Honey talks
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frequently asked questions
Un-bee-table answers
06. HOW DID YOU BECOME A CERTIFIED MASTER BEEKEEPER?
05. WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? DO YOU HAVE LOCAL PICKUP?
04. WHAT ARE YOUR RETURN POLICIES?
03. WHAT ARE YOUR SHIPPING RATES AND POLICIES?
02. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY HONEY CRYSTALLIZES?
01. WHEN DO YOU RESTOCK HONEY, SOAP, OR SKINCARE PRODUCTS?
07. DO YOU TREAT YOUR BEES?
08. DO YOU HAVE BEES OR COLONIES DYING?
09. DO YOU OFFER ONLINE BEEKEEPING CLASSES?
15. HOW ARE YOU NEURODIVERSE?
14. WHY BEES?
13. WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
12. ARE YOU PART OF ANY BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONS?
11. DO YOU FOLLOW FOOD SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WITH YOUR HONEY?
10. WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE LIVE HONEY BEES ON MY PROPERTY?
16. DO YOU STILL DO PHOTOGRAPHY?
17. DO YOU PRACTICE COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS?
18. DO YOU TRAVEL FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING?
Beekeeping is seasonal work in Colorado and honey availability depends on many factors to be successful. Honey harvest times can be difficult to predict, but honey is typically harvested between August-October and available within that time frame and around the winter holiday season. It continues to be available until it sells out and is restocked annually. Soap and skincare products are restocked when needed. Some skincare products are not available between May-September due to to higher temperatures and high risks of products melting when shipped.
01. WHEN DO YOU RESTOCK HONEY, SOAP, OR SKINCARE PRODUCTS?
The nature of raw honey means it can crystalize. Crystallization is completely normal. Some honey crystallizes faster than others, but eventually, all honey will crystalize. That does not mean it should be thrown out (honey never gets old). Crystallization is a combination of the types of sugars in the nectars collected at that particular time. Crystallization is also affected by the raw nature of honey. If it has more pollen, wax, and propolis in it, those will form crystals quicker.
If your honey crystallizes this is an indication that it is truly raw and has all the benefits of raw honey. Second Breakfast Honey harvested in fall typically crystallizes much quicker than spring honey based on what the bees forage at the time.
When your honey does crystalize just put the bottle in a hot water bath (not boiling) and let it sit for 30 minutes. It will liquefy and be squeezable again. Some people love crystalized honey as is and spread it on toast.
02. WHAT HAPPENS IF MY HONEY CRYSTALLIZES?
USPS shipping is available for domestic purchases only and varies based on weight and distance. Read the shipping policy for more details.
03. WHAT ARE YOUR SHIPPING RATES AND POLICIES?
Second Breakfast Honey guarantees the quality of its products. Second Breakfast Honey is happy to replace any item(s) in the unlikely event that they might be damaged during transit. Items that have been opened or used are not returnable and as such all sales are considered final. Read the returns policy for more details.
04. WHAT ARE YOUR RETURN POLICIES?
I live in the remote mountains of Colorado. My apiaries are close to Rangely, CO and honey is available for local pickup there.
05. WHERE ARE YOU LOCATED? DO YOU HAVE LOCAL PICKUP?
A Certified Master Beekeeper is one who has completed a master beekeeper program with a deep understanding of bee anatomy, biology, beekeeping practices, beekeeping as a business, and how to conduct scientific research and experiments. I became a Certified Master Beekeeper through the University of Montana's program, which I recommend as a worthwhile investment for anyone serious about beekeeping.
06. HOW DID YOU BECOME A CERTIFIED MASTER BEEKEEPER?
I initially started my beekeeping career with a treatment-free approach. As I gained knowledge and began experimenting more, I saw, first-hand, the difference monitoring and treating for mites, nosema, and other pests or diseases can make. Through my Master Beekeeping program I was able to fully look at the scientific research and justification for treatments, which changed my mind and approach. Now, my bees and I are more successful than ever.
07. DO YOU TREAT YOUR BEES?
Becoming a Master Beekeeper has helped me mitigate colony losses with deep knowledge of anatomy, biology, beekeeping, and science. I still have winter losses, like many beekeepers, but these have gone drastically down as my knowledge has increased.
08. DO YOU HAVE BEES OR COLONIES DYING?
I hope to offer these in 2022.
09. DO YOU OFFER ONLINE BEEKEEPING CLASSES?
I offer live honey bee removal local to Rangely and northwest Colorado. However, if you have live bees on your property (a swarm or an established hive), call your local beekeepers association. They will be able to direct you to someone who can help with a humane and safe live bee removal.
10. WHAT DO I DO IF I HAVE LIVE HONEY BEES ON MY PROPERTY?
Yes. The honey is raw, which means it is not pasteurized. However, all food safety precautions are taken when harvesting, filtering, and bottling honey. Colorado's Cottage Foods Act requires all of Colorado's honey producers to take a Food Safety Training course to receive a 3-year certification. I am happy to provide my current certificate upon request.
11. DO YOU FOLLOW FOOD SAFETY PRECAUTIONS WITH YOUR HONEY?
Yes, I am a member of the Western Colorado Beekeepers Association, American Honey Producers Association, Colorado Beekeeping Association, American Beekeeping Federation, and the Western Apiculture Society.
12. ARE YOU PART OF ANY BEEKEEPING ASSOCIATIONS?
Outside of honey, soap, and skincare products available for purchase I offer beekeeping services for public speaking, mentoring other beekeepers, and live honey bee removal in my local area. For those seeking autism advocacy services I offer public speaking for workplaces and events.
13. WHAT SERVICES DO YOU OFFER?
Did you know that many autistic people have special interests? Bees are mine. I love the sensory aspect of hearing them and the smell of the hives. What I love even more is the feminist-led society. I originally got into bees thinking it would help support my other big hobby of gardening, but came to love bees just as much!
14. WHY BEES?
While I don't feel I owe it to anyone to disclose my personal disabilities, I share here to advocate for people like me and the disabled community as a whole. I have both autism and ADHD. I received both diagnoses as an adult. My son is also autistic.
15. HOW ARE YOU NEURODIVERSE?
With a background in both photography (entrepreneurship), and teaching I am able to combine my passion as an educator with marketing in my dream day job. I work full time in edtech as a product marketing manager and love it. I am currently transitioning out of photography and am taking on limited clients only through 2022. For my existing clients who are still working with me, you can find photography information here.
16. DO YOU STILL DO PHOTOGRAPHY?
I understand some populations may continue to be more vulnerable and susceptible to COVID-19 despite vaccinations. To ensure the comfort and safety of others in-person I am fully vaccinated (including my 3rd shot) and committed to continued timely vaccination. I will also wear a mask indoors, at locations with low vaccination rates, while traveling, with people I don't know are vaccinated, or for any other reason. I will also wear a mask happily at your request in any situation to guarantee others have safe and equitable access.
Also, as an autistic person who frequently encounters anti-vaccination discourse with autism, I am a big fan of vaccines. I love who I am and what my brain is capable of. I believe there's a lot of ableism in the idea that the risk of death from a preventable illness is a risk someone would rather take than end up like me or other neurodiverse folks.
17. DO YOU PRACTICE COVID-19 PRECAUTIONS?
Yes. In-person public speaking rates include the cost of domestic travel for both autism and beekeeping speaking events.
18. DO YOU TRAVEL FOR PUBLIC SPEAKING?
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My 5 Core Values:
Media in the world, normalizes being young, white, thin, cisgender, able-bodied, and heterosexual. It considers anything else ‘other.’ As a lifelong photographer I believe that I have a unique power as an image creator to help redefine what’s considered normal by creating and representing people from all cultures and backgrounds in my work. Media does not accurately reflect the diverse people in our world and I hope to have the opportunity to change that narrative and ensure that everyone has representation and a voice through their experiences with me whether that be through photography, beekeeping, or the autism and ADHD communities.
1. Representation & Voice
I believe human beings have personal autonomy over their own bodies and therefore seek to celebrate all the unique ways people love and live in their own bodies. My commitment to bodily integrity extends into the way I process photographs, or interact with you upon meeting or in-person.
As a photographer I believe extensive retouching is unethical and that creating unrealistic physical changes to someone’s body is a projection of biases of how we think someone should look.
As a neurodiverse person I am also sensitive to the social anxieties and sensory processing struggles that physical touch can cause so I will always ask for permission before shaking a hand, hugging, or giving a high five - and I won’t take it personally if you decline.
Finally, I understand some populations may continue to be more vulnerable and susceptible to COVID-19 despite vaccinations. To ensure the comfort and safety of others in-person I am vaccinated and committed to continued vaccination and will wear a mask at your request.
2. Bodily Integrity
Cultural appropriation is best defined as a problematic power dynamic where members of a dominant group or culture (who have privilege) take or use elements from a culture of people who are marginalized or oppressed by the dominant culture. Often times these the dominant culture benefits from the use of these elements with a gain in power, influence, notoriety, or income. Cultural appropriation is widespread in photography, social media, and beyond. It does damage by letting us show love for a culture, but remaining prejudiced against its people. When members of a dominant culture utilize traditions, tools, and rituals from an oppressed culture at weddings, family events, conferences or anywhere else it furthers the problems of falsehoods, stereotyping, and systemic racism - especially when published online, where stories are often misunderstood. As such, I do not partake or photograph in events with teepees, dream catchers, jumping the broom, henna, or other cultural traditions unless the event is led by people from those cultures.By doing this, when a photograph, narrative, or event is published online - the true owner of a cultural tradition or ritual is the one whose voice is being heard and I’m prioritizing a commitment to justice for oppressed groups over my own dominant culture’s privilege.
3. Cultural Appropriation
Social media, blogging, and photography are about storytelling and one of my core values is to not manufacture narratives or photo opportunities for the sake of the opportunity. I want to tell stories about beekeeping, photography, or neurodiversity as if its unfolding in a documentary way. By doing this I focus on content that’s created with purpose instead of simply for the sake of creation.
4. Creating Content with Meaning
Autonomy is defined as being free from external control. Many events push narratives that make attendees feel as though they are doing something wrong. Whether I’m at a wedding, fundraiser, conference, or other event one of my core values is to support the autonomy of the event leadership to run an event that is inclusive, provides accessibility and equity, but also in a way that supports their narrative most. I’m happy to be an advocate at many events for many different populations and learn best when I listen rather than dictate how events go.
5. Event Autonomy
