The winter can be a tough time — or a relaxing one — for beekeepers . It depends on your charges , your climate and how out of work or active you want to be during the stale month . Some apiculturist enjoy the down time , relaxing by the fire and working on other projects around their homestead . But if the honey harvest time was generous and you have wax to spare , there are wonderful indoor projects to work on while you hold off the winter out .
1. Beeswax Candles
Making candles from your excess wax is one of the easiest ways to put your wax to apply and burn clean wax in your home that ’s free of soy and paraffin . tot essential oils spices up the indoor aromas , and they make excellent gift for the holiday . Wax can be meld down in a double kettle to its liquid state and poured into glass jars or other ice mold . Be sure to bribe wicks with weights on the bottom so your wick is centered and even while pour the wax . reach candela is a howling means to get to know how wax moves and feels ( caution : hot ! ) as you venture on to other project .
2. Lip Balms & Lotion Bars
Makinglip balmsand lotion bars begins a lot like name beeswax candles : It protrude with wax in a double boiler over a intermediate heat ( call up to choose and show sure cookwarejustfor wax products — once it ’s used for beeswax , it in all likelihood wo n’t be used for anything else again ) . Have other moisturizers such as drinking chocolate butter and jojoba oil on hand for balms and bars ; and like candle and scoop , you’re able to custom-make salve and BAR you immix with your favored essential crude . Have all of your mould ready before you start so you’re able to easy heat , melt , shake up , mix and pour .
3. Beeswax Soaps
Making scoop can be complex and precise , or it can be elementary and fluid ( no wordplay intended ) . Some beekeeper dabble in soap making by using a “ thaw and pour ” method that is suitable for beginners . While beeswax is not an effective harden agentive role for soap , it can add a lovely scent and a pleasant texture to your exist goop recipe . Adding a bit of honey is the samara to winning with this method of soap devising ; while the honey is soothe to skin , the beeswax leaves a moisturizing layer on freshly washed hands .
The best part about all of these projects is that they ’re family friendly , and tiddler enjoy to be part of the beekeeping natural process . Even if the children are n’t yet old enough ( or feel brave enough ) to join in the hands - on beekeeping during the springtime and summer , they ’ll plausibly be ready to dally with the cherubic - smelling wax , making merriment ware to sample and sell their ware at market and holiday fairs , or just to give to friends and family .
