Honey is one of nature’s little miracles; whodathunk that something so sticky could have so many useful applications? And yet it does. We put it in our lip balms, lotions, conditioners, and other moisturizers, we use it to add just that little touch of sweetness to a recipe or to make honey butter and hot toddies (yum!). We even use it as a more natural alternative to remedy various ailments, such as hay fever or a nasty cough.
Honey, in and of itself, is a great thing…but we must give credit where credit is due. As much as some people might dislike them, the only reason we have honey is because of honey bees. In addition to supplying us with the deliciously sweet nectar we’ve grown to love, honey bees also pollinate something like one-third of the food we eat (an industry worth about $200 billion dollars a year). So, if you like honey and/or eating, listen up: Honey bees, for reasons mostly unknown to scientists, are dying.
If this news alarms you, you should consider rounding up the family (or flying solo) to attend the 13th Annual Honey Harvest at the Creative Discovery Museum on Saturday, July 27 and Sunday, July 28 from noon to 4 p.m.
Those attending the event will have the opportunity to meet a beekeeper from the Tennessee Valley Beekeeper Association who will teach you about different kinds of bees and different types of honey. You’ll be able to participate in a live honey extraction, and will even get a chance to make your own honey lip balm, beeswax candles, and honey soap to take home. Those who tend to be more food-oriented gat a chance to learn about different meals that can be made using honey from 212’s chef Nick Goeller. Visit cdmfun.org for more information, or call (423) 648-6043.
—Keeli Monroe