From: "deelusbybeekeeper" <deelusbybeekeeper@excelonline.com>
Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2001 19:44:59 -0800
To: <BiologicalBeekeeping@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Re: clean wax for organic production

Hi to all on Biological Beekeeping

Chris Slade wrote:

> Dee,
>
> Does your brown foundation contain lots of propolis? Could this contribute
> to disease reduction?

Reply:

Well Chris, yes it does as a matter of fact. When we went down to Alabama in
1997 to speak at the Beekeepers State Association 100 Anniv Meeting; and
following, had a workshop at Bill Gafford's place in Greenville for a few
days, I guess you could say we sure did that. That is, Bill and others
rounded up wax for the workshop. Nice yellow wax! They sure were proud of
it. I looked at it and asked if he had any propolis scrappings. Bill Said
yes and why?

Well, to us the wax was too yellow and would break too fast and the bees
would find it too clean. So we took whole heaping handfulls, with two hands
together and threw it into the wax melting/dipping pots, to darken the wax
before dipping foundation. Got it a nice olive green sort of with a nice
propolis smell. The Bees Sure Like It That Way! They really draw the
foundation out with it in for some reason (smell of home?).

Has it something to do with disease? Maybe? :>) Don't know! I'm not a union
card carrier for that type of research needs. But our bees don't seem to get
sick either!

Chow

Dee