 |
Iowa Honey Producers Association |
The Buzz Newsletter June 2006 |
 |
|
Featured Beekeeper This month our featured beekeepers are Jim Nedtwig and Beth Henning. They live in Des Moines, Iowa. Jim produces honey for friends and family. Explaining how and why he started keeping bees Jim writes and says, “I began beekeeping in 1993, shortly after buying 90 acres of land in NW Guthrie County. Charles Carpenter and David Toussain (Prairie Song Apiary) kindly helped me get started, and donated hive boxes. Bob Cox’s beekeeping class was also a great help. A book sale yielded a copy of Frank Pellet’s 1920 book American Honey Plants, which documented the value of native plants as sources of pollen and nectar. I found that these plants, well adapted to the area, thrived in spite of my limited horticultural abilities. Restoration of the land has become a life long project. The old neglected pasture I purchased in 1993 is beginning to dress up in its’ Sunday best-the handsome and diverse prairie/savanna plant community that lit the area prior to European settlement. I guess you could say beekeeping is the catalyst that helped me discover the lost beauty of Iowa. Oh, and the bees really like it, too”. Jim says the establishment of late summer/fall blooming native plants has greatly reduced fall feeding requirements. Thanks for your story Jim. Keep enjoying nature. Submitted by Ron Wehr
The months come and go faster and faster. I can’t believe that it has already been seven months since I was crowned the Iowa Honey Queen. Along with that, I have officially graduated from Wapsie Valley High School. My time there was amazing and I wouldn’t have traded it for anything but now it is time to move on to bigger and better things. Though May was extremely busy with Confirmations, graduation parties, and a trip to Chicago to name a few, I now have a little more time to go out and meet people. I already have a few activities scheduled for June including a summer field day on June 16. This event will be held at Camp Ingawanis near Waverly, Iowa. This event is directed towards children grades kindergarten through sixth grade; parents are also encouraged to attend the event. Throughout the day, there will be many activities with a few breaks and then lunch. Some of the topics will include: the bees’ societal makeup, how honey is made, the bee dances, and an observation hive for them to look at. Hands on equipment will also be available for them to see such as frames, supers, and a bee suit. This is a general idea of what the day will be like; we will finalize the plans as the date approaches. If you have any questions or are interested in attending feel free to contract me. I will also be visiting several grocery stores during the first couple weeks of June. While there, I will be passing out honey samples, recipes, and of course spreading the word about honey. I look forward to all of the opportunities I have and would love to help out in anyway. If you have anything you would like help with or want me to attend an event, don’t hesitate to call, that is what I am here for. Until then, my home number is (319) 279 - 3892 or you might have better luck calling my cell phone at (319) 269 – 7212. Sincerely,
1890 Honey Cake 5 glasses flour Separate eggs. Mix yellows and sugar until smooth and fluffy. Gradually add flour (sifted), baking powder, and bicarb soda then gradually add glass of seltzer, coffee, honey, oil, walnuts, and lemon rind. Beat egg whites until snowy and fold in at very end gently. Put 1/2 glass of walnuts on top of batter. Bake at 325 degree oven. Test with straw if dry. A glass is an old fashioned finger glass. One glass is equivalent to 1 cup. Recipe from cooks.com
|
|
|
 |