Dearest Honeybee Helpers,
Our team has a brand new challenge! The theme of the challenge is "LOVE."
Your challenge item can be love interpreted quite literally, with pinks, reds, hearts, and very-Valentine, etc. It could also be an item designed for a wedding. It could be an item modeled after something (or someone) that you love- such as, if you love nature, you could do an eco-friendly item. If you love bees (and I'm sure you do!), you could do any item you like and donate the proceeds to a CCD research to show your love for bees.
The list of ideas incorporating love is endless!
The challenge entries are due by February 14.
Please take pictures of your challenge entry, and then post them on the Ning or here on the blog (or both), with a short paragraph about the item.
On February 15, I'll post all the challenge entries here on the blog together and then we'll start a poll and vote on them. Whoever wins the challenge gets a special surprise :)
Part of the prize is still TBD, but you'll get a small gift from me at the very least.
Even if you're posted and sold your item before the due date of February 14, of course it will still be in the running so we can vote on it.
On the Etsy Gift Guides, there are a bunch of ideas in the "Season of Love" category so if you're feeling stuck, check that out!
Buzzin' on home now,
-Samantha
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
BEE Green Tip! NO MORE PLASTIC WATER BOTTLES!
Buy yourself a reusable bottle and fill it up from the tap at home. If the taste of your tap water is unsatisfactory, you may be able to purchase an inexpensive filter to improve the taste.
The Earth Policy Institute estimates that it takes about 1.5 MILLION barrels of oil to make the plastic water bottles Americans use each year. And 77% of those end up in a landfill.
WHAT A WASTE!
These reusable Sigg bottles have gotten great reviews online, and unlike the plastic bottles, they DON'T leach dangerous chemicals into your drink!
www.mysigg.com
This one is even black and yellow, which is a great reminder (for anyone who cares about bees, and if you're reading this blog, I hope you do!) that a cleaner environment is better for the bees!
Another great thing about having a reusable bottle is that you can take it anywhere. You can bring an empty one to the airport, and then fill it up from a drinking fountain after you pass through security. This eliminates waste from bottles on the airplane during beverage service. And in case you didn't already know, a lot of airlines are now charging for the drinks they serve- soda, tea, coffee, juice, and yes- water.
This bottle will pay for itself in no time!
Sigg offers many sizes of bottles, so if carrying around a big liter bottle seems a bit daunting, they also offer smaller bottles.
There are other companies on amazon.com and a few other sites that offer similar bottles to the Sigg bottle, so you can look around for a great bargain from different brands. Just be sure that it's made from something that won't leach chemicals into your drink!
BEE GREEN!
The Earth Policy Institute estimates that it takes about 1.5 MILLION barrels of oil to make the plastic water bottles Americans use each year. And 77% of those end up in a landfill.
WHAT A WASTE!
These reusable Sigg bottles have gotten great reviews online, and unlike the plastic bottles, they DON'T leach dangerous chemicals into your drink!
www.mysigg.com
This one is even black and yellow, which is a great reminder (for anyone who cares about bees, and if you're reading this blog, I hope you do!) that a cleaner environment is better for the bees!
Another great thing about having a reusable bottle is that you can take it anywhere. You can bring an empty one to the airport, and then fill it up from a drinking fountain after you pass through security. This eliminates waste from bottles on the airplane during beverage service. And in case you didn't already know, a lot of airlines are now charging for the drinks they serve- soda, tea, coffee, juice, and yes- water.
This bottle will pay for itself in no time!
Sigg offers many sizes of bottles, so if carrying around a big liter bottle seems a bit daunting, they also offer smaller bottles.
There are other companies on amazon.com and a few other sites that offer similar bottles to the Sigg bottle, so you can look around for a great bargain from different brands. Just be sure that it's made from something that won't leach chemicals into your drink!
BEE GREEN!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
A Good Sign -- Dead Bees!
It has been snowing in central Pennsylvannia and last time I went out to the hive there were several dead bees on the ground. I smiled. My bees are alive!
In winter the hive is ghostly quiet and appears to be dead. But inside the bees have huddled into a cluster surrounding the queen. They maintain a temp of 90F by muscle contractions. Basically they’re shivering to produce heat. Maintaining the cluster at all costs, bees carry and pass honey from the perimeter to the center. They cannot leave its warmth to seek out stores farther away in the hive. They can starve to death just inches from honey. Dedicated unconditionally to colony welfare, a starving bee will pass the last drop of honey forward rather than consume it.
On sunny days some bees will fly outside to defecate since they are fastidious when it comes to cleanliness within the hive. Unfortunately, just because the sun is out doesn’t mean they’ll make it back without falling to the ground, particularly when the temps are still barely above freezing.
I must wait till spring to inspect the hive, but these bee losses are usually a sign of a healthy colony.
Keeping warm,
Lorrie (Honeybeads)
In winter the hive is ghostly quiet and appears to be dead. But inside the bees have huddled into a cluster surrounding the queen. They maintain a temp of 90F by muscle contractions. Basically they’re shivering to produce heat. Maintaining the cluster at all costs, bees carry and pass honey from the perimeter to the center. They cannot leave its warmth to seek out stores farther away in the hive. They can starve to death just inches from honey. Dedicated unconditionally to colony welfare, a starving bee will pass the last drop of honey forward rather than consume it.
On sunny days some bees will fly outside to defecate since they are fastidious when it comes to cleanliness within the hive. Unfortunately, just because the sun is out doesn’t mean they’ll make it back without falling to the ground, particularly when the temps are still barely above freezing.
I must wait till spring to inspect the hive, but these bee losses are usually a sign of a healthy colony.
Keeping warm,
Lorrie (Honeybeads)
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Weekly Green Tip: Gray Water!
Another great tip from my Page-A-Day green living calendar:
"Leave a bucket (with a handle) in the shower to fill up with 'gray water while you lather up, or to bail out your bath when you've finished soaking. This water is perfect for plants (except for anything you plan to eat), the lawn, or washing the car. "
So don't use the water on herbs :)
"Leave a bucket (with a handle) in the shower to fill up with 'gray water while you lather up, or to bail out your bath when you've finished soaking. This water is perfect for plants (except for anything you plan to eat), the lawn, or washing the car. "
So don't use the water on herbs :)
Sunday, January 11, 2009
MEMBERS! Weekly Chats!
PSA to the members of the team!
We'll now be having weekly chats every Wednesday at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
To attend the chats, go to www.Etsy.com, and then click "Community." Then click "Chat."
The team chat room will be called Honeybee Helpers Chat. It will be password protected and the password can be found on Ning!
I understand that there will be some who can't make that time each week, as it's so hard to accommodate everyone's schedule. But if you can make it, please stop in! Even if you can only stay a few minutes, that would be great- that way if we're discussing something specific, you can give us your input, then be on your way.
Also if you go to Etsy Chat close to 2:00 and don't see the chat room anywhere, absolutely feel free to start the room. It's pretty easy.
If any earth-shattering things are discussed or decided during the chats, if I am there I will try and post a summary here on the blog and on Ning.
-Samantha
We'll now be having weekly chats every Wednesday at 2:00 PM Eastern Standard Time.
To attend the chats, go to www.Etsy.com, and then click "Community." Then click "Chat."
The team chat room will be called Honeybee Helpers Chat. It will be password protected and the password can be found on Ning!
I understand that there will be some who can't make that time each week, as it's so hard to accommodate everyone's schedule. But if you can make it, please stop in! Even if you can only stay a few minutes, that would be great- that way if we're discussing something specific, you can give us your input, then be on your way.
Also if you go to Etsy Chat close to 2:00 and don't see the chat room anywhere, absolutely feel free to start the room. It's pretty easy.
If any earth-shattering things are discussed or decided during the chats, if I am there I will try and post a summary here on the blog and on Ning.
-Samantha
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Bee Kind, Bee Green
A lot of scientists and researchers have been suggesting the frightening idea that the honeybee here on Earth is the equivalent of a canary in a coal mine... And that the disappearance of honeybees is a sign that something is very, very wrong with our planet: Global Warming. Climate Change. Call it whatever you like, it's not good for anyone.
Here's a great article with a lot of facts- http://blog.targethealth.com/?p=58
I've heard the phrase, "Bee keeping is Planet keeping" so I thought it would be interesting and relevant to provide some greener-living tips on the blog- hopefully as a weekly thing. You can even look at the weekly tips as a personal challenge if you are following the blog- with each weekly tip, if you aren't already doing what the tip suggests, then find a way to get started!
This week's tip from Page-A-Day Calendars (from January 2):
"If you're a carnivore, aim to cut your meat intake in half this year. Meat takes more resources to produce than other forms of protein, so it's an inefficient source of fuel."
For an example of the resources to produce a pretty common food, here's an article about the carbon footprint (energy that it takes) to create a cheeseburger. The article goes into detail about just how much energy it takes to actually raise a cow to an age where it is be old enough to be slaughtered- how much food that cow will need to eat and how much energy is needed to feed the cow- and also gives an estimate of how much methane gas that cow will produce while it is alive.
This is just one example of one kind of food and one kind of meat.
Here's a great article with a lot of facts- http://blog.targethealth.com/?p=58
I've heard the phrase, "Bee keeping is Planet keeping" so I thought it would be interesting and relevant to provide some greener-living tips on the blog- hopefully as a weekly thing. You can even look at the weekly tips as a personal challenge if you are following the blog- with each weekly tip, if you aren't already doing what the tip suggests, then find a way to get started!
This week's tip from Page-A-Day Calendars (from January 2):
"If you're a carnivore, aim to cut your meat intake in half this year. Meat takes more resources to produce than other forms of protein, so it's an inefficient source of fuel."
For an example of the resources to produce a pretty common food, here's an article about the carbon footprint (energy that it takes) to create a cheeseburger. The article goes into detail about just how much energy it takes to actually raise a cow to an age where it is be old enough to be slaughtered- how much food that cow will need to eat and how much energy is needed to feed the cow- and also gives an estimate of how much methane gas that cow will produce while it is alive.
This is just one example of one kind of food and one kind of meat.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The Simsons raise honeybee/CCD awareness!
Season 20, episode 8: "The Burns and the Bees"
You can watch it here:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/47616/the-simpsons-the-burns-and-the-bees
Sure, it's silly- it's the Simpsons! But leave it to sweet little Lisa to take on a good cause!
I've been a Simpsons fan for years, and still remember the broadcast of the Christmas episode back when I was about 10 years old. I have enjoyed the show ever since, because it makes me laugh and usually has a good message, too.
This episode was especially well done and I will even confess, the scene with the dead bees and Groundskeeper Willy playing "Amazing Grace" on his bagpipe brought a tear to my eye.
You can watch it here:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/47616/the-simpsons-the-burns-and-the-bees
Sure, it's silly- it's the Simpsons! But leave it to sweet little Lisa to take on a good cause!
I've been a Simpsons fan for years, and still remember the broadcast of the Christmas episode back when I was about 10 years old. I have enjoyed the show ever since, because it makes me laugh and usually has a good message, too.
This episode was especially well done and I will even confess, the scene with the dead bees and Groundskeeper Willy playing "Amazing Grace" on his bagpipe brought a tear to my eye.
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