HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2007-11-21, Page 18Crossroads
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Times -Advocate
Wednesday, November 21.2007
Forty years of honey making for Ferguson Apiaries
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
HENSALL — From multiple
kinds of honey to hand cream
and honey candles, for 40 years
Bill and Rosemary Ferguson,
along with daughter Susan have
been producing honey products
at Ferguson Apiaries on
Highway 83 between Zurich and
Hensall.
Bill bought the business in
November 1968, and it has been
steady honey production ever
since, says Susan.
The numbers of hives at the
apiaries has ranged from as
high as 1,200 and down to 400
because of problems with mites.
The business now has 800 hives
in 35 bee yards in Huron, Perth,
Lambton and Middlesex
Counties.
It produces products as varied
as honey spreads, mustard and
barbecue sauce, beeswax can-
dles, boot dressing and honey
candies.
One change that has made life
easier for the Fergusons is the
use of machines that lift the
100 -pound boxes, a job that
used to be done manually.
Clover honey is the most com-
mon type of honey and pollen is
also a product that is eaten by
people who say it gives them
energy, says Susan.
Throughout the winter, small
groups of bees keep working in
the hives after getting rid of the
male bees or drones whose only
job, Susan said, is to mate with
the queen.
"They are kicked out in the fall
because they don't work, only
eat." She said drones are unde-
veloped females.
At the centre of life in the hive
is the queen, who Susan said is
always fed by other bees.
Ferguson produces its own
queens and in the past year has
been selling queens in the
United States because its honey
bees have been dying.
She said every year Ferguson
changes the queens in its hives
to keep a good genetic strain.
While there are several methods
of introducing a new queen into
a hive, the one she prefers is the
chaos method where three or
four hives are mixed up without
a queen present. After 24 hours,
a queen is introduced that has
been sprayed to hide her scent
otherwise she would be killed,
according to Susan.
Different bees in the hive have
different jobs with older bees
bringing in nectar and others
using their wings as fans to reg-
ulate the tempature in the hive.
When a source of nectar is
found by a bee, it does a bee
dance to show the others where
it is located.
A good source of nectar which
shouldn't be sprayed are dande-
lion says Susan who added
pussy willows are the first
pollen out every year and make
the bees realize spring has
arrived.
Other services Ferguson pro-
vides is renting out hives of bees
to pollinate orchards, fruit and
vegetable crops which Susan
said is necessary for full devel-
opment of the crops. While the
hives can be moved into a field
in either early morning or
evening, Susan said it is usually
better in the morning when the
bees are more content.
Ferguson breeds against hos-
tile bees and a hostile hive is
gotten rid of so while working
around the bees, Susan says she
can wear just a T-shirt and
jeans as well as a veil "to keep
the bees out of my hair."
For Susan, the best part of the
job is being outside. "It's always
changing, you're never doing
the same thing twice."
Family business — From left, Rosemary and Bill
Ferguson, along with daughter Susan recently cele-
brated the 40th anniversary of Ferguson Apiaries
producing honey on Highway 83 between Hensall
and Zurich. (photo/submitted)
Christmas in style —The Christmas season in Lucan began over the weekend with
the fourth annual Country Christmas Home Tour sponsored by the Lucan Area
Heritage. Seven homes were on the tour this year, including the home of (above) Don
and Joanne Liley and daughterWhitney on Saintsbury Line while at left is Julie Ryan,
who along with husband Tim lives on Nicoline Avenue. Other homes on the tour
included John and MaryAnn Readings on Richmond Street, Brian and Bridget Keogh -
Watson at R.R.#2 Lucan, Bob and Joan Finkbeiner on Porte Street in Clandeboye, Bert
and Anne Langendyk on Denfield Road andTom Shoebottom on 16 Mile Road.(pho-
tos/Pat Bolen)
ST. MARYS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 25
Shop Downtown for Savings!
Participating merchants pay the taxes
12 noon - 4:00 p.m.
Sattiue/3 eul Via 'tat at the St. .irviww . 'tainn St e
o- ceiefriate jOCt,- Wtutiu.en)Wta - CLVt acre _Time 1:23 pm
Get your photo taken wth Santa!
2:00 - 4:00 p.m. - Little Falls Florist on Water Street./