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Bee line to health

Blaine and Tristan Campbell. Picture: Gerald Moscarda

Avid vegie gardener Blaine Campbell was assured her crops would flourish if she installed a modest beehive at her patch. But what she didn't anticipate was that a passionate career in honey would follow.

Based in Beechboro, Mrs Campbell and her husband, Tristan, now manage 10 hives and produce a broad range of stunning raw WA honeys under the Honey I'm Home Produce label, which also incorporates golden nectar from other WA producers, for their farmers' market and online clientele.

"We started off with one hive, then we collected a swarm and increased it to five, and suddenly we had all this honey that we didn't know what to do with. A friend suggested we go to the farmers' market and try selling it there, so that's where it all started," Mrs Campbell said.

"We strictly use raw honey from WA producers. Many apiarists are not into commercial production and just do it as a hobby so they can keep their bees, so it works well for both of us."

Raw honey, in its purest form, is said to be part of the super-food cohort. The Campbells' honey is not heat treated, micro-filtered or blended and still retains active micro-pollens which assist with better digestion, longer-lasting energy (low GI sugar) and promotes a healthier immune system among a long list of other benefits.

Visit hihp.net.au or find the range at Subiaco, Central Park, Mandurah Boardwalk and Leederville farmers' markets as well as Perth Home Grown and Maylands Hawker Market.

Fresh Honey I'm Home Produce is giving two lucky readers the chance to win a Honey and Candle gift-pack to the value of $50. Write your name, number and address on the back of an envelope and send to Fresh Honey I'm Home Competition, GPO Box 2910, Perth, WA 6800.

Entries close at 5pm on Thursday, March 6 with the winner drawn the same day and notified by mail.

Employees of _The West Australian _and immediate family ineligible to enter. Entrants' details will be used for marketing. See WAN privacy policy at the west.com.au/privacypolicy.