Is there a market here in the area for..

[srkruzich]

Hi y'all,

I am fixign to build up some beehives this year and need to find out where i want to go with it.  Is there a market here in the area for locally produced honey?
I was thinking i'll have several thngs i can do with this.

I can produce honey of course, sell it by the pound/quart/gallon
Beeswax for candlemaking soapmaking, cosmetics
propalis for medical industry
bee therapy for arthrits patients
bees for new hives
pollination services for folks growing alfalfa, veggies, ect....

I was wondering if the area would support a local grower of honey.

Thanks

[Tobina+1]

As you can tell from other posts around the forum; the majority of people in this county/area are VERY supportive of all local businesses.  Local businesses who support other local businesses are even better.  You've got a great grocery store who is willing to sell local grocery items, as well as provide you with supplies you may need.  You've got a local pharmacy that supplies most of the surrounding 2+ counties with pharmacy items.  You've got a local soap-maker who might be interested in using some of your products to make hers.  Buy local, sell local.  Become involved in local programs, groups, etc, to get your name and business information out even more.

[indygal]

Steve, I don't think you can go wrong raising bees. They're vitally important and these days of even greater value. I would certainly buy locally produced honey if it were readily available. If Julie would be willing to carry it, even better!

[sixdogsmom]

This sure brings back memories; my dad used to keep bees. The entire family was involved in that project from start to finish. I helped my dad gather up a swarming hive one time; we did it with no protection since it was newly settled swarm and still full from the mother hive. When they get ready to swarm they gorge with honey and cannot bend over to sting. Kind of like us after the Thanksgiving feast. We also used to help with the honey extraction. First we sterilized everything that would touch the honey, covered our hair and hung sheets at the doorways to help keep the mess confined to one room. We extracted two frames at a time into a barrel by uncapping the frames on both sides and sliding them into a frame that was somewhat like an ice cream dasher. One person would turn the handle until tired, and believe me those full frames of honey could be heavy. Honey got airborn in the process, and everything had a fine coat of the sticky stuff. The hair on our arms was standing up straight by the time we finished. Hard work but worth it. Dad always tried to put a hive at a field of milkweed for the family. There was not so much honey but it was milky white and not strong at all the way alfalfa and some clovers can be. I could eat a bunch right now on top of mamas' biscuits, yum!

[W. Gray]

Ulee's Gold might just be waiting to hit Elk County.

[Catwoman]

I have heard that eating locally grown honey helps with allergies...That might be a good selling point! 

[srkruzich]

  well i am going for it.  I have bees on order!   Yes local honey does help with allergen, but bee pollen is best for local allergens.  That is not hard to obtain either but one thing at a time.   

I haven't seen that with milkweed before sixdogs,  I might have to try that sometime    I used to get exclusively Sourwood honey when i lived in georgia and it was the best honey you could get  

Might have to look at making honey butter too

[srkruzich]

Ulee's Gold might just be waiting to hit Elk County.

Never saw that movie.   Thanks, i'll rent that one

[Catwoman]

By the way, SDM, I have always heard that milkweed is good at removing warts...Guess there's something in there that works.  Nice to know that it also helps produce good honey! :-)

[W. Gray]

Ulee's Gold has a dark side not connected to honey, but the scenes of getting the honey, processing it, and packing it are quite interesting.