“I used to be at all times a bit buggy as a child,” says Beth Conrey as she seems to be again on her journey to changing into the proprietor and beekeeper of the Berthoud, Colorado-based Bee Squared. “I collected bugs for years whereas I participated in 4-H.”
After a detour working in company America, Conrey wound up returning to the world of bugs after studying a column within the native Berthoud Recorder newspaper by a honey farm proprietor named Tom Theobald.
“He was a ravishing author on many fronts however significantly on his love of bees,” says Conrey. “He triggered my curiosity, and for that I shall be eternally grateful.”
After taking some beekeeping courses, Conrey picked up a few hives. She “simply stored going” till changing into a proud “bee addict.”
We spoke to Conrey about obtain colony success and her firm’s award-winning fennel pollen honey. We additionally touched on the potential for bees to do math.
Brainstorming Fennel Pollen Honey
Bee Squared’s fennel pollen honey just lately gained an accolade on the Good Meals Awards. Conrey says that the concept for the honey got here from her outdated boss, Bob Patrick.
“He has at all times had a terrific palate, and he started working with me on totally different taste profiles for infusions,” she explains. “He put collectively fennel pollen and honey. I knew he had a winner as quickly as I tasted it. The style is synergistic!”
Learn extra: Beekeeper and Tik Tok famous person Erika Thompson is all in regards to the bees!
Pork, Pistachios & Honey
Relating to really helpful makes use of for fennel pollen honey, Conrey plumps for pork as a primary suggestion. “I’ve been making a pork tenderloin with sautéed fennel and the fennel pollen honey. It’s fairly scrumptious,” she says.
“I’ve additionally been placing it on a pizza that I’ve been modifying from a restaurant known as Origins in Loveland,” she continues. “It has a pistachio cream sauce, Italian sausage, contemporary mozzarella and some different substances. I drizzle the fennel pollen honey on it, and it’s scrumptious!”
Conrey provides that she’s taken inspiration from chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s pairing of grilled grapes with burrata and labored some fennel pollen honey into the mix. She additionally suggests it may be a “fabulous” addition to a gin-based cocktail.
Attaining Colony Success
“In Colorado we have now over 900 species of bees,” says Conrey as she seems to be over her hives. “I handle honey bees, which differ from the remainder of them as a result of they’re a colony insect.
“All the remainder of these bees are solitary and, thus, lack the flexibility to provide honey in amount. The important thing to colony success is consensus and, as people, we’d do nicely to emulate it.”
Learn extra: Prepared to begin or develop your hives? Take a look at the following tips for buying bees.
Can Bees Do the Math?
Requested about a few of her favourite bee habits info, Conrey says, “Bees can rely to 4 [and] bees perceive the idea of zero.”
A Fixed Studying Expertise
Reflecting on her years surrounded by bees, Conrey says that she stays “completely fascinated by them. I be taught one thing new from them [and] about them day by day.”
Conrey provides that every colony additionally shows its personal persona. “Whereas they aren’t a pet, I do have favorites,” she says. “Most individuals don’t consider bees as having personalities—however they do.”
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