When the box arrived from Bubba's Beez, I was excited, and ripped it open. I could not believe I'd received all the goodies inside! Not only did we get to use their Raw Wildflower Honey, but they also included their Lemon Drop Soap, Bubba's Body Balm, and Lip Balm to boot! My daughters and I immediately opened them all and were thrilled with each product. Bubba's Beez began as a project for a homeschooled boy back in 2010 that has since blossomed into an online family business that also sells at local markets.

Raw Wildflower Honey

Judging from their information on their website, I'd say we received "fall honey" as it was darker in color, yet  thick, rich and sweet in flavor. One of the threats to bees all over the country is pesticides and sprays. This honey is pesticide-free, which in turn makes it safe for us to use. And we did use it! We added it to our homemade whole wheat bread and it in turn, flavored the whole loaf beautifully. I am, at this very moment, enjoying it in elderberry tea to calm my distressed throat. My children used it for the same reason a few months ago. It is wonderful to know that I am adding something safe to help heal our family when we need it. You can't say that with random honey purchased at the store. Pricing varies on size, but for only $6.00, you can buy a "bear" that's 12 ounces. I look forward to trying their summer honey later in the year! (If you are local to Liberty Hill, Texas, you might try it for allergies too!)

Lemon Drop Soap

One of my favorite scents is lemon so I was looking forward to this soap. This five ounce bar is made with: lard, water, coconut oil, sodium hydroxide, castor oil, honey, fragrance, and beeswax. It is a square block that softens with use so if you place it in the shower, make sure it doesn't sit in water, but drains with a soap holder. The fragrance is made of a blend of lemon essential oil and lemon fragrance, and they top it off with lemon zest. Some soaps are very strongly scented and bother people due to this; this will not happen with this one. It is lightly scented so as not to assault the senses, yet is enjoyable to use. It also is long-lasting, and is $5.00 per bar.

Bubba's Body Balm

I have very sensitive skin so I was intrigued with this product. Not only did I not react to the balm, it was very soothing to my hands. This may not sound like a big deal, but I have had so much trouble with balms and lotions that this was especially nice for me. My daughter also likes this product and uses it regularly after doing the dishes. It has only two ingredients: grapeseed oil and beeswax. I was really surprised when I read that! It has a very faint scent from the beeswax, but is almost negligible. I like that. Many hand balms and creams are heavily scented, so this was a real plus to me. This can be used for any dry spot including feet, hands, elbows, and any skin. It can also be used to polish leather boots or as a natural wood finish! How about that for versatility! It comes in two or four ounce little metal tins, and ranges from $5.00-$7.00 each.

Lip Balm (Peppermint)

Grapeseed Oil, beeswax and honey, plus the scent\flavor - that's all that's in this Lip Balm. Soothing and flavorful, but not overwhelming to your lips, this lip balm is great for those of us that like our lips well-protected from the winter wind or summer sun. The website notes that they flavor is with essential oils or seeping the grapeseed oil "with dried flowers or herbs to create the perfect balance of scent." Either way, the peppermint was nice, but not too strong. (And that's important when using an essential oil!) Right now they offer three flavors: Honey, Peppermint, and Lavender, for only $3.00 each.

Bubba's Beez offers other products like beeswax, Queen's Balm, Honey Sticks, Creamed Honey, other soaps, as well as various sizes of honey. They even offer a honey cookbook! I love encountering entrepreneurial homeschoolers that produce high quality products, and Bubba's Beez does just that! Try them out - buy a bear - and see if you get hooked too!

-Product review by Kate Kessler, Product Reviews Director, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC, April, 2018