Often,
honeybees are thought of only as producers of honey, but honeybees can do a lot
more for humans. Through creating honey and beeswax and pollinating flowers,
honeybees are able to help in every room of a house.
Kitchen
Honey can be
used in the kitchen in many different ways. To start, you can use honey on
toast, cereal, pancakes, or any number of other foods. You can also bake with
honey. One of the great things about honey is that it comes in many different
flavors. Just like the fruit from an orange tree tastes different than the
fruit from an apple tree, the honey made from an orange tree tastes different
than the honey made from an apple tree. There are 300 different flavors of
honey produced in the United States alone. Worldwide, over 3,000 different
flavors are available. These types of honey range in color from being almost
clear to being dark brown and have vastly different flavors. You can change the
flavor of the foods you make just by using different types of honey. Try the
recipe below from Gimme Some Oven
(http://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/) to start baking with honey
today!
INGREDIENTS:
·
1 cup (dry) oatmeal
·
2/3
cup toasted coconut flakes
·
1/2
cup peanut butter
·
1/2
cup ground flax seed
·
1/2
cup chocolate chips or cacao nibs (optional)
·
1/3
cup honey or agave nectar
·
1
tablespoon chia seeds (optional)
·
1
teaspoon vanilla extract
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Stir all
ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Cover and
let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour.
2.
Once chilled, roll
into balls of whatever size you would like. (Mine were about 1" in
diameter.) Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to
1 week.
3.
Makes about 20-25
balls.
Bedroom
Pollination is a process
honeybees undergo to help crops grow. One crop honeybees pollinate is cotton.
Without honeybees, there would be less cotton in the world. Take a look at the
sheets on your bed and the clothes in your closet. A lot of the things you use
every day are made from cotton. You can thank honeybees every morning that you
wake up and put on a cotton shirt!
Bathroom
Did you know honey
can be used to treat small cuts and burns? Honey is antibacterial, so putting
some honey and a Band-Aid on a small cut will keep it from getting infected.
The honey will also keep your skin soft and help it heal quickly. Honey can
also be used in products such as shampoo, conditioner, and face wash. Honey is
full of vitamins and minerals and can be used to keep your hair and skin
healthy and soft. Rumor has it that Cleopatra bathed in milk and honey to keep
her skin healthy and beautiful. In addition, beeswax can be used in products
such as lip balm and lotion to further soften your skin. Try this simple recipe
from Dr. Axe (http://draxe.com/homemade-honey-citrus-shampoo/) to begin your
journey of using honey in the bathroom!
INGREDIENTS:
·
1
cup water
·
5
drops lemon essential oil
·
5
drops melaleuca essential oil
DIRECTIONS:
1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and
mix well
2. Transfer to a container. Mix well
before each use
The Rest of the
House
Beeswax is used to
make many things including wood polish and candles. Look around your house for
wood floors, tables, and chairs. All of it can be kept looking nice by using
beeswax wood polish. Now search your house for candles. Beeswax candles burn
brighter and longer than candles made from other waxes. Do you own any candles
made from beeswax?
Honeybees are tiny
creatures with a mighty job. They help humans in endless ways every single day!
Be sure to thank the honeybees next time you use something they helped make!
