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Iowa Honey Producers Association |
The Buzz Newsletter February 2005 |
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Honey lady’s sweet-tasting recipes By Gene Lucht CUMBERLAND -- Farmers markets in this part of the state have been buzzing about Donna Brahms' recipes for a long time. She is, after all, the honey lady. Brahms and her husband, Michael, run 3 Bee Honey Farm, a small operation nestled in the rolling hills of West Central Iowa. Like most of Iowa's approximately 600 honey producers, they fly under the radar, sweetening the state's economy and environment but not gathering much attention. The Brahmses' small honey operation is looking to expand. "We need more hives," Donna says. She is president of the state Honey Producers Association while Mike is a district director. The business started nearly 14 years ago when Mike and his father were discussing the idea as a way to diversify their small farm. They got supplies and bees and learned from scratch. The name of the operation came from the three generations involved -- Donna and Mike; his father; and their three sons, Shawn, Steven and Mitchell. Two of the sons are now in the military while the third builds bridges. But, Mike and Donna are still running the honey operation, and Mike works off the farm for a company that builds bridges. "We just kind of learned as we progressed," Donna says of their efforts in the honey business. Of course, there are several aspects to being a beekeeper. One is the production of honey and honey products. That's where most beekeepers earn their keep. Some just sell generic barrels of honey to larger honey processors. "They don't want to mess with the retail side of it," Donna says. At 3 Bee Honey Farm, the emphasis is on that retailing
end. They go to six farmers markets, selling liquid honey, comb
honey, cream honey (which is spreadable like butter), pollen (as
a health supplement), hand lotion and lip balm, candles, and snack
mix with a honey coating. But, there is one other way some beekeepers make money -- by renting their hives to producers of fruits or vegetables. The reason, of course, is many crops need bees to help in pollination. Because of that, some beekeepers will take their hives south to Texas or west to California during the winter. That can bring in money and allow the hives to stay active and grow during those months. Otherwise, most hives in Iowa are nearly dormant in the winter and need reviving in the spring. Honey production here essentially stops for most hives during the winter. But, Brahms is excited about the future of honey production in Iowa. She is disappointed state budget cuts led to elimination of the state apiarist position. But, she is experimenting with new recipes, such as a mead (essentially a honey wine) that she is hoping to produce in greater amounts next year. And, she says the Honey Producers Association offers some great possibilities for farmers to diversify their operations. More information about the association is available at www.abuzzaboutbees.com. The Iowa Department of Agriculture also offers a honey producers directory on its Web site, www.agriculture.state.ia.us/. Meanwhile, Brahms encourages cooks to experiment
with honey. Recipes might need to be altered slightly because
of the liquid rather than crystalline nature of honey, as opposed
to sugar. But, she says it can provide a good taste to food. And,
she says some honey producers can even provide specialty honeys
that have very specific flavors, thanks partly to separating honey
taken from pollination of different crops. Reprinted from The Iowa Farmer Today; www.iowafarmertoday.com Submitted by Gale Urquhart
New District Directors IHPA is happy to announce two new District Directors.
Vernie Ramsey is now the director for district #1, and Louise
Johnson is the director for district #2. Contact information is
listed on the back page of the Buzz if you need to contact either
of them.
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