Ben’s beekeeping for NASS
Ben sells honey to his local community. He has decided to donate 50p from each jar sold to NASS.
“I have received my support letter from NASS, and I want to give back and show my support”
I started getting lower back pain at the age of 14, but I always put it down to the sports that I used to take part in such as BMX. I would also ride long journeys on my bicycle as this was my main way of getting around in my teens.
After a few GP appointments, I managed to get a diagnosis at 18 years old. I ended up working many different jobs after realising that my occupation as a bricklayer was unsuitable for my condition; the cold wet weather, heavy lifting and working in a hunched position for long hours only worsened my symptoms.
At the age of 31, I decided that something needed to change, because I was struggling immensely with everything in my life as well as having a newly born baby. I wanted to get my condition under control.
I took on an allotment so that I could become more conscious of the food that I ate, focusing on more healthy and organic food and exercise. After five years of growing my own food, I decided to cut out refined sugar and to start keeping bees so that I could consume raw honey straight from the hive.
When we had our second child, the cost of living went up and we could no longer afford our flat, so we were forced to move. At this stage. I started to really struggle climbing the stairs leading up to the first floor of our cold and damp Victorian building. My health declined and I started to struggle with pain anxiety and depression.
At the time, I was working for an agency at the Southampton docks. I sought help from NASS, to write me a support letter that I could send to the council to help me move into more suitable accommodation. I left my job, as I could no longer cope, and started working for myself by buying and selling online as well as selling honey from my hives in a lovely little shop near Hamble in Southampton. I now keep my colonies at the Barn at Friends Farm, run by the wonderful Sue and Carlos.
I have received my support letter from NASS, and I want to give back and show my support. I reached out to Paul, from my local NASS physio group, and he acquired a NASS collection box for me so that I could start fundraising. 50p of every jar of honey I sell will go to NASS, and the collection box is placed on the on table when I am selling honey to my local community, as well as at the barn.
I am still learning every day, because in my eyes our health is our wealth, and we tend to take it for granted until it is too late.