A bar of healing beeswax skin balm is on offer to one lucky reader as a way to say 'thank you' for your continued support.
So why beeswax? Everything about it is amazing. When taken direct from the hive its healing properties are most potent, unlike the beeswax found in many products which has been heated, strained and depleted of the many components that are beneficial. The wax is an emolient (hydrating), calms inflamed skin, forms a protective barrier, acts as an antibacterial agent, it's antiallergic, antioxidant, antibactericidal, germicidal, skin softening and has elasticity enhancing properties. Bees secrete it from wax glands on their bodies and chew it before sculpting it into perfectly shaped honeycomb. It may also contain remnants of pollen and propolis (plant resins that the bees use to strengthen the comb).
Well we can read as much as we like about the various attributes of beeswax but there's nothing like trying out the real thing. Dan and I work long hours outside in all sorts of weather and this takes its toll on our hands. We've tried all sorts of creams but nothing has worked as well as our own home-made beeswax skin balm. I've even started using it on my cheeks and it works wonders to keep them moisturised in winter winds. It contains comb scraped direct from my hives which is gently melted, then mixed with avocado, olive and chamomile essential oils. It's then poured into a mould to cool. Because the beeswax is very much a limited resource I only have enough to make a handfull of these balms but I've kept one aside to offer as a gift to my readers. Just leave a comment below this post and in a weeks time I'll pick a winner. Anyone may enter from anywhere in the world (only readers from Mars are excluded). Good luck everyone.
Wow - who knew bees wax was such powerful stuff? I've read about that "royal jelly" too - is that for real?
Anyways, definitely count me in - what a fab contest!
Posted by: Deborah | April 10, 2008 at 04:39 PM
How lovely! I've worked as a gardener, and could never find anything to keep my hands in good shape. Eventually you just admit that your hands will be permanently cracked and stained with earth. If my parents hadn't given up raising bees when I was a kid, I could have some lovely beeswax too. (of course, too many bears in the neighbourhood was a good reason to give up bees)
Posted by: Barbara | April 10, 2008 at 04:40 PM
What a great idea! I'm in. :)
Posted by: Dianne | April 10, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Wow, it's beautiful! I've been reading your blog for a while now, and find it inspiring to hear about all your work, and I really enjoy how candid you are about life on the farm. What a great way to get all of us lurkers out in the open! :)
Posted by: gaile | April 10, 2008 at 05:14 PM
What an amazing precious gift! Think of all the work both you and the bees put into it! How astounding. I saw my first bee of the year yesterday flying past the window I hope he had a hive as safe as yours.
Posted by: Wibit | April 10, 2008 at 05:57 PM
Hi, this is such a lovely prize that I couldn't not enter! Also wanted to say your blog is wonderful and inspires me to stick with the greenification of my life.
Posted by: Fiona | April 10, 2008 at 06:21 PM
I love beeswax! It really is amazing.
ohhhhhh! I hope I win!
Posted by: Cakes | April 10, 2008 at 06:36 PM
Hi
I love reading about what is going on at your smallholding. I've been lurking for a long time so I've read just about everything now. You are doing what we would just LOVE to do but can't yet. One day soon, hopefully. I'm also very keen on "making things" as my family call it (crafts) so your blog makes me feel that I am not the only one with these yearnings to make, craft and produce things for my life - to eat and to wear and to give to friends and to create something that is beautiful.
I also find that my skin is getting very dry and I have problems in finding something suitable for both my face and hands without spending a fortune (and thereby depleting the smallholding coffers that I am trying hard to fill). Some of my family have similar problems. Your balm sounds great and I would love to try some. Maybe next year you might have a bit of surplus to sell? I do hope so.
Jo
Posted by: Jo | April 10, 2008 at 06:45 PM
That looks fantastic! Much better than that stuff from the box store!!
Posted by: Melissa | April 10, 2008 at 07:07 PM
Your blog is wonderful inspiration for me. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: craftydabbler | April 10, 2008 at 07:25 PM
Well, I'm not from Mars from maybe some people consider France the land of Martians?!
Posted by: Jean | April 10, 2008 at 08:18 PM
Ohhh....sounds alomost to good to BEE true :)
Great blog!
Posted by: YummyMummy | April 10, 2008 at 08:57 PM
Who could possibly resist a lovely balm? :)
Signs of spring are finally showing around my area- the lilac hedge is budding. This thrills me to no end, because now I can get out and start setting the yard to rights in preparation for seed-planting season.
It seems your seasons are a bit ahead of mine, and I always enjoy seeing what is going on in your little corner of the world. Thank YOU for sharing a bit of your life with all of us.
Posted by: Deb L | April 10, 2008 at 10:20 PM
Oooh lovely! The only naturally-derived product I've found that touches my dry skin (I am a human sponge) is unrefined shea butter. Whilst it's pretty close to being a completely 'natural' product, smells divine, and comes with next to no packaging, it has one drawback - it has to travel a fair few thousand miles to get to me from the African women's fair trade co-operative.
I've never really considered beeswax before, but I definitely would like to give it a whirl now. At the moment I'm using E45 cream on my face every day (and trying not to think about all the petrochemicals leaking into my system), and working with the soil at the moment sucks all the moisture out of my hands too. Sounds like a fabulous idea, it's a shame you don't have more to start it up as a Sallygardens sideline!
Posted by: Lucy @ Smallest Smallholding | April 10, 2008 at 10:37 PM
What a cool idea! My fiance and I have become recent beeswax converts but none of the local hives offer anything but honey which is a shame.
Posted by: n. & J | April 11, 2008 at 12:37 AM
Beeswax is wonderful stuff, isn't it. We don't have bees, but we know folks who do, so we've received lovely honey along the the beeswax.
Posted by: debra | April 11, 2008 at 01:29 AM
I love reading your blog. I find it so interesting and so far removed from my life. I don't know where you find the time to do all the things you do.
Posted by: janice | April 11, 2008 at 03:17 AM
I adore honey but I never knew about the healing properties of unflitered beeswax. I love your blog. It's like a getaway to the countryside without leaving home :)
Posted by: Michelle | April 11, 2008 at 07:01 AM
What a lovely giveaway! I just love beewax and making you'r own.
Posted by: Sofisan | April 11, 2008 at 08:59 AM
I having been popping in for awhile and have taken away many great ideas and tips. I even shared with my readers your post on the apple trays for storage, referring them over here to see the inspiration.
We are getting "foster bees" on the 20th from a local beekeeper, so our adventures begin with honey bee's. I look forward to your future postings.
p.s please count me in on the beeswax giveaway. Whoever the recipient is, will be very lucky!
Posted by: Tammie | April 11, 2008 at 11:20 AM
Beeswax has always reminded me of learning to sew - waxing thread with a bar of it and the smell always feels so homely!
I'd love to be considered for your balm bar - my hands could use it with all the handcrafts I do!
Posted by: Josie | April 11, 2008 at 11:59 AM
I knew beeswax had many wonderful properties, but you just informed me of somemore. Those wonderful creatures! Thanks for the information.
Posted by: Tab | April 11, 2008 at 01:34 PM
I've been enjoying your blog for a couple months now, though I've never commented. Thank you for sharing all that you do.
Posted by: Louise | April 11, 2008 at 03:44 PM
Sounds great! Count me in!...Pam
Posted by: white o'morn cottage | April 11, 2008 at 09:35 PM
In sad hope of currying favour, some bee law. My friend Margie in Northern Ireland woke one night to the sound of someone trying to break into her house by the back door; out the window she spied two young men with a crowbar who then broke a window. Margie being Margie (and in her early 70s) she went out the front door, walked round and challenged them - only to be told to "F off". Margie promptly kicked over a beehive and vacated the area. One of the would-be burglars had to be hospitalized, and both of them complained that she had assaulted them.
The case was thrown out because the judge ruled that "bees could not possibly constitute an offensive weapon"!
Posted by: hedgewizard | April 11, 2008 at 11:15 PM