Bees for Development Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
JOURNAL
No 135 July 2020
• SOAP RECIPE • BEE TOWN • APIS FLOREA
The Journal for sustainable beekeeping 1
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
Dear friends
In this special edition we bring you a wonderful article by reader Mr Mrugank Divekar of Mumbai. Mrugank had opportunity to closely observe a nest of the little Asian honey bee Apis florea. He even managed to observe behaviour that has not been documented before – of the bees recycling their beeswax and taking it to a new nest site! Wonderful – this is the type of observation and description written by natural historians in Darwin’s time – please read his delightful description on page 8. We bring you also specially prepared recipes by topexpert soap maker Dr Sara Robb. Provided here are formulae for recipes that will work for you – whatever source of plant oils you have available. Follow the instructions carefully and you can create very high quality soap – for your own use or to market – this is an excellent way to add value to your bee products: there are always good markets for locally made, high-quality soap containing good ingredients. Beekeeping events around the world are every week being cancelled or further postponed – we endeavour to give you the new dates on page 20 – check our website which we continuously update.
Issue 135 In this issue
July 2020 page
The Robb Recipe: A flexible formulation for natural soap..... 3 A honey bee colony is a lovely sight to see.................... 8 Bees for Development – Africa .....................................12 News.......................................15 Monmouth Bee Town...............16 Bees for Development Fundraising.............................17 Book Shelf...............................18 Look Ahead.............................20 Bees for Development Connect..................................21 Bees for Development Journal Produced quarterly and sent to readers in over 130 countries Editor: Nicola Bradbear PhD Co-ordinator: Helen Jackson BSc Subscriptions cost £30 per year – see page18 for ways to pay
We know that beekeeping contributes to food and nutrition security, and many chronically poor people are now facing exceptionally hard times. We want to help you with your beekeeping, and training events. We have initiated a new WhatsApp broadcast for beekeepers and trainers working in the poorest regions: please join up – see page 21.
Nicola Bradbear Director, Bees for Development
President of Bees for Development We are delighted to announce that Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall has accepted the role of President of Bees for Development! Her Royal Highness has a sincere interest in beekeeping, with her own hives in her home garden. This year all proceeds from the sale of Her Royal Highness’s honey will be donated to Bees for Development. We sincerely appreciate this endorsement for our work and welcome Her Royal Highness to her new role.
Readers in developing countries may apply for a sponsored subscription. Apply online at www.beesfordevelopment.org Bees for Development Works to assist beekeepers in developing countries. Bees for Development Trust gratefully acknowledge: Alan & Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust, Artemis Charitable Trust, Bees for Development North America, Briogeo, Didymus Charity, E H Thorne (Beehives) Ltd, Ethiopiaid, Hiscox Foundation, Hub Cymru Africa, Millom Rotary Club, National Lottery Community Fund UK, Neal’s Yard Remedies, Red Rivers Food, Rowse Honey Ltd, The Rotary Foundation, UK Aid Direct, Wales for Africa, Welsh Government, Yasaeng Beekeeping Supplies and many other generous organisations and individuals. Copyright You are welcome to translate and/ or reproduce items appearing in Bees for Development Journal as part of our Information Service. Permission is given on the understanding that the Journal and author(s) are acknowledged, our contact details are provided in full, and you send us a copy of the item or the website address where it is used.
Bees for Development
Image © Milan Wiercx van Rhijn/Bees for Development
Welcome to this special edition of BfD Journal. In normal times we would print and post to beekeepers in 130 nations – however the world’s postal services are currently severely disrupted, and we are communicating with you this way instead. We are distributing this special edition more widely too – so more of our supporters can enjoy it this time.
Cover picture: The beginning of it all. The building blocks of the colony: wax scales coming straight from the wax glands of these worker bees. 1,100 scales like these are needed to make one gram of beeswax – imagine the work involved!
1 Agincourt Street, Monmouth NP25 3DZ, UK Tel: +44 (0)1600 714848 info@beesfordevelopment.org www.beesfordevelopment.org
Bees Development Journal 135with July The 2020 A selection of oils available forfor making natural soaps Robb Recipe. From left to right, bottom row: coconut oil and cocoa butter, top row- sunflower oil, corn oil and olive oil
Images © Sarah Robb
The Robb Recipe: A flexible formulation for natural soap Sara J Robb, Bath Potions and Verdigris Cosmetic Solutions, London, UK admin@drsararobb.info
Dr Sara Robb, a longstanding supporter of our work, offered to tell us how she makes some of the simple, beautiful soaps that she has perfected making over the years. We jumped at the chance! Sara explains the process in full in this blueprint for anyone to follow in crafting some lovely products.
the formulation of soap. Traditional cold-processed soap recipes outline the exact amounts of specific oils and fats, and substitutions are prohibited.
Natural Soap Soap is a natural cosmetic that beekeepers can make with just two ingredients: oil and hydroxide. Liquid and solid oils are transformed into soap by the chemical process called saponification. The specific oils in the formulation bestow different qualities to the finished product. Coconut oil makes soap with a good lather, while olive oil soap is emollient (moisturising), but does not lather well. These differences arise because each oil is chemically unique, a feature that also affects
Sara (centre) and her daughters Meggy Jayne (left) and Jasmine (right) busy wrapping some of Sara’s lovely soaps 3
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
The Robb Recipe is unique because you can make soaps from different oils using the same recipe - substitutions are allowed! What is more, with my method you do not need any special equipment and can use the soap the day you make it – no waiting for the soap to cure. Several optional ingredients, such as bee products and fragrance, can be added to create unique soap varieties to sell at market. This article will explain the principals of saponification, provide a description of The Robb Recipe, and to get you started, provide instructions for two soap varieties prepared with The Robb Recipe.
.129 .130 .131 .132 .133 .134 .135 .136 .137 .138 .139 .141 .143
Castor oil, Rice bran oil Shea butter Passionfruit seed oil Wheat germ oil Grapeseed oil, Rapeseed oil Sesame oil, Avocado oil, Borage oil Walnut oil Flaxseed oil, Soybean oil, Sunflower oil Almond oil, Corn oil, Peanut oil Apricot kernel oil, Cocoa butter, Neem oil Cottonseed oil Palm kernel oil Palm oil
.192
Coconut oil
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The range of Sodium Hydroxide Factors (NaOH Factors) for a selection of oils and fats. The lower the NaOH Factor, the less NaOH needed to convert that oil to soap. Coconut oil has a much higher NaOH Factor than other oils and fats, indicating more NaOH is required to saponify coconut oil than the other oils listed
Saponification
Calculating sodium hydroxide
The chemical reaction used to synthesise soap is called saponification. Mixing oil and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) starts the soap making process. Hydroxide is a strong alkali, (pH 14), giving the initial blend a high pH. As the chemical reaction progresses, soap and glycerine form and the pH falls. The final bar soap will have a pH of approximately 10.
To determine the amount of NaOH required, multiply the grams of oil in the recipe by its NaOH Factor. Below are the calculations to determine how much NaOH to use to change 100g of castor oil to soap. From the maths below, it takes 12.9g of sodium hydroxide to convert 100g of castor oil to soap and glycerin. 100g Castor Oil x 0.129 = 12.9g NaOH To determine how much NaOH is needed to saponify 100g of coconut oil using the NaOH Factor, we calculate 19.2g of NaOH is required: significantly more than needed for 100g of castor oil. 100g Coconut Oil x 0.192 = 19.2g NaOH This comparison gives us an appreciation of the importance of NaOH Factors. If 19.2g of NaOH are used to saponify 100g of castor oil, there would be an excess of 6.3g NaOH in the soap. It is imperative to avoid making soap with excess hydroxide because it will cause burns.
Saponification is the chemical synthesis of soap. The hydroxide acts like a pair of scissors and cuts the oil molecules, leading to the synthesis of soap and glycerin. During the chemical reaction, hydroxide is consumed and is not a component of the final soap.
Saponification Value
The saponification value (SAP Value) describes how much potassium hydroxide (KOH) is needed to convert one gram of oil into soap. The composition of each oil determines how much hydroxide is required to change that oil into soap. The SAP Value for coconut oil is 191mg per gram oil, while the SAP value for castor oil is 128mg per gram oil. Therefore, it takes more KOH to convert one gram of coconut oil to soap than it does to convert one gram of castor oil to soap. KOH makes soap paste which is used to make liquid soap. To make soap bars, NAOH is used in the formulation.
Super-fatting
While it is dangerous to have excess hydroxide in soap, it is desirable to make soap with a bit of excess oil. A surplus of oil, called super-fatting, makes a more gentle and moisturising soap. There are two ways to super-fat soap. The first is to add extra oil to the recipe; the second is to reduce the amount of NaOH used in the formulation. For example, using 10% less NaOH than the amount calculated with the NaOH Factor, results in 10% excess oil – soap that is 10% super-fatted.
The Sodium Hydroxide Factor
To formulate a recipe for bar soap, we need to calculate the amount of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to use. The NaOH Factor for each oil describes how many grams of NaOH is required to convert one gram of oil to soap (note the NaOH Factor is grams hydroxide per gram oil). The table following shows the NaOH Factors for a selection of oils. The values range from 0.129g of NaOH per gram oil for castor oil and rice bran oil to 0.192g of NaOH per gram oil for coconut oil. Many oils and fats fall between these values.
The Robb Recipe
The Robb Recipe is a unique cold-processed formulation allowing substitutions. Part of the formulation is fixed; do not change the quantities of lye and coconut oil. However, the other oils in the recipe are interchangeable, creating endless combinations. 4
Bees for Development Journal 135 June 2020
.129
.130
.131
.132
.133
.134
.135
.136.
.137
.138
.139
.140
.141
.142
.143
11% ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––› 15% Super-fatting of recipe. The Sodium Hydroxide Factors (NaOH Factors) of the oils listed in Robb’s Rules number 3 (below), ranging from 0.129 to 0.143, are shown on the scale above. Using any oils from the list and The Robb Recipe will result in soap that is super-fatted between 11% and 15% Being able to make substitutions in a soap recipe is an advantage for those with access to limited varieties of oils. The oils and fats available for soap making will vary geographically. In East Africa, sunflower oil might dominate the supermarket shelves, while in the Caribbean, corn and soybean oils might be predominant.
3. Add a total of 500g oil(s) from the list below (several different oils can be used but the total weight must add up to 500g). Almond Oil Palm Oil Apricot Kernel Oil Passionfruit Seed Oil Avocado Oil Peanut Oil Borage Oil Rapeseed Oil Castor Oil Rice Bran Oil Cocoa Butter Sesame Oil Corn Oil Shea Butter Cottonseed Oil Soybean Oil Flaxseed Oil Sunflower Oil Grapeseed Oil Walnut Oil Neem Oil Wheat Germ Oil Palm Kernel Oil 4. Bee products added as follows Beeswax: 15g maximum Honey: 15g maximum Propolis: 5g maximum (raw or tincture) Pollen: 5g maximum
Flexible formulation An ideal formula makes a soap that is gentle, has a good lather and is emollient. I have written a flexible recipe for Bees for Development that achieves this goal. The first ingredient is 500g of coconut oil to make a bubbly soap. To the coconut oil, add 500g oil or fat from the teble on page 4. It does not matter how many oils are mixed providing 500g of coconut oil and 500g of other oils and fats are used. To make soap with The Robb Recipe, follow the rules below and the method provided in this article.
Robb’s Rules
5. Adding fragrance, colour and botanicals Essential oils or fragrance oils: up to 15g Pigments and dyes added to colour the soap (add to the desired hue) Botanicals can be added up to 15g
1. The lye cannot be changed! Use 143g of NaOH in 260g of water. 2. The amount of coconut oil cannot be changed. Use 500g of coconut oil.
Robb recipe cards Natural Soap Lavender Lime Honey Soap Sweet Orange Protein Bar 5
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
Adding pollen to the Sweet Orange Protein Bar, gives this soap a rich, caramel colour. A honeycomb pattern was made on the bars by pressing bubble wrap onto the surface of the raw soap
Pale golden bars of Lavender Lime Honey Soap. With a refreshing scent and topped with lavender buds, this soap is a delight to use
Super-Fatting and The Robb Recipe
page 5 shows the relationship between the NaOH Factor and the levels of super-fatting in The Robb Recipe.
Unlike other soap formulations, the amount of hydroxide and coconut oil remains constant in The Robb Recipe while the other oils are variable. Consequently, the amount of super-fatting will change as the oils selected are changed.
Soap varieties made with The Robb Recipe Creating multiple soap varieties soap is possible with The Robb Recipe. Two variations are provided below. The recipe cards for Lavender Lime Honey Soap and for Sweet Orange Protein Bar are on page 5 and the bars are shown above. Although both soaps follow The Robb Recipe, they are distinctly different.
Use the calculations below to determine the amount of NaOH needed for complete saponification using 500g of coconut oil and 500g of castor oil. The coconut requires 95.9g of NaOH . The NaOH Factor of castor oil is 0.129, the smallest of the oils listed in Robb’s Rules number 3. 500g of castor oil requires 64.5g of NaOH. Added together, the total NaOH for 100% saponification for coconut and castor oil is 160.4g. The Robb Recipe calls for 143 grams NaOH, resulting in a soap that is 11% super-fatted. 500g Coconut Oil x 500g Castor Oil x
0.192 0.129 Total
= = =
Soap making equipment The two essential items required to be a successful soap maker are an accurate scale that weighs in increments of one gram and an electric hand mixer. Also, bowls, some sort of soap mould, towels, a heavy jar and spoons. – items that could be readily available in the kitchen. Importantly, gloves and goggles are needed to wear when making soap. Note: after use, plastic containers used to make soap may retain the fragrance and will no longer be suitable for food preparation and storage.
95.9g NaOH 64.5g NaOH 160.4 NaOH
143g/160.4g NaOH = 89% NaOH 11% Super-fatted Now compare the above with soap made with 500g of coconut oil and 500g of palm oil. Palm oil has the highest NaOH Factor listed in Robb’s Rules number 3. The calculations are below. The 500g of coconut requires 95.9g of NaOH. Using the NaOH Factor for palm oil (0.143), 71.5g of NaOH is necessary to convert 500g of palm oil to soap. The total NaOH required to convert both the coconut and palm oil to soap is 167.4g. The Robb Recipe uses 143g of NaOH, resulting in the coconut and palm oil soap being 15% super-fatted. 500g Coconut Oil x 500g Palm Oil x
0.192 0.143 Total
= = =
Method for making soap with The Robb Recipe Prepare the lye solution • Put on gloves and goggles • Place the glass jar on the scale and weigh 260g of water into the container • Carefully weigh 143g NaOH into a bowl • Add NaOH to the water and stir until the crystals are in suspension (The solution will warm up as the NaOH dissolves into the water) Do not inhale the fumes
95.9g NaOH 71.5g NaOH 164.7 NaOH
Prepare the oils, fats and waxes • Weigh 500g of coconut oil, and the other oils you have chosen into a bowl • Melt any solid oils before transferring them to the bowl • If beeswax is used melt with the solid oils
143g/167.4g NaOH = 85% NaOH 15% Super-fatted The Robb Recipe will produce soap that is super-fatted between 11% and 15% regardless of which oils are chosen from the list in Rule 3. The table at the top of 6
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Add the optional ingredients • Weigh each of the optional ingredients and add to the oil mix • Use the blender to mix the contents of the bowl very well • At this point, all ingredients, except the lye solution, should be in the bowl • Prepare soap mould and have towels to hand Adding the lye to the oil mixture • Pour the lye solution into the oil mixture while stirring slowly (mixer powered off) • Once all the lye has been added, start mixing with the power on • The soap mixture will begin to thicken • Blend until the soap mixture resembles cake batter Pouring the soap • Pour the soap mixture into the mould • Layer towels on top of the mould to keep in the heat Saponification and the gel phase • Check the soap occasionally for progression of the gel (see photo below) • When the gel reaches the edge of the soap mould, saponification is complete • Unwrap the soap and let it cool
Prepare your lye solution, wearing your gloves and goggles. Always add the solid hydroxide to the water to avoid the danger of the lye boiling over. Note the lye in the picture is cloudy. When the sodium hydroxide has completely dissolved, it will be clear several different soaps. The sample formulations for Lavender Lime Honey Soap and Sweet Orange Protein Bar demonstrate the flexibility of The Robb Recipe. When you choose oils from the approved list, the soap will be 11-15% super-fatted. Combining different oils and optional ingredients produces endless varieties of soap.
Prepare soap bars • Cut the cool soap into uniform bars • Prepare product labels • Place the bars in chosen packaging and apply labels
Conclusion
I hope this article will inspire you to make natural soaps.
Handmade, natural soap is an excellent value-added product that beekeepers can sell alongside their honey. The Robb Recipe provides an easy-to-follow, flexible recipe to make soap with bee products and local oils. There is no need for specialist equipment and the soap can be used the same day as it is made- an advantage for making soap to take to market.
Supplementary Information
Super-Fatting calculations for Lavender and Lime Honey Soap 500g Coconut Oil x 0.192 = 95.9g NaOH 250g Shea Butter x 0.130 = 32.5g NaOH 125g Cottonseed Oil x 0.139 = 17.4g NaOH 125g Olive Oil x 0.136 = 17.0g NaOH Total = 162.2 NaOH 143g/162.8g NaOH = 88% NaOH 12% Super-fatted Super-Fatting calculations for Honey and Orange Protein Bar 500g Coconut Oil x 0.192 = 95.9g NaOH 250g Castor Oil x 0.129 = 32.3g NaOH 250g Olive Oil x 0.136 = 34.0g NaOH Total = 162.2 NaOH 143g/162.2g NaOH = 88% NaOH 12% Super-fatted
Additionally, The Robb Recipe can be used to make
References Robb,S.J. (2009) Dr Sara’s Honey Potions. Northern Bee Books, Mytholmroyd, UK. Robb,S.J. (2012) Beauty and the Bees. Northern Bee Books, Mytholmroyd, UK.
Sweet Orange Protein soap going through the gel phase. The gel starts in the centre as heat accumulates from saponification. The gel spreads to the edge of the soap. When the gel has reached the edges, the oil and hydroxide have all been converted to soap and glycerin
Sarah’s new book is reviewed in Bookshelf on page 18 7
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A honey bee colony is a lovely sight to see Mrugank Divekar, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
The Asian honey bee, Apis florea is endemic to my locality – Mulund (now a suburb of Mumbai) where I have lived since childhood. My first encounter with Apis florea was as a witness to honey collection by my grandfather from a colony on a mango tree. I had seen many honey bees flying around the surrounding trees shevga drumstick, amba mango, bakul Spanish cherry and Naral coconut. I knew the local names for the bees: aagya (Apis dorsata), fulora (Apis florea), sateli (Apis cerana) and kotya (Trigona sp). I caught butterflies and dragonflies with my bare hands but for the honey bees a hand sock was preferred. While “playing” in this fashion I was stung many times however I never observed a honey swarm attacking humans or animals.
Mrugank Divekar enjoys bee watching. He says he is never frightened in the presence of honey bees or any other insect and that unless you interfere in their life, honey bees will never interfere in yours.
but I could see a colony of Apis florea on a branch of a flowering vine madhumalti creeping Chinese honeysuckle. It was the beginning of the rainy season and the colony had selected a place under a canopy – Smart!. This is one of the reasons I am fond of them and my wife knows it. By the time the nest was noticed it was fully developed – the top filled with honey and the brood section was sizeable. On the brood section the bees were holding on to each other and there was little movement. The honeycomb was busy with foraging bees landing, and nurse bees collecting the nectar being delivered to them. The pollen -bees were finding their way to the comb. Within a few days I observed a small black bee – a predator – entering the nest without attack by the soldier bees. I concluded she was stealing the larvae as a protein diet for her grubs. I am still not sure about her identity – maybe Apis andreniformis?
My wife is a classical Indian dancer and is aware that my first love is honey bees. She is not jealous, her only complaint is that I am always thinking about them and spend a lot of time with them. Whenever she notices any new colonies in the area, she teases me that: “your co-wives have arrived”. Her dance class is on the second floor of my building. On one occasion a student reported bees outside the window. It was dark
The bees would shield the nest a few minutes prior to the thundershowers. Magnificent positioning of the bees let the raindrops flow over their wings but prevented them touching the comb, and periodically
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Images © Mrugank Divekar
When the rains arrived, the colony selected a place to shelter under a canopy
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
The bees prevent the raindrops from touching the comb
After the rain stopped, the bees tried to repair the comb damaged by water
they would flap their wings together. By the middle of June, the heavy rain started, sometimes with continuous rain for three days. The canopy above the nest was protecting the majority, however the branch the nest was attached to had grown out (the plant is a creeper). The flow of water increased and was flowing over the bees. Whenever the rain stopped the bees would try to repair the comb damaged by the water, yet they could not repair it completely. With the next downpour I saw a single bee trying to push at the bark on the hind portion of the branch. The bee was stretching herself to maximum and pushing with her head, more bees joined her, they lifted some more bark and the water was diverted away from the nest. This happened many times and I saluted the bees for their courageous efforts and intelligence.
rainy days, I was their food supplier: fresh sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, overripe fruit juice, honey and dry sugar on a banana leaf. The bees allowed me to come closer to the nest – I think they waited for me to come at a particular time as they were ready to take the food from my finger, even The bees recognised the aroma of honey. A few began licking my finger and slowly I led them to a plate with more honey
Also because of the heavy rains the bees could not forage, and their food supply was decreasing. I thought of providing food for them. I dipped my finger in a bottle of honey and moved close to them. The bees recognised the aroma from the honey, a few of them began licking my finger and slowly I led them to a plate I had filled with more honey. I repeated the procedure and brought a good number of bees to the plate. After eating some honey, the bees went back to their nest – and by performing the waggle dance – they informed others of the food supply. After a few days I noticed movement in the colony with many bees flying from the nest and going farther and farther away. I thought they were permanently leaving, but they started returning. I called my beekeeping mentor and asked him. He told me bees fly away from their nest to defaecate – the height of cleanliness! This happened at the same time each day for several days. I realised the process was linked to their food supply – when the colony sees the food is ready – the bees defaecate first. During the 9
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A performance of the waggle dance informed others of the food supply a few drops from my face but did not sting. The bees from my apiary became aware of the food source. I was offering plenty for all so there was no robbing. However as soon as the plate was empty fighting began – no killing just dragging each other away.
they must be taking stored pollen, but when I looked with binoculars, I saw they were cutting cells from the honeycomb (not brood cells) and gathering them on their hind legs , taking them for their new nest site (reusing the wax).
I recorded their sound both in the nest and around the plate of food. I was unable to understand their language. However, I noted a difference in sound according to the situation – when they were hovering around my face for more food, I could sense their demand.
The following day I found some portion of the remaining comb was cut by some bees at night. I thought the comb is no use to the bees and they will not come for food: my inner self said differently, and I offered food to those who were working on the leftbehind nest. In minutes, many bees returned from their new site . It was a joyful moment and continued for a few days until the end of the rainy season. I was fortunate to observe colony life from a very close distance: a magnificent experience to be around the bees, watch their movement, learn new things from them and observe their intelligence.
In the following days, I saw drones in the colony. This was an indication that the bees would leave soon. They left the nest on 30 June 2018. I saw a few bees collecting something on the honey portion of the nest, in the same way they collect pollen from a flower. I thought 10
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
Some bees were cutting cells from the honeycomb and gathering them on their hind legs, taking them for their new nest site and reusing the wax
Drones in the colony – an indication that the bees may swarm soon
I offered food to those who were working on the left-behind nest and within minutes, many bees returned from their new site
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NEWS Bees for Development – Africa
livestock. A further 13,500 tree seedlings have been added this spring. In May 530m of fencing was placed in an area that has been badly degraded. The community provide the labour, giving a real sense of ownership. In June, a further 13,500 tree seedlings were added.
ETHIOPIA Trees, bees and people Covid-19 has prevented some of Bees for Development Ethiopia’s planned training sessions, as travel in the Amhara region has been restricted. Added to this, internet connectivity through much of the country has been patchy at best, making even basic opportunities to meet and learn difficult.
The transformation in the sites is clear and encouraging, providing fruit, lush grasses for harvesting, and a rich habitat for bees to forage. In Ysala, the first site to be fenced in 2018/19, grass is growing enabling 40 people to practise cut and carry for their livestock, and forage trees are growing.
While Covid-19 has restricted larger group training, it has been possible to run sessions for small numbers, and particularly in one-to-one coaching. Training is provided by our Ethiopian team of skilled local beekeepers who pass on their knowledge and skills as mentors and advisors. We thank them for their efforts in May.
Bees for Development’s Trees Bees and People Project is supported by Rowse Honey.
Images © Bees for Development
Richard Harrington
The team is evaluating training carried out over the last 18 months, finding out how many people are continuing to benefit since the training, and assessing how many families have been supported. Work to stabilise degraded land close to Lake Tana in the Amhara region continues. 32,000 trees were planted last year, on two 30ha sites. The community is totally engaged in the transformation and have helped protect the sites that are fenced off from grazing (right) Grasses are cut and carried to feed livestock safely away from protected areas (below) Fencing is built to protect degraded areas
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Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
NEWS GHANA Buzz clubs and more Bees for Development Ghana continues to bring the benefits of beekeeping to men, women, and children in all the communities where we work. What about children? Yes! Beekeeping clubs have been set up in six schools in Ghana and training has been provided to teachers and students. The honey harvest always provides great excitement for the schools. In addition to raising money the Buzz Clubs provide useful educational opportunities. In one school honey yields were lower than expected. This prompted Bees for Development Ghana to work with Buzz Club members to develop a bee forage seasonal calendar with students observing and recording plants in their local area and documenting which plants are used by honey bees. In the East of Ghana, near Digya National Park, we are teaching beekeeping to honey hunters to help them earn more from bees. While this Project was not a children’s project, it proved hard to keep them away. Children in the village were eager to copy their parents and learn how to make hives. The first year of beekeeping involves making hives, establishing an apiary, attracting bees to the hives, and learning the basics. Honey harvests are possible within a few months of acquiring bees, but this is not guaranteed, and a little patience is required before the full benefits are realised. Bees for Development Ghana provides
A move from honey hunting to keeping bees in hives makes beekeeping accessible to women, who are very ready to participate. Ms Hawa Issah from Korjobator learns how to use a smoker. Hawa has seen honey hunters in her village selling honey and now has the chance to benefit from bees
Images © Bees for Development
on-going and reliable advice to all the new beekeepers they support, full in the knowledge that the first years of beekeeping are the most exciting, the most crucial and – sometimes – the most difficult. Janet Lowore
Bees for Development Ghana continues to work with school children, through beekeeping clubs, introducing young people to the importance and bounty of bees
This fresh ripe honey is black and very tasty. It is sought after in Ghana’s towns and cities and is very valuable!
Benefits from beekeeping
Treatment for a broken leg Settling children’s house rent Making more hives Building a house Acquiring a piece of land Hiring labourers for the yam farm Paying school fees and buying yam seeds Ploughing farmland Buying groundnut seeds
The beekeepers who started learning beekeeping with us in 2017 and 2018 are now reaping the rewards. These are some of the ways cashew growers in Bono East told us they used the income they earned from honey selling: Building a toilet facility Paying hospital bills Paying off a debt 13
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
NEWS UGANDA Beekeeping resilience Like many other organisations our work in Uganda came to an abrupt halt in March 2020 because of the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. Lockdown restrictions and social distancing measures have made our work difficult, especially among our beneficiaries with disabilities who often need one-on-one support with their helpers and our staff. It strikes me that this lockdown period is a testament to just how resilient beekeeping can be to major shocks and stresses. No one could have predicted a total global lockdown for the world’s economies to dive and unemployment to skyrocket. But, of course, bees do not stop flying, or foraging, or making honey. Before the pandemic our Project to use beekeeping to economically empower people with disabilities was well underway. Fifteen of our visually impaired beneficiaries in Gulu had received training and support adapted to their needs. Many are now in the process of establishing their newly designed apiaries that are easier to navigate and manage, and some have begun to enjoy the economic benefits that bees can bring from honey harvests. In Jinja deaf beekeeper beneficiaries working in the Project have undergone training to make their own hives from locally sourced materials. Each beekeeper left the training with three self-made hives and the skills to make many more. This was achieved with the help of TUNADO’s disability inclusion officer who signed a set of newly developed training posters adapted specifically for the deaf community.
Jennifer in Gulu, a visually impaired beekeeper, puts security seals onto her honey bottles using methods taught by our partners in the Project Honey in Uganda is often sold among neighbours or friends, so there is no travel needed to make a sale. Bees can be kept at home so there is no requirement to use limited public transport to go to work. It is for these reasons that beekeepers are not as susceptible to the shocks we have seen with the coronavirus pandemic and the threat of subsequent lockdowns. As restrictions are slowly eased, we will continue to provide disability-specific training and support to our beneficiaries. Whilst this has not recently been possible, it is encouraging to see the progress our beneficiaries have made – Although the ‘Project’ may have been suspended, the beekeeping continues.
When people are given the skills and knowledge to utilise their own resources, hives can be made with locally sourced materials. There is no need to wait for equipment because of border closures.
Sean Lawson
LETTER
Image © Paul Rukwaro
I am delighted by the knowledge I have been gathering from receiving BfD Journal and have increased my number of colonies and interest in beekeeping. It rained heavily in Nyeri for many months and colonies absconded or were attacked by pests. I lost one colony from a top-bar hive after a caterpillar attached to the comb – is it a honey or hive moth? Paul Gee Rukwaro,‘Enthusiastic Beekeeper’, Nyeri, Kenya Hello Paul. We are sorry to hear that you have had problems with your bees, it is challenging at times! Do not be discouraged – bees are strong and resilient and will soon occupy your hives again. The picture appears to show wax moth. These insects are present naturally everywhere and a strong colony has no problem with them. To create an environment most beneficial for your bees and to make them more resilient read: www.beesfordevelopment.org/categories/ choosing-an-apiary-site 14
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
NEWS KENYA My journey with the bees has been interesting, good pollination is of great benefit and the honey is sweet. I have engaged in planting more trees for the bees to access for food. The passion fruit trees were not healthy as they needed assistance, not just fertiliser but pollinators: things certainly improved once the bee pollinators were near! Rev Tom Ochuka, Kisimu, Kenya A visit to the apiary
Image © Tom Ochuka
the importance of sustainable forest management and economic development. While the rationale for sustainable use of tree resources is widely appreciated by beekeepers, by contrast the sustainable use of bee resources is poorly promoted and appreciated. Beekeeping in forest land can be used positively as an important tool to protect forests from fires. This can only be achieved where communities around schools have strong relationships with school staff and students that promote beekeeping projects in the school premises.
We are enjoying eating the passion fruit and the bees enjoy the flowers and nectar
Besides pollination of crops, honey, bees wax and propolis can also be harvested as hive products and sold to generate cash. The project has potential to grow if the keeping of bees is considered as one of the major inputs of crop farming.
ZIMBABWE In July we facilitated a training workshop at Nagle House School in Marondera, Mashonaland East Province.
Objectives of the Workshop 1. To create awareness and promote beekeeping as a viable enterprise. 2. To demonstrate how beekeeping can be an important business venture. 3. To educate students and staff on how beekeeping can be integrated with other farming activities 4. To understand how beekeeping can support the livelihoods of individuals, families, communities and the nation.
Within the School grounds, agroforestry (integrating crops with trees) can be practised easily. Beekeeping plays a major role in connecting forestry and crop farming activities through pollination and conservation initiatives. Bees nest in the forest (their natural habitat) and come out from the forests to pollinate crops that will improve their yields. Improved crop yields lead to improved food security. Training of Nagle House staff and students in sustainable beekeeping practices does not only contribute to the food security of households but raises awareness about Images © Makoni Beekeepers’ Association
Robert Mutisi, Forestry Executive, Makoni Beekeepers’ Association, Manicaland
Robert Mutisi explains the importance of using equal sized top-bars
Good siting of hives is important 15
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
Our Patrons Bill Turnbull and Monty Don celebrate the announcement
We are pleased and proud to announce that our home town of Monmouth, South Wales is officially now The “Bee Town”.
Bees for Development has worked with, and worked on, the County Council of Monmouthshire for some years, who now run a “Nature isn’t Neat” scheme and manages the area’s public spaces and roadside verges in a more wild-life-friendly way than a few years ago. The next step was to take the idea to the Town Council to name Monmouth as a “Bee Town”. This was received with unanimous support in December 2019 and a small community grant was awarded to sign the town appropriately. Work is still to be done as we see peoples’ engrained tendencies to clearing nature up with machines and chemicals in evidence around the town, but we hope our new status will help to make this become less and less routine. There is no set of rules for gaining Bee Town status, and there are many wonderful initiatives around the globe, for example the Xerces Society’s Bee City Programme in the USA. We will make sure this has a long-lasting life here in Monmouth – our bees and other wildlife depend on it! Images © Bees for Development
How did this come to bee? It is not just that an international bee charity is based here, although that helps! The move to give the town its new status was begun by several groups and uniquely knowledgeable individuals living in the area who have helped Monmouth become one of the most proactive bee-friendly places anywhere. In addition to Bees for Development, these is also Bee Friendly Monmouthshire and the Monmouthshire Meadows Group. The town of Monmouth is home to an annual and increasingly popular Bee Festival (unfortunately not held in 2020), a series of Bee Talks and film-showings, many community bee friendly areas, and bee friendly planting schemes around the town. Many of the world’s foremost bee experts have visited us at Bees for Development.
Visitors to Monmouth are welcomed with attractive and clear signage
Wild plants abound in May 2020 16
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
Bees for Development Fundraising Bees for Development is experiencing a difficult time. We have had to adjust to cope with the effects of Covid-19 on our lives, like most people and businesses around the world. The repercussions will continue for a long time to come, and one certainty is that those who are already suffering through poverty, in places where Bees for Development works, will be badly affected.
Festival and all our spring courses are cancelled. We had to be a little creative in thinking how we might go some way to replace this.
Spring and summer events had to be cancelled including what was to have been our main fundraiser of the year, our London Bee Banquet, for which all tickets had been sold. In addition, our annual Monmouth Bee
The hosting of the Sundowner was supported by Rowse Honey, who also sponsor one of Bees for Development’s Projects in Ethiopia through their Hives for Lives Programme (see page 12)
Images © Bees for Development
On 10 June, a stellar line-up of well-known celebrities took part in our online “Sundowner” event. It was a light-hearted conversation between Bill Turnbull, Martha Kearney, Monty Don Bees for Development Patrons and Miles Jupp, interspersed with short films showing Bees for Development’s work in alleviating poverty around the world. The event was free to attend, and donations, together with an online auction of items that included a book of signatures by renowned beekeepers, achieved almost £20,000.
One of the lots in the Auction was a unique collection of autographs by famous beekeepers, kindly donated by David Charles, who had collected them since the 1960s. The book contains many names famous to the bee world: Karl von Frisch, Eva Crane, Colin Butler, Gordon Townsend, Dorothy Hodges, Dorothy Galton, Colin Weightman, Leslie Bailey, Harrison Ashforth, Harold Armitt, Norman Rice, Ron Brown, Ted Hooper, Brother Adam, Harry Riches, Keith Delaplane, Rob Manley, George Hawthorne, Bill Turnbull, and many others. An incredibly special prize!
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Bees for Development
Every donation to Bees for Development helps us fight chronic poverty, empower people, and contribute to maintaining biodiversity. Donate at
www.beesfordevelopment.org or call us on +44(0)1600 714848
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Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
BOOKSHELF Keeping bees with a smile – principles and practice of natural beekeeping Fedor Lazutin with Leo Sharashkin 2020 (2nd edition) 343 pages soft cover In the second edition of the bestselling beekeeping guide Keeping Bees with a Smile, Fedor Lazutin, one of Europe’s most successful natural beekeepers, shares the bee-friendly approach to apiculture that is fun, healthful, rewarding, and accessible to all. This new edition includes dozens of colour photographs, new hive management techniques, and an updated version of plans for the “Lazutin hive”. Additional coverage includes: • Keeping bees naturally without interfering in their lives • Starting an apiary for free by attracting local bee swarms • Building low-maintenance hives that mimic how bees live in nature • Keeping colonies healthy and strong without any drugs, sugar, or gimmickry • Helping bees to overwinter successfully even in harsh climates • Enhancing local nectar plant resources • Producing truly natural honey without robbing the bees • Reversing the global bee decline... right in your backyard! Keeping Bees with a Smile is an invaluable resource for beginners and professionals alike, complete with plans for making bee-friendly, well-insulated horizontal hives with extra-deep frames, plus other fascinating beekeeping advice you will not find anywhere else. Fedor Lazutin was a natural beekeeper, homesteader, and advocate for habitat restoration and sustainable living in Russia. Leonid Sharashkin, PhD, is a full-time natural beekeeper and founder of HorizontalHive.com. He has edited numerous books on natural beekeeping, writes for major magazines, and speaks internationally on bee-friendly beekeeping. He keeps bees in the Ozarks of southern Missouri. New Society Publishers
Making and selling cosmetics – honeycomb cleansing cream Sara Robb 2020 30 pages soft cover A really useful and useable guide to making cleansing cream – what it is, what its properties need to be, and how to achieve this. This is the first in a new series of booklets giving easy to use recipes, explanations of the ingredients used, and the function of each within the recipe. There is also a guide to the requirements and legislation concerning selling of cosmetics in the UK.
The insect garden Michael John Seabrook 2020 204 pages soft cover A wonderful new guide to the best garden plants to support insects. While written primarily for UK, the information relating to garden plants will be pertinent to many gardeners worldwide. The author’s intent is to help recover insect populations, and towards this end he has researched hundreds of plants to identify those that enable a garden to provide maximum benefit to insects, and much other wildlife too, of course. Full of colour photographs, interesting facts and advice.
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• Cheque/bank draft in GBP payable to Bees for Development 18
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
BOOKSHELF Beekeeping training modules – new editions Bees for Development 2020 24 pages softcover These modules are intended for use by beekeeper trainers in tropical Africa and the material can be used as part of a training course.
Harvesting and processing honey At the end of this module participants will: • Appreciate the value and different uses of honey • Have an understanding of issues regarding honey quality • Be able to identify ripe honey • Be able to harvest and process honey • Know how to store honey and package it for sale.
African honey bees After the end of the module course participants will: Appreciate the benefits of keeping honey bees • Have an understanding about the needs of a honey bee colony • Know about the different honey bees in a colony and their roles • Be able to identify honey bee forage in the local area • Be aware of the different forms of beekeeping practised in Africa. Modules are available free of charge to projects and associations in developing nations. They are also available for purchase from our website store in pdf format and hard copy (African honey bees is in press)
Available from TECA/FAO
Good beekeeping practices: Practical manual on how to identify and control the main diseases of the honey bee (Apis mellifera) This is a practical tool to help beekeepers, beekeeping advisory services and veterinarians to properly identify the main honey bee diseases and to take the most appropriate actions in the apiary to control and/or prevent disease outbreaks. This publication follows the TECA publication Main bee diseases: good beekeeping practices (2018) which provided a more general overview of good beekeeping practices for bee diseases. Download at www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/ca9182en
Correction – please note
Honey bee biology and beekeeping (reviewed in BfDJ 134) was fully revised, expanded and reprinted in full colour in 2013. The edition has been reprinted three times since.
TELL US YOUR STORY We accept articles and short reports on new or improved techniques, information about bees and beekeeping in your country and your events. We welcome your comments and responses to articles we have published. Articles should be 800-1,600 words in length and accompanied by images. Items can be sent by post or in email text or attachment in Word of pdf format. We accept images as colour prints or digitally saved as jpeg files. Please send images at the size they are taken off the camera. (Images resized for website use are not suitable for printing). If it is not possible to include your submission in BfD Journal, we may place it in the Resource Centre on our website. 19
Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
LOOK AHEAD IRELAND
BEES FOR DEVELOPMENT EVENTS
NEW DATES: SICAMM Conference 3-5 September 2021, Athlone Further details www.sicamm.org
UK
KENYA
Willow Skep Making 26 July 2020 Ross on Wye HR9 6JZ
Certificate course Entrepreneurship in apiculture in East Africa Baraka Agricultural College, Molo Further details www.sustainableagri.org
Introduction to Skep Beekeeping 9 August 2020 Ragman’s Lane Farm, GL17 9PA
RUSSIA
V International Conference: Scientific research into the zoology of invertebrates 26-28 October 2020, Tomsk Further details tomsk_konferentsiya2020@mail.ru APIMONDIA: 47th International Apicultural Congress 20-25 September 2021, Ufa Further details www.apimondia2021.com
Straw Skep Weaving 22 August 2020 Ross on Wye HR9 6JZ Skep Hackles and Floor Making 23 August 2020 Ross on Wye HR9 6JZ Sustainable Beekeeping 19-20 September 2020 Ragman’s Lane Farm, GL17 9PA
ST LUCIA 10th Caribbean Beekeepers Virtual Congress 25-28 November 2020, Castries Further details see page 21
For details of all these events visit www.beesfordevelopment.org/events-calendar
SERBIA
If you want notice of your conference, workshop or meeting to be included here and on our website, send details to Bees for Development.
NEW DATES: EurBee 9 Congress September 2022, University of Belgrade Further details www.eurbee9.bio.bg.ac.rs
Images © Sean Lawson/Bees for Development
SLOVENIA
11th International Meeting of Young Beekeepers 5-9 July 2021, Ivanca Gorica Further details www.icyb.cz
SOUTH AFRICA
NEW DATES: XII International Symposium on Pollination 31 August – 4 September 2021, Cape Town Further details www.icppr.com
TANZANIA
BSc Beekeeping Science & Technology University of Dar es Salaam Further details www.coasft.udsm.ac.tz
TURKEY NEW DATES: 7th International Beekeeping & Pine Honey Congress 31 March – 4 April 2021, Muğla Further details www.muglacongress.org/eng
UK
89th National Honey Show – VIRTUAL 22-24 October 2020, Sandown Park Racecourse Further details www.honeyshow.co.uk
VIETNAM
NEW DATES: 15th Asian Apicultural Association Conference 1-4 April 2021, Hanoi Further details www.asianapiculture.org
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Bees for Development Journal 135 July 2020
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BfD Connect
Our aim is to reach people who we are currently finding it hard to reach by existing routes. We send regular broadcasts via WhatsApp to everyone’s phone who has signed up. Each broadcast provides a link to find out more about the topic. A subscriber receives a broadcast message from BfD Connect and can reply if they wish. We are encouraging subscribers to engage this way and send us information (photos and videos) that we may then broadcast widely. We will use the broadcasts to update you when we create new resources, or to gain information through surveys, and to promote your events and projects to share with a wider audience.
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Bee Bulletin
Our E-newsletter with interesting news for people working in beekeeping development. Subscribe at
www.link.beesfd.org/newsletter
VIRTUAL HONEY SHOW The UK National Honey Show Executive Committee has reluctantly concluded that because of Covid19 it will not be practical to stage the Show this October. This is not a decision we have taken lightly. There are too many unknowns and our first priority is keeping everyone safe. However, the Show will go on – virtually! We are busy planning and we hope to provide a series of prerecorded workshops and lectures with live Q&A’s and some social events in the evenings. A virtual trade show is being discussed and I am certain lots more ideas will develop. Visit: www.honeyshow.co.uk Bob Maurer, Chairman, National Honey Show
VIRTUAL CARIBBEAN CONGRESS Due to the current global health crisis, and unclear international travel protocols, we have decided to take a blended approach of engaging regional and international colleagues virtually, along with local participants from St Lucia within social distancing protocols for the 10th Caribbean Beekeeping Congress in November. The virtual engagements will include: • Panel discussion on country reports from the region. All reports will be on our website for prior review • Panel discussion on the development of apiculture in the region • Keynote presentations Visit:
www.ACBOonline.com Richard Matthias, ACBO Secretary
Bees for Development, 1 Agincourt Street, Monmouth NP25 3DZ, UK Telephone +44 (0)1600 714848 info@beesfordevelopment.org www.beesfordevelopment.org © Bees for Development 2020 ISSN 1477-6588 Printed on environmentally friendly paper 21 and delivered in a fully compostable wrapper made from potato and corn starch
Images © Milan Wiercx van Rhijn/Bees for Development
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