Patty Heyl - Beeswax Luminaries and Candles

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My passion for working with beeswax began when I first became a beekeeper. I was fascinated by what I saw as these amazing creatures worked together to support their hive and queen. The honeybee, Apis mellifera, are social creatures that live in a communal hive, and are either workers, drones or a queen. Each have specialized duties based on their age, that they carry out to support the colony. A productive hive could have upwards of 20,000 bees. Working together, they build their hive, forage for food, and raise the brood that has been laid by the queen. Honeybees have unique methods of communicating including a waggle dance they do to tell other bees where to go to find pollen or nectar. 

 

As I began to learn through observation and reading about the complexity of their dynamic, living unit, I found myself in awe of all that they do. Beeswax is a miracle of nature unto itself. Wax glands on the abdomen of young bees around 10 days old convert honey to wax. It takes approximately eight pounds of honey to be consumed by bees to produce one pound of beeswax. It is thought that bees fly 150,000 miles to yield this one pound of beeswax! 

 

While I am no longer a beekeeper due to an allergy to honey bee venom that I developed, I have continued to work with beeswax. I only use pure American beeswax that I purchase from other beekeepers or local beekeeping supply companies to make pure beeswax candles and more recently, beeswax luminaries. My candles are 100% pure beeswax, and contain no added chemicals and no synthetic fragrances. Beeswax candles do not produce soot and will not drip (provided wick is trimmed and candle is kept away from draft). All of my candles are hand poured and have pure cotton wicks. Beeswax candles will typically burn for two -three times more than paraffin or soy candles, so you can enjoy their soft, warm glow so much longer. 

 

The beeswax luminaries are available in white and natural yellow beeswax. They are decorated with natural dried, pressed flowers, leaves and grasses. Each luminary is unique and entirely made and decorated by hand. They may vary slightly in size and shape, and with a little care, they will last for many years.

 

Thank you for your support of our bees, and of Sport Hill Honey Farm, LLC, my small business. Follow me on InstaGram@sporthillhoneyfarm.

 

LOVE THE GLOW!