Life at a "Swell's" pace

For many years I would shop at the local co-op here (First Alternative Co-op) in the Northwest Willamette Valley and every time, at the check out, the cashier would ask if I was a member or had a member card. For many years I would say, "No, I'm not over here much so it doesn't seem worth it."

But I was shopping at the co-op more than I thought and I WAS, and indeed it did seem worth it to become a member.

With the food options of all natural, organic, local and even sustainable aside, the co-op in your neighborhood is more than just that. They work with the community, school and even the co-op owners, which you become, to make the community and the area where you live a better place.

With a cooperative ownership with your local co-op you gain access to what others don't get such as, discounts on your purchases, owner only specials and patronage dividends. Plus, cooperative businesses are run by the democratic process and everyone gets their vote regardless. They elect a board leader and vote to determine where the donations will go within their own community and county. You also get a say so in shaping what your co-op will become or continue to be.

Co-ops are a great way to get started if you or your family has chosen to make the organic and natural switch in your food choices. The local co-op offers wholesome, organic foods that are packaged in little to no packaging and most are local products, as well from local farmers. The selection of organic and Eco-friendly body care products and dental hygiene products are also a nice addition.

To learn more about what a Co-op does and how it can benefit you please follow the link here.

To find a local Co-op in your own area, please visit the Coop Directory Listing here.

Bees, the honeybee to be exact, play a huge role in our growing and planting process here on planet Earth. With the honeybees ability to collect pollen, he is then able to carry it from plant to plant, pollinating each one in the process. The collection process of pollen is preformed by the pollen grains from the flowers he lands on and is the adhered to the little bees hairs. The honeybee then uses the stiff hairs on its legs to ball the pollen up into pellets for easy carry to the hive.

Honeybees collecting nectar and pollen off of Dandelions.

Pollen is about 7.5 to 35 percent protein and is easily absorbed by the body of humans and can boost the immune system in the process. (Children under the age of 1 should never be given honey because of the bacteria spores within the honey that it "may" contain.)

Bees have this unspoken communication too. The scout bees find the nectar of pretty flowers and preform a figure 8 when the flowers are far and a circle with the flowers are close to the rest of the hive when they return. The nectar is then collected and returned to the hive to fill the honey sacs by the worker bees. The worker bees then deposit it into the honeycomb.

The honeycomb is made by bees from the glands on the bee's stomachs and then shaped by the workers into the hexagon shapes we are all familiar with. Once the nectar is placed into the honeycomb it is then topped with a wax top and sealed to protect it. As you can see, the worker bee plays a very important role here in the making of the honey.

Worker bees also use their wings inside the hive to fan the honeycomb in order to evaporate the water content from the honey and raise the sugar content. This process that bees do actually keeps honey from never spoiling, so honey keeps a very, very long time once it's jarred or bottled.

Honeybees collecting nectar and pollen off of Dandelions.

Honey is super delicious and very sweet. And did you know that it's the only food made by an insect that we all eat?

Almost everything we eat, that's grown, is thanks to the bee, especially the honeybee! Their pollination techniques are valuable to our survival. Honeybees aren't the only pollinators though, we owe pollination to honeybees, bumblebees, hummingbirds, bats, moths and butterflies, mason bees, and even grasshoppers, and ants.

The USDA has estimated that 80 percent of insect pollination is accomplished by the honeybee alone. Farmers from state to state rent out their beekeeping services of bee enthusiast to help pollinate their crops, especially fruit and nut crops. So, without the honeybee we would be in a big jam.

Honey throughout history has shown that not only is it enjoyed in today's culture, it was enjoyed many centuries ago as well.

• Greek philosopher Plato (347 B.C.) was said to have a swarm land on his tongue as a child and therefore his words flowed like the sweetness of honey as an adult.

• St. Ambrose (A.D. 397) was often referred to as "honey tongue" as a doctor because he was said to have and experience with bees and his emblem was the hive for his practice. His feast day is December 7th.

• Albert Einstein (1955) was once quoted as saying, "If the bee disappears from the surface of the earth, man would have no more than four years to live." Although the statement holds true, no actual proof was ever linked to Einstein as saying such a fact, but for my opinion, I believe he did. :)

• Aristole ( 322 B.C) was quoted as saying that honey was the nectar of gods.

With the recent indications of Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD), in which the worker bees suddenly disappear from the hive, therefore making production of honey and pollination come to a standstill within that particular hive. Solutions have been made since the first discovery in 2006, but CCD is still seen in and among most hives still today. A large part of the CCD issue has been pointed toward issues like insect disease, crop and pest dusting, or even climate and environment changes. It has also been linked to some forms of radiation, but no clear answer is still given as to why.

Although pesticides have been linked to the CCD collapse, you can do your part by using environmentally-friendly pesticides such as soap and vinegar for your plant leaves. Small changes throughout your gardening practice can help the honeybee greatly.

Ways you can also help:

• Support an organic, local farmer

• Plant seeds and grow your own garden veggies

• Use better pesticides and cut out chemicals

• Support companies making a change for the greater good

Grab a free package of seeds from Burt's Bees