Earlier in my ministry I was partners with a parishioner in the ancient art of beekeeping. We had a modest three hives which produced several hundred pounds of honey in a good year. We were rank amateurs when we started and lots of laughs and a few stings ensued. It was a pleasurable activity and when you give the honey to friends it is as though you rather than the bees flew hundreds of kilometres to gather the nectar.The Fairmont Royal York hotel in downtown Toronto is now into the honey business. Really. The prestigious hostelry now has three hives nestled amidst the rooftop garden. They are calling this the Honeymoon Suite. They use their own honey in the restaurants which is a nice touch.
Bees are disappearing in North America for reasons no one can ascertain. We need them in orchards and for a host of other crops and experts aren't sure whether we are poisoning them out of existence or if there is some mysterious illness. The bees simply disappear without a trace. Every effort to keep these valuable critters going is important.
Did you know that in other times the bee was a symbol of the resurrection? I like that idea and of course the apostle Paul did ask "death, where is thy sting?"
I like to watch the honey bee and I actually took an Apiculture course at university! I really enjoyed it. I noticed too that the same hotel of which you speak is very green friendly they have their food oil delivered to a tank so no plastic bottles etc, and any unused not served food goes to Second Harvest. They seem to be leaders in the restaurant industry for new ideas and waste diversion.
ReplyDeleteApiculture! Perfect word. I have now amended my blog entry title.
ReplyDeleteAh Nancy, you are a renaissance woman. They are cool little creatures to watch,