MRSA curing honey

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moonwind

Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 1140

Posted: Thu May 28, 09 10:13 pm Post subject:

Pity a Co-op of Beekeepers couldn't get together in a similar way that some of the DSers have got together to sell meat online.

I would definitely buy honey if the seller was reasonably priced (not cheap but reasonable).

If I see local honey available I can never resist, also when we ever get to get away from a short break always come back with pots of local produce.

The Supermarkets are the ones who say they support local so they should supply even if the honey (in this instance) is in short supply and only has a little shelf that is filled as and when, in fact it wouldn't hurt the Supermarkets to allow some local producers to have a small area within the shops where they can sell their own products, then the supermarkets could really say they support the small local producers!

Won't hold my breath though, far too much integrity for them probably

moonwind

Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 1140

Posted: Thu May 28, 09 10:19 pm Post subject:

goosey wrote:

I bought some "English Wildflower Honey" by Rowse last year, it came from hives on Salisbury Plain according to the label.
I bought it in Waitrose.
When I read moonwind's post, I looked up rowsehoney.co.uk and as well as all the foreign stuff, they sell Scottish Honey, and English Honey, have a look. I have not seen them on the shelves this year.
I don't go in Tesco much either, but I will do as you ask moonwind, because on several counts, it is important for shops to sell our own food. I want to have my own hives too.

I wonder if the Salisbury Plain honey had essence of tank! LOL

My grandfather was an avid beekeeper back in the 50's remember him all dressed up in the old fashioned gear.

Hope you get your hives too and they go well for you. You are braver than me! I just like the products of the bee and find it fascinating.

goosey

Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Merry England

Posted: Thu May 28, 09 10:24 pm Post subject:
Thanks I reay feel the same way as you about English food,I find waitrose better than most.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri May 29, 09 5:23 am Post subject:

moonwind wrote:

Just been looking on Tesco website and needed some honey (eating honey). Got the squeezy honey we use for topping Ice Cream BUT then looked for some decent set honey.

Loads of choices as long as you want them from around the globe or at best EU and other non EU Countries blends.

I specifically looked for some British honey and the store does not stock one British honey product.

Maybe one of the DS honey producers would like to pen a letter to Tesco HQ (Terry Leahy) and enquire why they do not stock British honey and if there is a problem getting British honey in enough quantity for them to stock it.

It seems every Country but our own can supply, my biggest question is why.

Most DSers seem very Patriotic which is great, but maybe the time has come to act and write to supermarkets who usually say they support local markets and ask them why not.

Maybe they cannot get enough honey from our Country BUT even if they could only get small amounts the choice should be there.

Maybe there is a market there waiting to be had.

I wrote to Terry Leahy once with a complaint, and found him very good and he did sort out the problem, so rather than words when other Countries products are to the fore of our own get motivated and write asking questions?

Hope someone who knows about honey products takes up the challenge as would love to know the reason why British is not on the shelves, if there really is a problem then knowing what it is is the beginning of solving it.

We have just had the two worst summers in living memory which is one of the reasons British honey is scarce.
I think you will find the OSR is sold in reasonable quantity in the supermarkets but because of its poor quality it is sold in the cheap blended & creamed honeys.
My question would be why would I want to sell my honey to a Company like Te**o who want all the profit for themselves when I have no problem selling it locally anyway.
My ethos is to take buisness from Te**o not share with them.

Tavascarow

Joined: 06 Aug 2006
Posts: 8407
Location: South Cornwall

Posted: Fri May 29, 09 7:07 am Post subject:

Sorry my last post sounded a little dismissive.
Let out the chooks & had another coffee.
Whilst pondering.
Its a great idea but there aren't enough (if any) beekeepers here with enough colonies to make a buisness.
Most are only running 1 or 2, I'm only currently running 3.
When I used to work 15 I still had no trouble shifting the honey locally.
Also Britain doesn't have enough distinct single source honey apart from Heather honey & (Spit) oil seed rape.
If there were unique geographic crops then marketing would be so much easier as flavours would vary more but still be distinct & the honey connoisseurs would know that say Cornish ling honey is distinct to say London lime honey.
Unfortunately apart from Heather & O*R honey the rest of the flora of the UK is to varied to label as such.
Although to me that's what makes it special but it does mean that you can only sell it as mixed flower honey
Unfortunately as to Te**o they want a uniform product that will taste the same not only jar to jar but year to year.
Rowse will buy honey in bulk & blend it to the supermarkets taste (After pasteurising & micro filtration) but that to me defeats the object.

Fee

Joined: 21 Mar 2005
Posts: 15922
Location: Earth

Posted: Fri May 29, 09 7:21 am Post subject:
I haven't shopped in Tesco for some time, but there used to be a good selection of British honeys IIRC. I buy local honey from my local butcher And usually come back with honey from travels too!

goosey

Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Merry England

Posted: Fri May 29, 09 7:39 am Post subject:

There was no offence taken at all

It was late last night and I thought, if people here want it, and we've got it....?
I don't go to T.... either probably for same reasons as you, and more, but equally, I imagine some ppl don't have a choice, busy life, work, kids etc and that's the only place handy now small shops have shut. Why shouldn't they get what they want,I thought.
Anyway, I also realise I am very new here and a lot of topics/questions come up repeatedly

So I have started reading back through old posts in between work. Thanks for putting up with me

I hadn't known, that last autumn, people asked for honey etc here.
Thanks for your explanation re honey production, I am glad to learn.
I'm assembling a TBH later, made of boards from base of the spare bed- hope it keeps me out of trouble

moonwind

Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 1140

Posted: Fri May 29, 09 10:01 am Post subject:

Thanks for the explanation Tav, it is such a shame that British hives have had so many problems, let's hope we get a good year for the buzzies this time and that the hives can stay healthy.

As Goosey says there is obviously a demand for small producer products, in this case honey, but I daresay the demand is there for small producer other items, as the meat producers found out i.e meat in a box scheme.

I wonder if that is still a sustainable venture? Updates anyone?

If you think about it, I am sure I am not the only person on here and on similar forums that would buy products from small producers, as you say because the small producers (and I mean small not the commercial idea of small!) get a bum deal in the main.

If an internet selling area could be shared by such small producers I am sure people would buy.

Example:- You sell me 4 off honey (set, natural runny, whatever) You charge for the time, costs of suitable packaging and postage.

OK The supermarkets will always have you on cost of course, BUT there are people who would rather order British (not wider EU) and actually really support our own producers (small ones).

Look at the dairy industry and how the farms are getting huge, well I would rather by from Giles down the road who has a small herd and tries to keep only the amount of animals on his/her small farm as that size was "really" suitable for to keep the animals happy .. Of course with dairy products they have not got the opportunities other products have because of all the regulations from the "scare us silly" people.

Maybe as well as honey, jams, pickles and other home produced products could also belong to such a Co-op scheme (just need to chat up someone like Jema to enquire as to the "how to's")

If regulated to small scale producers it would surely have a market and allow everyone to obtain home produced products.

I for one would buy your honey as I am biased when it comes to Cornwall as you know

.

Always beats me why in the area I live no such scheme exists and there are some lovely products around.

I think British producers do not get together enough, as say the French producers do.

So, from Manuka honey (in ointment form for hubby's legs applied to the ulcer NOT eaten!) which is marvellous for him, to our own British honeys for their uses the thread has been an eye opener.

Small producers could outsmart some of the supermarket trade and help local jobs in the courier industry too.

I do lots of pickles, jams etc in season and mainly using home grown products from here (as you last year disaster due to the tomatoes all rotting with lack of sunshine!), but am sure there must be loads of people here and on other forums that could group.

Is it possible?

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Sat May 30, 09 1:31 pm Post subject:

I remember the good old days going shopping, all the prams lined up outside the local co-op where local producers used to sell thier own produce and an ironmongers where you weighed the nails and counted out hooks and eyes into paper bags. I have seen a couple of Co-ops still operating like this in the far out places around here but mostley this type of sales happen at a farmers market now, not in a purpose built shop.
The new market in Carmarthen is so modern with its high glass walls that my friend could not sell there anymore, all her friut and veg wilted and she could not even give it away, a large light airey , cool building has given way to modern design that does not work.
Its been harder to get hold of local honey for some time round here.

moonwind

Joined: 10 Sep 2006
Posts: 1140

Posted: Sat May 30, 09 10:19 pm Post subject:

Ginkotree wrote:

We are in the same area and I agree with you about the new market. It is a mini version of the market at St Austell, same layout but in a building too small for purpose.

Who wants debenhams anyway the old mart in Fair Lane alongside the old stall market hall were great.

I hope the new pizza hut coming to the new shopping area does not mean we lose Get Stuffed Pizza shop, had a lovely homemade pizza there tonight as a treat.

I do like to go into Sheffield House? the near as possible these days ironmongers up by the tourist centre (you know - the one thats hardly ever open LOL)

Won't ask you d.o.b but do you remember the tins of broken bisuits, tins had perspex front so you could see the lovely bikkies inside and just had to have a quarter!

Happy days, but like you I am very surprised at the LACK of availability of home grown produce from our area.

Ginkotree

Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 2956
Location: south west wales

Posted: Tue Jun 02, 09 10:08 pm Post subject:
Yes, I remeber the broken biscuits, my nan would buy a box as a treat ..

Kanga

Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 148
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Posted: Wed Jun 03, 09 10:28 pm Post subject: Manuka honey for wounds

Moonwind, I read your post of 21st May with great interest as my 95-year-old mother has a leg ulcer. She eats a jar of Manuka honey (maybe more!) every week and when she got the ulcer she wondered if she should put a bit on the ulcer but was afraid that it might do more harm than good. Since then it has become infected and for some weeks now, nurses have been treating it with iodine, etc but it's not getting any better and she says it is very painful. You seemed to indicate that your husband only used honey on his ulcer when it wasn't infected. I found a link for manukahoney.co.uk - Meloderm 100% Irradiated UMF 16+ active Manuka Honey. Is that the sort your husband uses and do you think it would do any harm putting it on her infected ulcer?

goosey

Joined: 29 Apr 2009
Posts: 380
Location: Merry England

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 09 5:43 am Post subject:
I hope the ulcer on your mother's leg clears up soon kanga, and that the others here can help.

Kanga

Joined: 22 Aug 2007
Posts: 148
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 09 7:26 am Post subject:
Thanks goosey, so do I. It's really getting her down. She suffers from other painful complaints as well but if this one could be made to go she'd be much happier.

yummersetter

Joined: 26 Jan 2008
Posts: 3241
Location: Somerset

Posted: Thu Jun 04, 09 11:28 am Post subject:
tough on the bees though, but perhaps Mrs Baggins' strain could become very useful

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