Kids Fun

Spring is here, so there’s no better time to talk flowers and trees, birds –and bees! Sweeten up the homefront with a little honey creativity in the kitchen, light up the lounge with some homemade candles, and keep buzzy with a bee house construction. Life is bee-autiful!

 Dyani Van Basten Batenburg

Build for The Bees

Bees across the globe are under threat– much of their natural habitat has been lost across the past six decades, including over 90% of wildflower meadows. And, pesticides, intensive farming and climate change are constantly keeping them on the move. So, by building a bee-friendly home in your garden, you’re helping them bloom!

You’ll need . . .

• Nesting materials such as hollow plant stems, bunches of dried twigs, grasses, lengths of bamboo cane. Aim for a range of diameters from 2mm to 10mm – and ensure they are all dry • A small wooden box (think shoe box size, untreated timber is best) or use a two-litre used plastic bottle (or length of water

pipe) • Sandpaper • Craft knife and cutting mat • Strong twine, about 1m long • Garden clippers or secateurs • Modelling clay (optional) How to . . .

Step 1: If using a plastic bottle, cut both ends to create a cylinder, if using a length or water pipe or a small wooden box, sand all the edges till smooth. Step 2: Then measure the length of your cylinder or depth of your box – aim for roughly 15 to 20cm in length. Step 3: Cut and trim your dry sticks, twigs and bamboo 3cm shorter than your measurement. Why? Because the stems and canes need to stay dry inside their case otherwise the bees wont burrow down deep inside them. Step 4: Just remember if using hollow bamboo canes, bees can’t burrow through the knots in bamboo, so avoid canes with too many knots. Step 5: Use your sandpaper to smooth the ends of the bamboo or stems if they are rough and uneven because bees don’t like sharp edges at the entrance to holes. And, wooden splinters on sticks could also cut their wings. Step 6: Then using your modelling clay block the back of the sticks, stems and bamboo canes, and using your twine tightly bind them altogether into one, two or three small bunches. Step 7: If using a plastic cylinder, thread a length of twine through it so you can hang up the finished bee house. If making a bee house box, you could secure it to tree, fence or nail the bottom of it to a post. Step 8: Finally, pack your twiggy bunches tightly into your cylinder or box, and you are ready to start bee hosting!

Honey and Dees Bees.

How to . . .

Beeswax Candles

Step 1: Cut a sheet of beeswax in half to make a standard-size taper candle (roughly 45cm). Step 2: Measure the wick or ‘string’ against a cut (halved) sheet of beeswax, ensuring there's an additional 2.5cm of wick at the very top of the candle. Use scissors to cut the wick. Step 3: Press the wick into the beeswax sheet. Remember, there should be approximately 2.5cm of wick overflowing from the top. Step 4: Tightly fold the beeswax sheet over the wick to secure it in place, then continue rolling the sheet to make a candle. The tighter the candle is rolled, the slower it will burn. Step 5: Repeat the steps above to make your other candles. One sheet of halved beeswax will make two candles.

Pop your candle into a holder or secure in a glass jar (with a little hot dripped wax to hold it in place) and shine away! These honey bubble treats are sure to get everyone buzzing around the plate. So, snap, crackle and pop your way through Spring!

Who doesn’t love a little ambience and turning a hand to some beetastic crafts! These tapered beeswax candles are super easy to make, are pretty and purposeful, and the ideal gift for birthdays and Christmas.

What you’ll need . . .

• Three full size 100% NZ

Beeswax Sheets • A roll of Pure Cotton

Unbleached Wick

Wax sheet and wick supplies are available online and instore from retailers across the country, including Kotare Krafts, Candle Creations, Mossops

Oh Bee-have

On the ingredient list . . .

• 125g butter • 2 Tbsp honey – clover, wildflower, manuka, kanuka – it all tastes good! • 1 cup white sugar • 3 ½ cups rice bubbles How to . . .

First up, grease a tin – 30cm in size – or thereabouts. Next, place the butter, sugar, honey and sugar in a medium sized saucepan. Stir the mixture over a medium-to-high heat until it reaches boiling point. Then, turn down that heat but ensure it gently boils away for five mins. When time’s up, remove from heat and add your rice bubbles to the gooey mixture. Take your greased saucepan, and carefully press your mixture into it – make sure it’s as evenly spread as possible.

Leave the mixture to set on the bench and mark into small squares. Once the honey bubble slice is cold, remove from the tin and cut into portions. Store in an airtight container. For additional sweetness, chocolate dip half of each piece and sprinkle with hundreds and thousands! Store in an airtight container. Yum!