Products From The Hive

If what they say is true about busy hands being happy hands, then Bill from Tolland must be the happiest guy in the County.  He's got his hands in a slew of various projects, and bee keeping is one of them.  Another project of Bill's is filling the role of President and Founder of Opportunity Works Inc. of Connecticut.  His interest and goal is to create jobs for people with disabilities.

I asked Bill how he got started working with bees and he explained that it started out as a 4-H project which involved getting him and his son interested in doing something together.  For those who may not know, 4-H, in the United States, is a youth organization adminstered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture whose mission is "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development."  Their motto is "To make the best better," while their slogan is "Learn by doing".

For the last 20 years Bill and his son Ryan have operated their business together, tending to 30 hives and harvesting the honey and beeswax to create products like honey, bee pollen (often referred to as nature's most complete food), and a variety of beeswax candles.  Did you know that the honey bee is the only insect that produces food eaten by man?

Bill and Ryan both rave about this sweet business of theirs.  The creamed honey, the honey-filled hard candy, their honey stix...what a yummy line of work!  Did you know that it takes the nectar and pollen from 2 million flowers to make one pound of honey?

There are many benefits, uses and ways to take bee pollen, too many to mention here.  However, did you know that bee pollen is approximately 25% complete protein, containing at least 18 amino acids?  Bee pollen also provides more than a dozen vitamins, 28 minerals, and 11 carbohydrates, not to mention that it is low in calories -- all while tasting delicious. Bee pollen has been found to strenghten the immune system, rejuvenate the body, stimulate organs and glands and bring about a longer life span, at the same time increasing sex drive.  Okay, that does it!  I'm going on a honey diet...

Jimmy Halloran is Co-Owner of ConnecticutHandiworks.com, an online retailer featuring handcrafted items made in Connecticut.

jimmy130@live.com  /  860.942.7571  / 

PO Box 26 Hampton, CT.

  06247