Local honey in glass jars, Project Genesis, Bee loving plants.
My cousin recently moved from Australia to Chicago. She has a dog called Charlie, who was to
re-locate with the family. She arranged his safe passage through Jet Pets. (this is not an ad for Jet Pets). Her Jet Pet Rep called her a couple of days before Charlie's flight to re-arrange it. She didn't want Charlie to be in the livestock hold with the swarms of bees that were booked on his original flight, beacuse they were very noise and may upset him. Yes, that's right. Swarms of bees are routinely shipped from Australia to North America and other parts, because Australia has healthy bees and we don't. Our bees are dying.
I recently attended a huge livestock and produce market. I got chatting to a man about his honey,(not his girlfriend, his gorgeous, golden, fresh honey that you put on your toast). And about his bees. He is a local beekeeper, a very worried beekeeper, and he explained to me a bit about the world of beekeeping. About the North American bees dying. About hives being transported from farm to farm to pollinate crops because there aren't enough wild bees to do the job in these mega-farms that now exist. (last year in Eastern Canada, a truck transporting hives from farm to farm tipped over causing the whole highway to be shut down while they retrieved their bees).
He told me that when you buy store bought honey in those little beehive shaped or bear shaped plastic containers from the grocery store, it's a mix of honey bought by buyers from various parts of the world (here in North America it is often South American). They buy the cheapest product they can from various sources and mix it, ship it long distances, and package it in plastic. Double Whammy. Not locally produced and a plastic jar.
To help protect our bees you can simply plan a bee friendly garden. And buy locally produced honey. (farmers market, specialty store, local grocer, gift shops.) Just because you buy organic honey at Whole Foods, doesn't mean it is "green". Where did it come from? At the farmers market I was at they had strawberries from the USA. Now, I buy USA berries in the supermarket when I can't buy locally grown. BUT, at a farmers market you need to watch out. Vendors are buying from the Food Terminals and selling at Farmers Markets. Beware, Just because they are at a Farmers Market doesn't make them a farmer or the product local. !Make sure you ask if they are lcoal.
You can check out
Plan Bee for how to grow a bee friendly garden.
Less grass, more flowers, water for the bees to drink, no pesticides or herbicides.
I have planted large gardens to encourage the bees, but local honey is something I buy by the dozen and use for gifts. A whole slew of good reasons. Locally produced, helps the local small beekeeper, delicious sensible and practical gift.
Think about all those gifts you need for teachers, hostess gifts, your hairdresser???? How about a jar of gorgeous local honey tied up with a vintage spoon.
Or a lovely cornbread sweetened with local honey.
Vintage Spoons, Local Honey, Honey Moist Cornbread. Recipe Here
I am linking up for Project Genesis hoted by Suzan at Old Grey Mare. Check it out and become involved here.
