beeswax sources?

[wiseone]

Hello beautiful women!

I am seeking a good source of beeswax for making salves. I want something preferably from a source which is gentle with its bees and has the ecological frame of mind. Any suggestions? I do live in the southeast, so something local would be great too!

[Shraddhananda]

I'll ask around. I wonder about talking to local bee keepers in your area?

[wildiris]

The suggestion about local beekeepers is a good one. I get beeswax from a local (south Alabama) beekeeper who has beautiful, clean, pesticide/herbacide-free honey at our local Saturday market. It is pricey, but we have become friends and now he gives me the "slub" for free! Slub is "dirty" beeswax, with some hive debris and organic matter (I have come across the ocasional bee body part or wing). I just melt it down over a double boiler and pour off the clean wax into a little pan to make a little beeswax cake for use in making herbal balms or what have you and put the rest on the compost pile. My honeyman always gets a jar of whatever I've made! It's a sweet trade....

[makebeauty]

Dear Wise One,

  I would recommend checking out Brushy Mountain Bee Farm. They are located in TN and have organic practices. Another option would be to order through a bulk buyer (I think frontier sells beeswax??). I agree with the above post that making connections with your local bee keepers is a great idea!