Category Archives: Honey

Are You Giving It Away?

Posted on July 26, 2017 by Ron Miksha

A few days ago, I was shopping at our local co-op grocery store. As usual, I checked the price of honey. I like to use their prices as a minimum guide for honey produced by hobby beekeepers. Here in Calgary, … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Shake, Rattle, Roll: Our Little Earthquake

Posted on July 13, 2017 by Ron Miksha

I live in one of the less shaky parts of the world. I don’t think that Calgary has ever had a damaging earthquake. (Granted, the city isn’t much over a hundred years old, so it’s a short history.)  When the … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Honey, Queens, Science, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Billy Bee and Doyon – Canadian Honey Forever

Posted on April 27, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Professional Canadian beekeepers know the names of honey packers Jack Grossman and Paul Doyon. Jack started Billy Bee Honey; Paul’s label was regional (mostly Quebec) and his product was/is called Miel Doyon. During the 1970s and 1980s, I sold honey … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Honey | Tagged , , , | 11 Comments

World’s Sweetest Honey

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Ron Miksha

The April 2017 issue of the world’s best bee magazine (American Bee Journal) published a piece written by your favourite bee-blogger (me).  My article is called America’s Sweetest Honey. In it, I describe why honey from different flowers tastes different. … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey, Movies, Science | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Judgement Day for Aggie Days

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Calgary (Alberta, Canada) has an annual “Aggie Days” with goat-milking, sheep-shearing, rope-making, corn-mazing, and bee-keeping on display. As our city becomes larger (about 1.2 million now) and less connected with its farming and ranching roots, it becomes almost a novelty … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Friends, Honey, Outreach | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

A Cold Canadian Wedding

Posted on March 17, 2017 by Ron Miksha

I’ve been preoccupied. My oldest son’s wedding was on the weekend. I’m sharing a couple of pictures. The bride’s family came from Colombia. Because of work, they were only able to visit for a week.  I was disappointed that we … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, Friends, Honey | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Maple Syrup is Dark

Posted on February 26, 2017 by Ron Miksha

It’s February. Maple syrup time in Quebec. The saps are flowing! I live in western Canada (no maple syrup trees here on the windy prairies) so I don’t think a lot about the sugar tapping going on at the moment … Continue reading →

Posted in Honey, Strange, Odd Stuff | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

This Cat Don’t Eat Honey

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Humans can taste one drop of sucrose (table sugar) diluted in 150 parts water. A honey bee outranks our sugar sensitivity six-times over: about one part in a thousand and the bee is on it. What about Puff, the cat? … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, or lack thereof, History, Honey | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Beekeeper Royally Stung

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Ron Miksha

A rather sad story today. Sad on several levels. A couple of months ago, we learned that “Prince Charles’ beekeeper” was charged with using a prohibited chemical in his hives. The chemical is a medication used throughout North America and … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Diseases and Pests, Honey, Save the Bees | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments

One more thing about Chinese honey. . .

Posted on January 19, 2017 by Ron Miksha

Occasionally, we take honey from the hive too early. It’s bad honey – some beekeepers call it “green”. High in moisture, and maybe not fully enzymatically converted by the bees. Nectar is ‘wet’ – sometimes 90% water and just 10% … Continue reading →

Posted in Beekeeping, Hive Products, Honey, Science | Tagged , , , , | 14 Comments