We couldn't go without mentioning all the extra stuff we do around here- because its all equally important, but not the star of the show like the other things we have. We do offer and sell most of these featured here as well, and you can find more availability on our Facebook page.
Honeybees are one of the most complex little creatures around. Not all bees are the same, and not all bees produce honey. They're called honeybees for a reason- and its all about the nectar and pollination process. Bees are super important because they are responsible for one third of the world's food supply as well as the survival of plants and trees. Honeybees pollinate more than $15 billion worth of crops in the US each year and those crops grow on about 3.5 million acres.
There are 3 main types of bees within each colony. The Queen keeps the colony happy and strong. Her main role is to laying eggs day and night. The Drones are the only males and they don't have stingers, or collect pollen. Their only job is to mate with virgin queens from other colonies to spread around their awesome genetics. The last is the Worker bees, which are all female, and do everything else. They do the day to day jobs, raising the babies, cleaning the hive, collecting pollen and nectar, and about another thousand jobs not mentioned.
Many people think that honey is the only product of a hive, but it also produces many other amazing products like beeswax, pollen, propolis and so much more. Honeybees turn their resources into products that we want to eat, collect, and use. But we always want to make sure that the bees health and well-being comes first. We will never intentionally take their resources for survival, only the surplus.
We get asked often- when are you selling honey?! And it's so heartwarming to know the support from all our local friends. But, truth is, we just don't produce a huge amount to have the constant supply to meet the demand. Our family is primarily refined sugar free, so honey is what we use a lot in the kitchen, and Jake makes mead for his own personal collection (mead: a sweet wine made with honey instead of sugar)- much after that we do have honey for sale, but its in small, limited quantities throughout the summer. So again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support; and check back often, because when its ready, it doesn't last long.
Interested in starting your own apiary?
Its certainly and investment so make sure you take your time learning! We always suggest finding a local beekeeping class either in person or virtually. Check out our podcasts we've done on this! If you can, join your local beekeeping association group. Partnering up with a mentor is a great way to learn first hand! The average beekeeper is only in this hobby for an average of 3 years so don't get discouraged! Knowledge is power and this is a learning curve that is always expanding an oh so worth it.
The list keeps going as far as what we raise. Pekin ducks and Great Pyrenees Livestock Guardian dogs. They don't have their own spotlight page to themselves (yet) but still worth mentioning.
Pekin Ducks- Over the years we have shifted our ducks into what fits our family best. We started with egg layers like Rouens, Khakis, and Cayugas. The size was fine for processing but knew we could get better. Then we moved towards meaty Muscovies. While the Muscovies were bigger, they did fly, had no concept of personal space but also didn't have much of that amazing duck fat. Which led us to Pekin ducks. Unlike meat chickens that have serious health issues if kept longer than their anticipated butcher date, these can be kept around like normal ducks! Under the right care, they can live 8-12 years! They can lay around to 225 jumbo white eggs a year. Pekins reach their mature weight at about 8 weeks old which is around 7 pounds. Overall we have been pleasantly happy with this switch to pekin ducks. If you are wondering what you're missing out on ducks- here's a few recipes to try HERE.
Great Pyrenees- One of the best things that we have invested into our farm has been our Livestock Guardian Dogs. and while there are many breeds that can/claim to be LGD we chose our Great Pyrenees. One summer we lost around 30 chickens to a very smart fox. Soon after we researched and found our first GP, Bruno. We had not lost another to predators since getting him. A year later we got a mate, Bones and the two of them have our property locked up tight. Will we be breeding for puppies? Maybe. Our priority is education & health over wealth. Please please know that these special creatures are not like other dogs. From our experience and others, they have their animals to protect. Ours do not like to be inside. (unless it's super hot outside) They bark to deter predators and establish territories. There absolutely is a difference between protecting and excessive nuisance barking but believe me- they do bark a lot. Please keep that in mind if you have neighbors. These dogs also thrive in the winter, actually I think its the only time they're not hot. But their coat is so important and should NEVER be shaved. They will shed in the summer and bulk up in the winter. This double coat helps insulate them in the winter AND cool down in the summer. Their unique coat is also considered self cleaning- meaning they don't stay muddy and dirty for long before returning to a beautiful white coat. But they still need to be brushed regularly to avoid matting. Another hard lesson was that their territory isn't limited by your property/fences. GPs can easily cover miles and acres to defend their homestead. And since they have a very strong natural instinct its hard to conform their stubborn ways to OUR ways. Hear me? They're stubborn and hard headed! ;) Our huge point is, ANY dog will thrive when given his/her correct job for their individual breed, please research your needs and what dog will fit that. Please do not expect a GP to be an inside only lap dog- are there some out there? Of course, but it's the exception not the rule. We want to keep LGD and GP out of the shelters by explaining what they are so they can be set up for success. And they're a HUGE benefit to us and our farm.