharing a story or two.  When I get home, I always have stories to share….about people I met and the stories that they have shared with me…..I learn so many new things through the wonderful people that I meet.

A friend once told me that “A stranger is just a friend you haven’t met yet!“  That’s they way I like to feel about all of my customers, and I hope they feel the same way about me! 

Shopping local isn’t just about the produce, or reducing emissions…..it’s about the people!

So thanks again for shopping local….and for all your support over the past year!

Hope you can all “Bee” Happy over the Holidays!

And a Happy and Healthy New Year to you all! 

Well, it is over until next year!  Regina Farmers’ Market held it’s last market of the year on Saturday, December 19th.  The isles were packed with shoppers picking up their Christmas baking, their pies,  potatoes, carrots, perogies…..all the fixin’s for their festive meal.  I made sure I got my Lefsa….Christmas wouldn’t be the same without that!

(Spring market opens March 6th 2010, 2900 13th Avenue)

Terra Madre Day

A big thank-you to the Management and Staff of the Fainting Goat Restaurant for a great Terra Madre Day celebration on December 10th.

Terra Madre Day is a day set aside for the world to celebrate eating locally!  The Fainting Goat hosted a 5 course meal prepared with local food.  The restaurant was filled to capacity to enjoy the fabulous meal.  Many of the producers were there as well as loyal customers all showing their support of local sustainability.

Thanks for inviting us…..it was good company….and marvelous food!