Renew
/ LIFE AND WORK OF BEES
by Ellie Butterfield
Minding Our Bees’ Wax How well do you know your pollinating neighbors?
GEORGIA IS SAID to be home to 500 varieties of bees, many of which reside in Decatur. These flying foragers play a critical role in the ecosystem and rely in part on the support of their human neighbors to protect them. Several intown businesses are making it easier to join the effort.
“I never knew what honey really tasted like.” The most recognizable by-product of bees comes from the honey bee (Apis mellifera). The honey harvested can come in as many flavors and colors as there are seasons and colonies. Atlanta’s Little Bee Project shares distinct local tastes in its bottled, raw honey. The company is unique in that it takes a micro-local approach to honey production by keeping the harvest from each apiary (collection of beehives) separate from the other. Master Beekeeper and founder Steve Esau explained that honey can be affected by environmental conditions such as weather and soil along with the availability of surrounding crops and nectar sources for the honey bee to work. These variables will affect the color, undertones and taste. “That final product, the honey that comes off the hives, is a little different every year,” he said, even though the hives didn’t move. 6
DECATUR LIVING
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