Hovering above blades of green, a tiny forager gathers the days harvest.
My courtyard is modest, with a few cracks between the stoned pavement where daisies flower. Each day the bright yellow beacons attract a dozen or so bees, small soldiers that dance atop the stamens collecting pollen— precious cargo destined for the hive. The industrious troops remain nimble even as the pollen gathers on their tiny frames. It is a pleasure to watch as they go about their bee business, and considering the effort involved I begin to wonder.
Where did the golden nectar that I so lavishly spread over morning toast come from? Which bees so kindly supplied my cupboards? Was it harvested from a city garden or collected in open fields? Do my neighbours share this wonder for what is considered a kitchen staple?
Following the trail of the tiny troops, or as I like to call them ‘Natures Little Nourishers’ lead me on a quest to discover the origin of honey. The jar was no help, with obscure details referencing ‘local and imported’ ingredients. As one does the next stop was google, and from here I arrived at the Honey Colony.
I was familiar with the founder of the site Maryam Henein, having watched her internationally acclaimed documentary ‘Vanishing of the Bees’. Since then Maryam an investigative reporter, had expanded her efforts to raise awareness and support for our little friends by creating a hub for honey-lovers and health conscious consumers.
Honey Colony is a health-oriented magazine and marketplace featuring investigative stories, alternative viewpoints, and sustainable products from conscious vendors. Products include super foods, herbs, high-end supplements and bee-related products, from independent suppliers respected for their integrity and sustainable practices.
As it turned out tracing the origins of honey, revealed greater insight into the world of bees. From honey to health, the two are connected on a much grander scale than one first imagines shopping the grocery isle.
Take a recent study published in the Journal of Applied Ecology which found bumblebees imported from Europe were infected with parasites posing a serious threat to the UK’s wild and honey bee populations. Healthy populations of bees are vital to all kinds of harvests, the fruit and vegetables you eat are the result of pollination.
Simply put, bees disperse diversity, and nourish our lands to sustain life on earth— without them the honey jar and grocery isles would be empty, and there would be no flowers to colour the courtyard.
So the next time you reach for a honey jar, purchase some produce or pick a flower, consider the bees please!
SEEK ADVENTURE. SAVE WILDLIFE.
Chief Editor Bare Essentials – Inga Yandell
