Comments on: Queen B Candles http://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/ Australia's most popular design blog Thu, 24 May 2012 06:28:15 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Cate Burtonhttp://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/comment-page-1/#comment-22994 Cate Burton Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:49:59 +0000 http://thedesignfiles.dvize.com/2010/03/queen-b-candles/#comment-22994 Oh, and just another quick word on Imogen's comment that soy is 'environmentally friendly and burns clean'... actually not true. Sorry - that's just their marketing. <br /><br />There is more in-depth information and links to research on this subject in the Living Wisdom article on the Queen B home page. Oh, and just another quick word on Imogen's comment that soy is 'environmentally friendly and burns clean'… actually not true. Sorry – that's just their marketing.

There is more in-depth information and links to research on this subject in the Living Wisdom article on the Queen B home page.

]]> By: Cate Burtonhttp://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/comment-page-1/#comment-22993 Cate Burton Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:46:27 +0000 http://thedesignfiles.dvize.com/2010/03/queen-b-candles/#comment-22993 Hi Kelly,<br /><br />Cate here - Queen Bee at Queen B!<br /><br />I just wanted to address your question about the declining bee numbers and whether our using pure beeswax to make our candles would affect the bees...<br /><br />Actually the Australian beekeeping industry is in remarkably good shape (particularly when you consider that we have been in drought for over 9 years). <br /><br />There are two problems affecting bees globally (not in Australia). The first is the varroa mite - which is a mite that kills the 'European honeybee'. It is decimating bee populations globally and at this stage Australia is the only country free from the varroa mite.<br /><br />The second problem is 'Colony Collapse Disorder' or 'Disappearing Bee Syndrome' whereby entire colonies of bees (up to 90% of hives) are just disappearing. This is a huge issue in the US and Europe and Australia is now exporting millions of bees to these countries.<br /><br />We should be really proud of our Australian beekeepers. Whilst I could import NZ beeswax and save around 30% on the price that I pay for Australian beeswax, I choose to pay more to support Australian beekeepers.<br /><br />Beeswax is a by-product of harvesting honey. It can be used to make candles and is bought in large volumes by pharmaceutical companies and cosmetic companies. Removing it from the hive doesn't harm the bees. In fact my personal theory on why the Australian industry is in such good shape is because our beekeepers realise that if they don't look after their bees, they won't have a business. In the US, beekeepers will take all the honey from a hive and feed the bees corn syrup or sugar water. They also feed them 'pollen cakes' rather than leaving pollen for them or putting them on a pollen flow to stock up.<br /><br />Thanks for your suggestion to put some of this on my website - I'll do just that. It is something I have thought long and hard about and I am very comfortable that ethically we produce a product which is completely uncompromised.<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Cate Hi Kelly,

Cate here – Queen Bee at Queen B!

I just wanted to address your question about the declining bee numbers and whether our using pure beeswax to make our candles would affect the bees…

Actually the Australian beekeeping industry is in remarkably good shape (particularly when you consider that we have been in drought for over 9 years).

There are two problems affecting bees globally (not in Australia). The first is the varroa mite – which is a mite that kills the 'European honeybee'. It is decimating bee populations globally and at this stage Australia is the only country free from the varroa mite.

The second problem is 'Colony Collapse Disorder' or 'Disappearing Bee Syndrome' whereby entire colonies of bees (up to 90% of hives) are just disappearing. This is a huge issue in the US and Europe and Australia is now exporting millions of bees to these countries.

We should be really proud of our Australian beekeepers. Whilst I could import NZ beeswax and save around 30% on the price that I pay for Australian beeswax, I choose to pay more to support Australian beekeepers.

Beeswax is a by-product of harvesting honey. It can be used to make candles and is bought in large volumes by pharmaceutical companies and cosmetic companies. Removing it from the hive doesn't harm the bees. In fact my personal theory on why the Australian industry is in such good shape is because our beekeepers realise that if they don't look after their bees, they won't have a business. In the US, beekeepers will take all the honey from a hive and feed the bees corn syrup or sugar water. They also feed them 'pollen cakes' rather than leaving pollen for them or putting them on a pollen flow to stock up.

Thanks for your suggestion to put some of this on my website – I'll do just that. It is something I have thought long and hard about and I am very comfortable that ethically we produce a product which is completely uncompromised.

Cheers

Cate

]]> By: Imogenhttp://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/comment-page-1/#comment-22499 Imogen Wed, 03 Mar 2010 08:18:53 +0000 http://thedesignfiles.dvize.com/2010/03/queen-b-candles/#comment-22499 great write up Lucy, another good alternative that is environmentally friendly and burns clean is soy wax, which a lot of candles are being made out of these days great write up Lucy, another good alternative that is environmentally friendly and burns clean is soy wax, which a lot of candles are being made out of these days

]]> By: Kellyhttp://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/comment-page-1/#comment-22488 Kelly Tue, 02 Mar 2010 05:55:30 +0000 http://thedesignfiles.dvize.com/2010/03/queen-b-candles/#comment-22488 Yeah, I have drooled over their site.. the cost so far has been a hurdle.. and also, I have been wondering about the whole bees declining thing.. if there are massively declining bee populations left on earth, are we making that worse by consuming beeswax in the form of candles and other non essentials? I would love to see this question addressed on their site, as deep down, I would really like to buy some of these gorgeous candles. Yeah, I have drooled over their site.. the cost so far has been a hurdle.. and also, I have been wondering about the whole bees declining thing.. if there are massively declining bee populations left on earth, are we making that worse by consuming beeswax in the form of candles and other non essentials? I would love to see this question addressed on their site, as deep down, I would really like to buy some of these gorgeous candles.

]]> By: Estellehttp://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/comment-page-1/#comment-22486 Estelle Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:59:26 +0000 http://thedesignfiles.dvize.com/2010/03/queen-b-candles/#comment-22486 How cool is that chevronesque hand painted number! Still I'm not sure I could ever burn it. How cool is that chevronesque hand painted number! Still I'm not sure I could ever burn it.

]]> By: Kate Jameshttp://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/comment-page-1/#comment-22485 Kate James Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:59:10 +0000 http://thedesignfiles.dvize.com/2010/03/queen-b-candles/#comment-22485 I adore these candles. I was given one a year or so ago and had forgotten all about them! Thanks for the reminder Lucy. I adore these candles. I was given one a year or so ago and had forgotten all about them! Thanks for the reminder Lucy.

]]> By: Hege Evensenhttp://thedesignfiles.net/2010/03/queen-b-candles/comment-page-1/#comment-22484 Hege Evensen Mon, 01 Mar 2010 21:45:23 +0000 http://thedesignfiles.dvize.com/2010/03/queen-b-candles/#comment-22484 I sure would like to have the honeycumb candles! I sure would like to have the honeycumb candles!

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