A blog by WasteNott volunteer Aisha Blake
Honey honey honey… so sweet with tastes so very delectably different, depending on where the bees have been feeding.
Honey varies vastly, carrying lovely floral scents and tastes from citrus to lavender, and everything in between. Most local natural honey holds a multitude of benefits, including antioxidants and nutrients along with anti-bacterial qualities. Honey is a staple we should keep well stocked in our pantries throughout the seasons.
Quality local honey can be very beneficial to diet and used as medicine. The benefits of internal consumption and external application are well documented.
Health benefits
Used to aid digestion, and decrease acidity, it can do wonders for lubrication, easing of colic, dry cough, and throat inflammation. Used externally for burns and wound healing it is a staple for your first aid kit – bind an infected area with a honey-soaked dressing for 24 hours and allow it to work its healing magic
Daily use of quality pure honey can aid in the prevention of colds and allergies and help the lymphatic system flow at its normal rate. Couple this with a lymphatic massage and you’re on your way to a simply sweet self-care routine.
Local supplier
Luckily enough, Waste Nott has access to a long-standing ethical beekeeper who has graciously supplied us for the past five years with a steady supply of subtly sweet honey from her garden of hives.
Marie and her bees started their journey together thirteen years ago when she agreed to house bees in her garden for a local beekeeper. But after a few visits the previous owner disappeared. Marie had the option of handing the bees over to another beekeeper or enrolling on a local beginner beekeeping course.
After a winter of trial and error, the following spring brought about a nucleus of bees, Marie has continued to expand ever since. She now manages nine hives, home to half a million bees at high season.
Marie keeps her bees in her garden, sells surplus honey and donates the proceeds to the charity Marys Meals of Malawi. This charity helps the poorest children attend school by providing them with one simple meal per day, made using locally produced food where possible. Just three large jars of Marie’s honey will provide meals for a child in school for one whole year.
She also supplies honey to a local bakery, a wholefood shop and a church, as well as selling direct from home. From runny honey to cut comb and wax blocks – if you’d like to support Nottingham’s small business scene, why not consider Marie’s Woodthorpe honey when choosing a gift for a friend or family member?
Marie’s contributions to communities in Nottingham and as far as Malawi are greatly appreciated, changing lives for the better and supporting nature in continuing to give as it intended. We will endeavour to keep supporting Marie and her bees at Waste Nott.
Refill at Waste Nott
Honey has a long-standing place in history and is as important today as it has ever been. It is a staple in our supermarkets and now more local beekeepers are collecting and sharing their produce within their towns and communities, encouraging its use for the reduction of allergy symptoms and to support the immune system. Purchasing from your local supplier ensures ethical practices, more nutritional bang for your buck and helps with communal and economic growth.