Welcome, to All About the Buzz. If you love bees and honey and are passionate about products made from natural ingredients, you are in the right place. I am Vickie, and I can’t wait to share what I do and brag about some of the fantastic products I offer. I can’t take all the credit; that should go to the bees. They rule the roost…. or should that be the hive!
I am a small local beekeeper selling 100% pure raw natural honey from my own beehives in Chettisham, right on the doorstep of the beautiful cathedral city of Ely. My bees are not intensely farmed as I keep them for pleasure; I only harvest the excess honey leaving the bees to live as naturally as possible. That makes me and the bees happy. I use the excess honey to create a range of products – shampoo bars, bath bombs, hand creams – the list goes on, and they can all be found right here. My bees forage mainly on wildflowers from the 250 acres of meadow they are sited on together with seasonal florals such as hedgerow blossom, orchard blossom, oil seed rape, field bean crops and garden flowers. They are spoilt for choice.
My honey is full of local pollen; it has not been blended, filtered or treated and comes straight from the hives, which means it is pure natural goodness with zero chemicals. My products are also handmade in small batches, ensuring zero waste which fits with the whole ethos of my business. If you are looking for a gift in bio-degradable packaging and refillable jars, then you are in luck.
‘Every day, I learn something new. It is exciting to learn what and how to make natural skin care from beeswax and honey. Each new soap, cream or balm excites my creative side, and I am always humbled by how my customers receive these products. I would never have dreamed how my hobby would expand, and I can only thank my customers for their interest and continued support.’
I love my bees…yep, they are well and truly pampered. I am not a fiddly beekeeper; what I mean is that although I look after my bees, I’m not constantly opening the hives up, poking about in their colonies, or swopping brood frames to make them work harder. As much as I can, I leave them to their own devices, allowing them to do what comes naturally. Yes, their honey is part of my business; but if they have their own stores, then they are happier and, in my opinion, healthier bees.
Each year I am fascinated to see the colour and texture of the honey that my bees produce. Depending on what they feed on – rapeseed, wildflower or bean flowers – the colour and taste can change dramatically. As I recently moved my apiary to sit on wildflower meadows, I am looking forward to seeing (and tasting) this year’s harvest…and sharing it with you.
As the business grows, I want to expand my product range and learn more about the health benefits of honey. I am continually learning, which is a pleasure – and honour – for me. My dream is to educate others about bees, pollinators and what and how they help the world…especially the next generation of bee lovers and honey makers! Watch this space; hopefully, you will be by my side, sharing the growth of my business with me.
Bees are fascinating insects; without them, our world would be a very sorry place. Every third mouthful of food would not be possible without these amazing winged insects pollinating the plants that grow the food we eat – every bee is precious, so let’s look after them.
