“Beekeeping is an addictive hobby,” Julie said. She
holds some of the cinnamon-scented cranberry beeswax
ornaments that she sells at craft shows. One of her most
popular pieces are floating roses and polnsetti candles,
which are placed in a glass bowl with water. The flaming
flowers make attractive table centerpieces and burn 2-3
hours.
Bee-Related Hobbies
LOU ANN GOOD easy feat when using liquid wax
Lancaster Fanning Staff when pouring the molds. Rick per-
AUBURN (Schuylkill Co.) fected the technique after several
Visit Twin Oaks Bee Ranch and mishaps of having the eyes slide
it’s difficult to tell what causes sideways before the wax set
owners Rick and Julie Freeman the The molded wax animals trans
most excitement: bees, honey, or mit a sweet aroma and last for
the wonderful ornaments and fig- years.
urines formed from beeswax. “Beekeeping is an addictive
One thing is certain: the cou- hobby,” Julie said. “We’ve had so
pie’s artistic talents using the bees- much fun. We always ask what if
wax is the most eye-catching. we had more bees?”
Rick has garnered blue ribbons About 10 years ago, the Free
along the Eastern Coast and one hive for use in
da for his molded beeswax small orchard. They now
ines and Julie sells beeswax 6m*-- -own 120 hives.
ments at craft shows. C.. ested in 2 riginally becamc inter '
Rick makes his yT' (ffr, i, **** hftrailSft wp wantwi a
which are so unique that ije mtBIT wue, |“ , ;tcrop in our orchard, but
relents and sells them to inrnTFiltf orchard plays second
buyers. A picture of a handsome fiddle to the bees,” Julie said,
cat molded in beeswax by Rick After extensive reading on bee
appears on the hardcover book, keeping, the Freemans heard about
“Beeswax Crafting,” by Robert an older gentleman going out of
Berthold Jr. business. They purchased his hives
The one thing that makes Rick’s and transported the hives in the
work so unique is that lifelike glass trunk of their car. When they
eyes are molded into the wax—no arrived home, bees were all over
Two-year-old Brendln thinks fallen apples are balls to be
thrown.
Bee Ranch
Buzzes With
~ M
Rick Freeman has garnered blue ribbons along the Eastern Coast and Canada for
his molded beeswax animals. He makes most of his own molds. Notice the picture of a
handsome cat molded in beeswax by Rick appears on the hardcover book, “Beeswax
Crafting,” by Robert Berthold Jr.
their trunk and flying about
because some of the hives had
tumbled over. From their reading,
the Freemans knew the best thing
to do was to reconstruct the hive as
close to the car as possible. Rick
removed the hives from the car,
but left the trunk open. The Free
mans went to bed with the bees still
buzzing in the trunk. When the sun
arose, the bees crawled back into
the hives by their own accord.
/Another interesting way to
retrieve a swarm of bees, theFree
hians said, is to lay down a white
sheet and shake a swarm on it.
When the queen bee is placed in
the hives, (he remaining bees
march into the hive almost like
little soldiers.
Broken hives happen in more
ways than by transport Last year,
.Rick went up the hill in the wood
land in front of their home to check
on his beehives and found that a
black bear had already discovered
the honey. The bear had scattered
the parts of five hives all over the
place.
“But we had SO colonies there,
so it could have been much
worse,” Rick said of the five lost
colonies.
Since that incident the Free
mans strung high tensile fence
around the area to keep out the
bears.
Although mites continue to be a
problem for honey growers, the
Freemans are able to control the
damage compared to two years ago
when the mite problem had reach
ed epidemic proportions.
“We lost about 30 percent of our
hives,” Rick estimated. The loss
was mostly the result of other bee
keepers not treating their hives.
The-virus quickly spreads.
The Freemans transport hives to
fruit and vegetable growers who
request it. Generally, the hives are
transported in April to strawberry
fields. In addition to orchards, the
hives are also set in fields of toma
toes, peppers, and cucumbers until
frost hits.
The Freemans concentrate on
the bee part during the growing
season and the molding projects in
the colder months. They recall
being stuck in the mud in a remote
orchard during the. middle of the
night.
“Beekeeping requires late hours
m
when pollinating because you
can’t do it during the day. You
must wait until the bees are fin
ished flying,” Rick said.
The Freemans have taken bee
keeping and beeswax classes
offered at Delaware Valley
College.
As Rick and Julie talked about She also makes customized
bees, honey, and beeswax, their wedding candles with the wedding
2-year-old son Brendin took a bite invitation embossed on the candle,
from a piece of realistic Indian rolled beeswax candles, figurines,
com formed of beeswax. and hanging ornaments.
As his mother 'jfc* ' One of her most popular pieces
the beeswax-molded®“j**|jfi~
said, “The nice (Turn 10 p *fl* B 4)
Homestead
NOTES
About 10 years ago, the Freemans purchased one hive
for use In their own small orchard. They now own 120 hives.
Julie and Rick now have a son Brendln, 2, who shows great
Interest In beekeeping.
* *. "
/■ “J--
wax is that it’s entirely safe, espe
cially for children.”
Pure beeswax bums longer and
cleaner and transmits a delicate
aroma. Julie also colors and scents
beeswax for those who prefer
ornaments in colors other than the
natural color.