Beekeeping on The Splendid Table

My ears always perk up if one of my favorite podcasters is talking about bees. After all, beeswax seals the deal in the hard lotion bar and without it, hands and feet would be a mess. So tonight it was Lynne Rossetto Kasper speaking with bee researcher Marla Spivak. Here's an overview of their conversation: 

A Bee's Life:

Young bees act as nurses to sister bees.

Middle age bees secrete wax. Older bee is a forager and collects nectar.

The bees lives 4-6 weeks and then they die.

The queen lays 1000 eggs a day.

Colony Colapse Disorder.  Bees are dying probably due to 1.) not enough flowers out there  2.) the flowers they encounter have pesticides 3.) bees have their own diseases

In winter 2006 a lot of colonies were suddenly lost. Why so suddenly? Honeybees have been in decline since WW2, due to the agricultural changes. Recent years, it's due to either a new disease or a new pesticide, or a combination of the two.

The future? There's a huge interest in beekeeping, which means people will start paying attention.

Ever Have Your 2 Year Old Get A Hold of the Desitin?

I was two and my brother was a year old. Somehow we managed to get a hold of the Desitin when my mom wasn't looking and apparently covered each other with it. My mom still reminds me of it.

This morning I walked into the room to find my own two year old with the diaper rash cream I use on him. Thankfully the ingredients are safe and since he likes to rub it all over his face, I don't have to worry about kissing a fish - it's unscented.

Minimizing Callus Formation Caused by Weightlifting

This morning I woke up extra early to pull out my kettlebell weights that have been neglected the past two months. My newborn is 2 months old now, delectable Christmas temptations are behind me, and it's time to get this body back in shape.

It took a little getting used to my old routine and I don't remember this particular workout wearing me out as much as it did today, but it feels so good to be back on track again. I'm a size 8 living in a size 12 body and I want my 8 back.

An hour later I was cracking eggs for breakfast and I realized how painful the palms of my hands felt. Small calluses were beginning to form, even after just one workout.

I grabbed my Beesilk hard lotion bar and that took care of it - it minimized the pain (still had some pain, but not nearly as bad as it first was) and smoothed the skin.  Had I thought about it, I would have rubbed the Beesilk bar on about 10 minutes before my workout since I'm fairly confident that the beeswax-sealing properties would have prevented calluses from starting in the first place. I'll try that next.

Renee

How to Make Lotion Bars for Gift Giving

How to Make Beeswax Tea Light Candles

You only need a few ingredients, and you'll have fantastic handcrafted gifts for Christmas.

How to Make Your Own Moisturizer

I normally have combination skin, but in the winter, my face feels dry, tight and uncomfortable from the harsh weather and indoor heat. Part of my morning routine is to apply this facial moisturizer that consists of coconut oil and beeswax. It has a very light honey scent and absorbs easily into the skin without a greasy feel and can be applied under make up. I also use it in the summertime before and after swimming to keep my skin protected.

Although it's not currently a product I sell on the site, it is so easy to make that you can do it at home.  Make some for yourself and give some away in small jars to friends.

*some people may find it blocks their skins' pores, so discontinue use if this happens to you.

Use Beeswax to Clear Up a Congested Udder of a Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat

I can't take credit for this one (I don't even have a goat), but thanks to Hardlotion Facebook member  Danielle Besley,  she shared how she was able to work up a recipe that brought relief to her dairy goat!

Danielle wrote: You sent me a "sample" of your beeswax with my last order. I thought you might find it interesting that I used the sample as a base for my homemade "bag balm" that I am using on the congested udder of my Nigerian Dwarf dairy goat!

I used the 1/2 oz beeswax, 1 oz coconut oil and 3 oz olive oil melted in a double boiler. I let the oils cool and then added the following essential oils: Clove Bud, Eucalyptus, Ginger, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea ...Tree and Thyme. I picked these oils because they are either "cooling", "heating" or "healing" and edible. I want to increase the circulation to her udder and I want her teats to taste nasty since she has started "self-suckling" due to the discomfort from the congestion. I added 48 drops of each oil and tested the balm on the back of my chapped hands. I want it to feel hot/cold but not burn :) I started using it on Friday and her udder feels better already. Wish me continued luck!

From Cracked Skin to Building a Lotion Business

I wasn't looking for an opportunity to run a business.

I didn't even care whether the products I used on my skin were natural, biodegradable, or "green" - I just needed something that would heal the cracks and splits in my fingers that made my daily tasks incredibly painful.

When I figured out the solution, I wanted to help others, and eventually it turned into a business.

It all started with three ingredients: beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil.



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Uses for Beeswax

For the month of August 2010, customers will receive a small block of pure beeswax with their order.

So what do you do with it?

1.) Just enjoy the scent. It's a sweet pick-me-up throughout the day.

2.) Make a tea light candle.  I used a mini cupcake pan as a mold. If you have one, plop the beeswax in yours and place over a heat source. Once it begins to melt, carefully put a wick in place and remove pan from heat. Make sure the wick stays in place as it cools and hardens, and don't touch the melted beeswax! Once at room temperature, place in freezer so that the candle will pop out easily.

3.) Wax wood: heat equal parts beeswax, linseed oil, and turpentine. Use a burlap cloth to apply. This idea was found here, along with these other wonderful uses: unstick a drawer, condition a wood cutting board, and waterproof leather.

4.) Finally, use it as a moisturizer. Here's a recipe I adapted to my liking. It's been great to combat the summer heat, which has really dried out my face.

FACIAL MOISTURIZER
½ ounce beeswax
2 ½  ounces coconut oil (or ½ - ¾ cup, depending on desired softness)
Place ingredients in a small, heat-proof glass jar. Using the double boiler method, melt the ingredients until in liquid form, then remove from heat. Use a wooden skewer or Popsicle stick to stir ingredients well. Let cool and use as a skin moisturizer.  Store in a cool, dry place.