Sallygarden Smallholding - The Forum For Sustainable Living

What things do other people make from their hive products?

I have used the honey and wax in soap making, it produces a beautifully aromatic bar of soap. It also contains all those wonderful healing properties that we don't yet have a full grasp on ... pollen, propolis and wax, maybe even a little bee venom!

I also make a bar of skin balm by mixing 50/50 beeswax and avocado oil, along with 4 drops of chamomile essential oil. This works as a brilliant healing balm for very dry hands ... they cure my 'gardening' hands dried from clay soil, and they heal my husbands hands .. he gets 'chaps' of skin peeling down the sides of nails in cold weather which is very painful. This beeswax skin balm the only thing that cures and prevents it.

This year I'd like to make some beeswax candles and read up more on apitherapy ... the healing power of hive products.

What do you make? And what would you like to make in the future?

My girlfriend has has some luck making lip balm, and has also made some beeswax candles. She was dissapointed that she had to buy the beeswax sheets from the store and is looking forward to trying again with raw wax. I am betting I'll be getting into the beekeeping 'business' pretty soon.

Cheers