Heathmont Honey, Yering Station Farmer's Market
(Fabulously
Gourmet Article, August 2008), The owner of
Heathmont Honey, Paul Davies has a special
relationship with me as we both were once working
together in one of the most challenging'
technological Project in 1999. That is also the
first time I realised Paul had bee hives scattered
around Melbourne. I distinctly remember that at one
stage I was busily trying to help him to find a
location so that he can relocate the bee hives.
We met up again about 12 months ago in the Yering Station Farmer's Market. He is one of the many exciting stores in the market that day.
Here is his story.
Q1 What are you selling here?
We have three main categories of items for sale here:
There are 11 different type of honeys. The most notable ones from my range are:
There are also 15 different types of candles each of different sizes made from pure bee wax, no paraffin or essential oil added.
Q2 How long have you been doing this?
3 days before my school exams in November at the aged of 14, I was given a swarm of bees - much to my mother’s horror. With permission from the High School I attended in Putaruru, I moved my hive to the back of the school property as my first recruit was the horticulture teacher.
Q3 What are the most interesting aspect of this business and why?
I love nature, so jumping in my vehicle and getting amongst my bees, especially the apiary site up at Heathcote. I was born and raised in a small country town so getting out to the bush suits me.
Even after keeping bees for 25 years, I am still amazed at how a colony of bees are so organised. Every bee knows exactly what to do, regardless of the time of the year; seeing how nature is so marvelously interconnected.
I also like to share my passion with others, in particular getting to know my customers' wants and needs and adjusting my operation to take this into account.
Q4 What makes you different from the others?
My honey is cold extracted, thereby preserving some of the additional benefits that would otherwise be lost. Some of these benefits include better tasting honey, honey that has aroma.
Heat tends to change this and some enzymes are destroyed, thereby changing the unique properties that honey has.
Q5 Are there any preservatives?
There is absolutely no preservatives added. The honey I sell is straight from the hives.
Q6 What care do I need to take to use your products?
Honey by nature shouldn't need a use by date, provided a simple storage procedure is followed. My recommendation is to store honey in a cupboard with its lid fastened away from the heat and light.
Honey does absorb water from the air when the lid is left off. Overtime this could cause the honey to ferment because honey contains naturally occurring yeast cells.
Honey will also darken in colour when exposed to sunlight. Store honey in a cupboard away from light.
Q7 How much do they cost?
The cost will vary depending on the products and the size, in particular with the candles and honeys as there are varying sizes. Please visit us either at the Farmer's Market or contact us through the contact numbers for the latest price.
Q8 Which one is your favourite product?
Similar to everything else, people's taste change with time and I like to change from one variety to another. I enjoy the stronger honeys mostly because for me they have strong flavours and less of a sweet taste. At the moment I am using Messmate honey having changed from Leatherwood.
Q9 What is your favourite suggestion on the use of your products?
I use honey on my cereal or porridge every morning and as a sugar replacement in my tea.
Q10 Where can I find you?
Heathmont Farmer's Market
When: 1st Sunday of each month
Hours: 9.00am to 1.00pm
Where: Great Ryrie St Primary School, Great Ryrie St, Heathmont. (49 J12)
Yering station Farmer's Market
When: 3rd Sunday of each month
Hours: 9.00am to 2.00pm
Where: Yering Station, 38 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen. (275 B6)
Or
Phone: (03) 9738 0456
Website: www.heathmonthoney.com.au
Writer's Note
This article is written by Patrick Tang and reviewed by Paul Davies. All pictures are courtesy of Heathmont Honey. All rights are reserved by Fabulously Gourmet and Heathmont Honey. Publications are not allowed without prior permission from Fabulously Gourmet and Heathmont Honey.
We met up again about 12 months ago in the Yering Station Farmer's Market. He is one of the many exciting stores in the market that day.
Here is his story.
Q1 What are you selling here?
We have three main categories of items for sale here:
- Honey;
- Candles made from bee wax; and
- Skin Care products made from bee products.
There are 11 different type of honeys. The most notable ones from my range are:
- Blackberry - This honey is light amber colour with a floral bouquet, silky smooth texture and fruit finish. This mild honey is from a selection of fields in North Western Tasmania.
- Red box - Eucalyptus Polyanthemos, a tree of 6-20m in height with scaley bark and rough for the first month and box like for remaining of the year. The reddish flower buds take two years to bloom and usually occur between September and November. Red Box honey is light amber in colour with a firm texture. It has a sweet smell with smooth sweet taste and flavour that matures with age. The honey has a slight tallow after taste.
- Red Stringybark - Eucalyptus Macrorhyncha, a tree of 7-30m in height, up to 1m in diameter . This tree can be found from Stawell through the dry regions of the Great Dividing Range. The flower buds take two years to flower and flowering occurs from late December to March. A tawny coloured honey with a firm texture. It is smooth and mellow on the tongue, a slightly stronger tasting honey.
- Leatherwood - This honey from the Tarkine wilderness has a musky aromatic aroma and acharacterisitcs strong lingering flavour. Unique to Tasmania, it is a world class honey. Leatherwood is not an Eucalytus tree; and
- Messmate - Ecualyptus Obliqua, a tree of 4-60m in height depending on the region with thick, fibrous brownish bark. They are located in the high rainfall southern region of Victoria. The flower buds take 12 months to bloom and flowering occurs between January and February. The honey is very smooth in the mouth but with strong aromas like golden syrup and molasses.
There are also 15 different types of candles each of different sizes made from pure bee wax, no paraffin or essential oil added.
Finally, 2 different
type of skin care products which are:
- Lip Balms - made from sweet almond oil, extra virgin olive oil and beeswax, no preservative is used. It is ideal for wearing beneath lipstick or lip gloss to protects our lips against the environment.
- 250ml Bottle of Honey hand and body lotion - The unique and natural properties of honey promote softening, smoothing and rejuvenation of the skin ideal for everyday use.
Q2 How long have you been doing this?
3 days before my school exams in November at the aged of 14, I was given a swarm of bees - much to my mother’s horror. With permission from the High School I attended in Putaruru, I moved my hive to the back of the school property as my first recruit was the horticulture teacher.
Q3 What are the most interesting aspect of this business and why?
I love nature, so jumping in my vehicle and getting amongst my bees, especially the apiary site up at Heathcote. I was born and raised in a small country town so getting out to the bush suits me.
Even after keeping bees for 25 years, I am still amazed at how a colony of bees are so organised. Every bee knows exactly what to do, regardless of the time of the year; seeing how nature is so marvelously interconnected.
I also like to share my passion with others, in particular getting to know my customers' wants and needs and adjusting my operation to take this into account.
Q4 What makes you different from the others?
My honey is cold extracted, thereby preserving some of the additional benefits that would otherwise be lost. Some of these benefits include better tasting honey, honey that has aroma.
Heat tends to change this and some enzymes are destroyed, thereby changing the unique properties that honey has.
Q5 Are there any preservatives?
There is absolutely no preservatives added. The honey I sell is straight from the hives.
Q6 What care do I need to take to use your products?
Honey by nature shouldn't need a use by date, provided a simple storage procedure is followed. My recommendation is to store honey in a cupboard with its lid fastened away from the heat and light.
Honey does absorb water from the air when the lid is left off. Overtime this could cause the honey to ferment because honey contains naturally occurring yeast cells.
Honey will also darken in colour when exposed to sunlight. Store honey in a cupboard away from light.
Q7 How much do they cost?
The cost will vary depending on the products and the size, in particular with the candles and honeys as there are varying sizes. Please visit us either at the Farmer's Market or contact us through the contact numbers for the latest price.
Q8 Which one is your favourite product?
Similar to everything else, people's taste change with time and I like to change from one variety to another. I enjoy the stronger honeys mostly because for me they have strong flavours and less of a sweet taste. At the moment I am using Messmate honey having changed from Leatherwood.
Q9 What is your favourite suggestion on the use of your products?
I use honey on my cereal or porridge every morning and as a sugar replacement in my tea.
Q10 Where can I find you?
Heathmont Farmer's Market
When: 1st Sunday of each month
Hours: 9.00am to 1.00pm
Where: Great Ryrie St Primary School, Great Ryrie St, Heathmont. (49 J12)
Yering station Farmer's Market
When: 3rd Sunday of each month
Hours: 9.00am to 2.00pm
Where: Yering Station, 38 Melba Highway, Yarra Glen. (275 B6)
Or
Phone: (03) 9738 0456
Website: www.heathmonthoney.com.au
Writer's Note
This article is written by Patrick Tang and reviewed by Paul Davies. All pictures are courtesy of Heathmont Honey. All rights are reserved by Fabulously Gourmet and Heathmont Honey. Publications are not allowed without prior permission from Fabulously Gourmet and Heathmont Honey.
