While the rest of the world is gaga over the Flow hive, die-hard comb honey fanatics like me still wonder why anyone would do that to honey. Like rum without Coke, macaroni without cheese, or fish without chips, honey without the comb is unthinkable. Some couples are just meant to be.
So whenever I give comb honey to someone who’s never eaten it, I babble incessantly, describing how to eat it and how to pair it. But the recipients can’t remember. Once home, they stare, perplexed, at the strange object in their kitchen. I can just imagine the conversation:
“She didn’t mean to eat the wax thingy?”
“No way! Just the honey, I think.”
“But how do I get it out?”
“Squeeze it, maybe?”
“I can’t understand why she didn’t take it out. That’s what beekeepers do, isn’t it?”
Well, you get the idea. Not good.
For many years I wanted to include a little set of instructions with my comb honey, but I couldn’t decide on a format. Postcard? Brochure? Flyer? It all seemed like too much paperwork for one small chunk of honey. After all, food that comes with footnotes, schematics, and part numbers can be off-putting.
Then one day Gretchen, a beekeeper in my area, told me about a label she designed to fit on the lid of a mason jar. I cottoned to the idea of a tiny label, so I asked her to send me the text. Turns out, I was really impressed with her wording, short and to the point, but when I asked if I could use it on my own label, she sheepishly admitted, “I stole it from you.” Oh dear. That lapse of memory worried me so much I put the project on hold.
Honey with instructions
A couple of years passed before I finally decided to start over. I consolidated the instructions onto a business card, front and back, and then had them printed on heavy, glossy cardstock with rounded corners.
They came out great. You can stick them on with tape, slide them into the container, punch a hole through and tie them to a jar with ribbon or raffia, or include them with your business card. The information is there without being the main event. So far, they are working out well.
Front of the comb honey card. © Rusty Burlew.
Back of the comb honey card. © Rusty Burlew.
Then again, some folks don’t need honey with instructions (I’m related to this one). Child and photo © Anneke Davis.
Rusty
HoneyBeeSuite
Rusty….I’d like 100! I hope you get enough subscribers.
Dick Barnes
Long Beach (CA) Beekeepers Club
Dick,
Great! You are first on my list.
I’ll take 100, also.
Put me down for 100, too, Rusty
Love the idea, just not ready to use the cards yet!
I too would like to have 100.
Rusty I would like to say I would have 100 too but I need them in Dutch so unless you are going multi lingual I will refrain but with the request for plagiarising the idea at some point in the future when it might be nice to have them in our lingo with a darker bee in the picture. That is if we ever have any surplus honey of course
I would love 100 of these. Most of my customers love honeycomb.
Thanks so much.
I’d take 100. Vistaprint does a good job and has competitive prices.
While I get the honeycomb component, some of us aren’t prepared to haul honey supers from where our apiary is located to the house…much less the process involved to remove the honey. I love the idea that guests can visit and walk down with me, fill a jar, see the bees and have a mini-experience of how the basics of nature and our girls are hard at work. I am incredibly inexperienced and rather overwhelmed with farm chores, so the flow hive seemed like a good thing (especially as we get older and the chores get harder to do). Guess I’m not a die hard….
Rusty, I LOVE this! And the fact that I was planning on switching to comb honey this year instead of extracting is even better! I’d love to get some…put me down for 100 as well.
I am interested, but what am I looking at cost wise for 100-150 do you think?
100 for me as well, please.
I would love about 200 as well. Please!
I’d take 50, prefer 3 X 5 card or smaller.
Tom
A HUNDRED FOR ME TO…
Rusty this is just what I’ve been looking for! I’m in for 200.:) Sweet!
They are beautiful. I’ll take 100 also.
I am starting out with Ross rounds this year ( wish me luck )
Put me down for 100 too.
I suppose it wouldn’t cost too much to send a 100 of them to Canada. I’d be down for at least 100, if the price is right.
100 for me please Rusty!
I love the idea! If you were in South Africa, I would order too…
Try Vista Print. For 100. you can get over 2000! I’m in for 100. If you need help, let me know. Great idea. I am also appalled by that Flow hive.
A travesty IMHO.
100 for me!
Absolutely Fabulous! I’ll take a 100,
What a great idea! My ignorant friends will become informed honey comb consumers. I definitely will take 100 of these beautiful labels. I am just sorry that I never thought of this myself.
put me on the list for 100
Rusty, if you or readers would like versions in French, Spanish and Arabic, let me know. Sorry, can’t do Dutch.
Nan
Credit card does not go through?
Bill,
I didn’t have any problems with credit cards; you are the only one who’s mentioned it.
Put me down for 100 also.
Thanks!
My cards arrived this week and I am so pleased with them. Thanks for making them available to us.
Rusty,
Thank you.
Ordering supplies for next year. Cards are a great idea. Please let me know what the card says. TY, DB
DB,
I used to have it posted, but I took it down for various reasons. I can e-mail you a copy.
Can you email me a copy please? I lost my harvest and didn’t need them at that time. I’m coming back though, now. Thank you.
DB and Valerie,
I re-posted the photos.
If you have time e-mail this I would love a copy! This is our first summer with cut comb and it’s so tasty! Thank you for your cutting tutorials as well-dental floss is fantastic.
Janice,
I put the photos of the cards back into this post.
Thank you! That’s very helpful!
Rusty, are you still doing this? I’d order 50.
Anna,
Sorry. After I sold out, I never reordered. They are very popular with purchasers, though. They seem to help sales because it gives people who have never had comb honey some ideas about what to do with it.
Rusty,
I’ve been able to get about twelve good comb honey squares this year and had an idea to generate a QR code and include a link to this page for people to access for a little guidance on how to enjoy honey in it’s purest form. I can insert the QR code onto my label. Do you mind if I reference your site? Thanks for all of your wisdom and advice.
Steve
Steve,
Sure, give it a try. Sounds cool!
Let me know if you do another order or if I can get the template and have them done myself. Thanks.
Okay, Glenn. I asked the company that printed the cards if I could leave the template available for other people to order, but they don’t have a system for doing that. Since people like you keep asking, I may just go ahead and order another batch. Will let you know.
Wow. I have eaten (chewed like gum) for years. Started maybe 50 years ago. I never knew the comb was actually edible. I’ll have to try something new soon.
Hey Rusty, I would love to print some of these cards for my comb honey. What do I need to do to get your permission to print them?
Thank you!
Jennifer,
Go ahead. That’s why I posted them.
Thank You!
Hi Rusty,
Thank you for sharing your cards with us I am going to have some printed with your information. Are you giving permission for this option?
Thanks again this will be the first year we produce honeycomb and want to make sure everyone knows how to enjoy this luscious treat.
Thanks again.
Best,
Doreen
Yes, go ahead.
Hi Rusty, Just another request to copy your Honey Comb cards please. Love the idea and would appreciate being able to include them with our comb honey. Many Thanks.
Sure, Kerre. Go ahead.