Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become a beekeeper?
In the UK it is standard practice to attend your local beekeeping association’s Introduction to Beekeeping course, which usually follows the British Beekeeping Association guidelines. We recommend taking these courses, attending training apiary sessions and learning as much as you can. We also recommend you take a look at The Natural Beekeeping Trust, Bees for Development, and Beekeeping in Skirts. Learn everything you can and then find your preferred way of beekeeping that also suits the bees needs.
Beekeeping is a hugely rewarding activity. It is good to consider if you have the time, commitment, space, finances (and possibly nerves) to learn and look after hives. This may mean not going on holiday during early summer or finding someone else who can look after your hive during that time; spending money on a hive, a nucleus of honeybees and a queen or sourcing a swarm, a bee suit, and other equipment; having an space where your honeybees will not disrupt others (especially important in urban environments); taking the time to attend a course, do lots of reading and understanding what the bees need rather than forcing their behaviour for honey production.
How can I help save the bees?
Plant bee friendly flowers and stop using chemicals such as pesticides in your garden. Read our ‘How to be a Bee Guardian’ blog for more tips!
How do you treat your bees?
We follow a Natural Beekeeping approach; allowing the honeybees to just bee! We recognise swarming as an important reproductive behaviour of a hive. Practices that we will never use within our own hives include marking a queen, clipping a queen’s wings, importing queens and artificially inseminating a queen. We also do not use or promote the use of chemical treatments within hives to reduce Varroa destructor and other pests or diseases.
What are the benefits of beeswax?
Beeswax is the cleanest burning wax on Earth. Unlike paraffin or soy wax, it does not emit toxins into the air, making it the safest wax to burn indoors. It is said that beeswax also emits negative ions that can purify the air. Alongside its healthy home benefits, it has a number of regenerative benefits for the environment compared with paraffin and soya waxes. Find out more about the benefits of beeswax on our blog.
Is beeswax vegan?
No. Beeswax comes from the honeybee. There are many ways of managing hives, some that we advocate for and some that we don’t. There are beekeeping methods that can be unnecessary and force honeybees to work solely for the production of honey or for the ease of the beekeeper, not allowing them to carry out their natural behaviours. The removal of wax also allows them to build fresh comb which reduces risk of pests.
Do you produce all of your beeswax?
No. We are not bee farmers so our hives do not produce enough wax to create all of our products. We source most of our beeswax from local beekeepers, bee associations, and some suppliers who British beekeepers send their wax to for cleaning.
Do you sell honey?
No. We believe that the honeybees need their honey to survive and thrive. We don't feed our honeybees with fondants or sugar unless they are at a higher risk of starvation, or a weak hive that didn’t produce enough stores. As we are not honeybee farmers and only have a small number of hives, our honey production is limited. We will only ever take what is left over after the bees needs have been met.
Are your products organic?
Yes and no. We have chosen not to undertake organic certification right now due to expense, but it is something we would consider in future. All of our skincare, botanical and herbal products contain sourced ingredients that are organically grown. Those which come from our suppliers are certified and can be labelled as organic. Any ingredient within our skincare and herbal lines not labelled organic has been grown by us without the use of pesticides and other chemicals. We like to use organic, biodynamic and regenerative methods within our own gardens.
Beeswax is usually not certified organic unless imported, often from China and sometimes Europe. Whilst the Soil Association do provide certification for beekeeping, honeybees will still visit areas sprayed with pesticides. Certified organic British honey and beeswax are also dependent on hive management styles i.e. what a hive is treated with for disease. Legitimate organic British honey, beeswax and other hive products are a much debated topic due to the distances that honeybees forage. We make sure to only use British beeswax.
How long will it take to ship my order?
We aim to get all orders out within 1-3 days. You will receive a confirmation of postage once shipped.
Do you ship internationally?
At this time we have chosen not to ship our physical products internationally. This is a conscious decision based on the idea that small is beautiful, and that as individuals we should support our local beekeepers, craftsmen, herbalists and other small businesses.
Can I work or volunteer with you?
We often have volunteer roles available at Cropwell Community Garden. Take a look at our Opportunities page for more information.
Will you work with my organisation?
We love to collaborate with other makers and organisations so please get in touch. We are also able to help set up community growing and biodiversity projects, please reach out to us if this is something you are interested in.