Rutherford Weekly

March 16, 2017

Rutherford Weekly - Shelby NC

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Jackson Corbin comes from a long line of beekeepers, but it wasn't until he was in his early 20s that he began to consider becoming one himself. "I was watching a TV show on bees and thought that it might be something I'd like to get into," he said. A landscaper, Corbin had a customer who wanted to begin keeping bees but would only do so with Corbin's help. From that, Corbin began to keep his own hives and now has between 25 to 40 at any given time. "I wouldn't mind having 100 hives if life takes me in that direction," he said. Corbin was recently awarded a grant from WNC AgOptions which he will use to build a honey processing facility. WNC AgOptions has been exclusively funded by the NC Tobacco Trust Fund Commission since 2003, and the grant program is managed in partnership between the West District of NC Cooperative Extension and WNC Communities. Last year Corbin harvested between 1,100 and 1,200 pounds of honey, which he said he could've sold to one person more times than once. The honey processing facility will allow him to streamline operations and continue to provide honey not only in bulk but also for local buyers. "My mission is to keep honey affordable for local people," he said. "I want to keep my product available for all." In bulk, he has already begun to work with a local meadery, as well as with a local industry to supply their kitchen. The grant monies will provide for a pre-fabricated building, which Corbin bought locally and will have delivered. "I will finish it in and hope to have it finished by the end of this year," he said. "It should be fully operational by the 2018 season." Honey begins coming in between July and August, so during the winter and spring Corbin works on building and selling bee houses and supplies and preparing for the upcoming season. Corbin and his wife, Beth, try to use as much of the products produced by the bees as possible. Clean wax is poured into candles and they sell and barter products with others. "I traded honey for that dog out there," Corbin said, smiling. Corbin was assisted in applying for the grant by a fellow beekeeper, Malanie Price, who asked him if she wrote the grant and he won what would he do with it. Through that process, he began to consider things he hadn't before. Others who helped with the process were Rutherford County Extension Director Jeff Bradley; Farm Service Agency's Janice Nicholson; Tim Will; and the president of the Rutherford County Beekeepers Association, John "JB" Stevens. Corbin can apply for and receive the grant two more times, but he said he won't apply again for at least two years as he focuses on the honey processing facility and his bees. Beekeeping isn't a hobby, Corbin said, and it's something he hopes to retire to. "I've been doing this for a long time, and I am still learning," he said. "It's hard work. If you don't love it, you're not going to do it." For more information on beekeeping in Rutherford County, visit facebook.com/rcbees. OUR 25 th YEAR • ISSUE NO. 11 • MARCH 16, 2017 RutherfordWeekly.com 828-248-1408 FREE FREE Mon-Sat 11am-6pm 719 S. Broadway, Forest City Right off Exit 182 from US74 828-229-3123 ©Community First Media Community First Media Made in America glass Local artwork, glass & more Vaping Supplies Vaping Supplies Skateboards Skateboards ©Community First Media Community First Media FOREST CITY FOREST CITY 720 South Church St 720 South Church St • • 828-245-7274 828-245-7274 CAROLEEN Hwy. 221A • 828-657-5353 Medical Arts Pharmacy HAS MERGED INTO ALL PATIENT RECORDS ARE LOCATED AT HARDIN'S DRUG AS OF MARCH 1 ST Local beekeeper receives grant that's the bees knees Corbin will build honey processing facility Article By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly Article By: Allison Flynn, Rutherford Weekly SMALL TOWN FRIENDLY, BIG TIME RESULTS SMALL TOWN FRIENDLY, BIG TIME RESULTS HONEY FACTS - Honey is made from nectar and a bee enzyme, that has been stored in honey combs and has gone through a fermentation process. Honey is the only food made by an insect and eaten by both the insect and humans. - Honey will keep indefi nitely in a jar, however, it can react to cool temperatures by crystallizing. - Honey has anti-bacterial and anti-septic benefi ts. The darker the honey, the higher the mineral content. - Honey can help alleviate allergy symptoms, but to be effective, you should choose honey produced by bees in the geographic area you live. Jackson Corbin holds up a frame for a bee box that has a template in it for the bees to use to build their honey combs. Jackson Corbin puts on a bee net to keep bees from fl ying into his face. The bees are beginning to fl y more now that the days are warming up and fl owers are beginning to bloom. WHAT TO DO IF YOU SEE A SWARM OF BEES THIS SPRING If you see a swarm of honeybees in a tree, don't panic. "Watch to see if they stay there an hour or two, and if so, contact the Extension Offi ce," said beekeeper Jackson Corbin. "They maintain a list of folks who can help to remove the bees." And, if you want to help protect the bees, buy local honey, he added. "That's the best way to help - support your local beekeeper!" The Rutherford County Cooperative Extension offi ce can be reached at 828-287-6010.

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