Oh honey, have we got a surprise for you...

We have an exciting announcement here at Local Zero that we are all buzzing about!

The bees have been busy at Kirk House Farm producing the most delicious honey around. This means our new partner, Nigel (The Clatford Beekeeper/ Kirk House Farm Honey), is ready to supply us with honey to be delivered direct to your door. 

Kirk House Farm is located in Goodworth Clatford alongside the river Anton. An idyllic location for a huge range of fauna and flora, which surrounds the famous chalk stream.  

     

 

Each batch of honey is from individual hives, meaning the natural variations are persevered from hive to jar. As we move from season to season, the floras change and this can impact colour, brightness, clarity and taste of the honey! Nigel explains simply:  

“What the bees have collected (nectar and pollen) is preserved in order to maximise all the taste and health benefits. After taking the honey framers off the hives, the only thing we do to the honey is to remove from the honey comb then filter out debris like wax.”  

So once the bees have done their ‘thing’, and the honey has been collected and filtered, the honey is then jarred as clear (runny) honey or turned into soft set honey. Whether you enjoy your honey on toast, in your tea as a natural sweetener, or on your pancakes, Kirk House Farm supplies honey how nature intended! 

Nigel also explains how he makes soft set honey: 

“Soft Set Honey is made using the Dyce method where a small quantity of already granulated honey is added so that the jar takes on the smooth texture rather than setting spoon bending hard in the jar.” 

We thought, what better way to celebrate our new partnership, than with some facts and uses for honey! 

• Ever wondered if bees sleep? Well, the answer is no. However, they remain motionless when not collecting pollen to preserve energy for the next day.  
• Did you know, only female bees and the Queen can sting! There are only 2 reasons why a bee might sting; to protect their colony or when frightened. So keep out of their way, and they’ll keep out of yours. 

• According to The Beekeepers Association, in the height of summer, there can be an average of 35,000-40,000 bees in a single hive, which drops to approx. 5,000 in the winter.  

 

Here are some unusual uses for honey, that you may not know about: 

1. Honey can be used on burns, to prevent infection and increase healing time. There are also studies to show it helps reduce scarring after burns.  

1. Honey could be effective in helping soothe symptoms of psoriasis, a common skin condition. A study conducted involving mixing honey, olive oil and beeswax found most participants experienced a reduction in redness, scaling and itching. (It is always best to speak to a dermatologist first, though!) 

1. You can use honey as a home remedy for a common cold. For a sore throat, try a spoonful of honey. When the cold virus hits you, add honey to hot water with some lemon, to help soothe symptoms.  

We’re very excited about our new partnership and now we have seen some of these amazing facts, honey is going to be top of our shopping list this week!  

Got your taste buds tingling? Why not try some locally produced natural honey from Kirk House Farm, delivered FREE by Local Zero? 

You can SHOP HERE, and be the first to try delicious, velvety honey; local sourced and sustainable buying.