Honey and Bees Across the County

Sweet Emotion: Finding Honey and Bees Across the County

By Tim Johnson

The Bee Works Gift Shop and Dancing Bee Equipment Inc.

Bees are big right now. Honey is in high demand and, with the knowledge that these tiny, flying, pollinating wonders are now endangered, everyone is doing their part to keep them in the air. There’s no bigger place to see, learn about and experience bees than at Dancing Bee Equipment Inc. and The Bee Works Gift Shop off exit 464, just north of the 401. And there's no better expert than the company's Master Beekeeper and CEO, Todd Kalisz.

This 55,000-sq.-ft. flagship facility is located in Port Hope, with a second retail location in Winnipeg. Dancing Bee Equipment manufactures hives and other beekeeping equipment, and sells bees, especially queen bees. “We basically supply every beekeeper in Canada,” Todd tells me.

He gives me a tour of his brand-new retail facility, which recently had its grand opening. Walking into The Bee Works, the sweet smell of honey hanging in the air is unmistakable. Not surprising, given the fact that they have everything from honey habanero hot sauce, to honey beef jerky, to honey-infused salad dressings, potato chips and beverages.

In a corner of the store under a sign – BEE EDUCATED – a number of interesting panels inform even casual customers about the fascinating life of bees. (One covers “the life of a drone.” Others focus on food gathering, food sharing, and specific behaviours, including fanning and swarming.) Todd takes me through a small museum, which includes the oldest honey extractor in Canada and vintage, honey-related magazine covers. And the demonstration hive, inside and encased in glass, gives a sneak peek at day-to-day life in the hive.

“You can see the difference – all the different stages,” says Todd, pointing out the four different hives here. They’re also creating small pollinator gardens across the road, with labels identifying each plant. “You see what’s growing – you see it in bloom – the bees all over it, and then come across and taste the honey,” he says.

Dancing Bee also conducts workshops at its handful of hives out back, and produces honey – as many as 100 barrels a year, from hives they have across Northumberland County. Their main products include white, gold and buckwheat honey. Todd also notes that they create other specialty varieties. “It’s like a bottle of wine. Every flower produces a different honey,” he says.

For Todd, it’s not just a job. Bees are a passion. He comes from a beekeeping family, and says he’s long been aware of the importance of these industrious little creatures. It’s not just about the honey – bees are essential to pollinate basically everything that grows. “Even standard crops that we rely on, like soybeans, are 30 percent pollinated by bees,” Todd observes.

So as bees become more and more endangered, the business of bees continues to grow, from strength to strength. That’s a good thing for Todd and his staff. And it’s excellent for the environment. “People realize now that our whole fates are tied to the honey bee,” Todd says.

Come, visit, learn, taste – and in the process, maybe just help to save the world.

While Dancing Bee is a singular attraction, here are two other places that are the bee’s knees:

Cheeky Bee Candle Company and Gallery

You’ll find Cheeky Bee in a charming building with a big front porch located in the heart of Warkworth, a small artisan community in Trent Hills (and a place to add to your road trip list).

Owned and operated by two beeswax candlemakers, Perry Melzack and Amanda Gardner, this company grew out of a search for a natural alternative to chemically-based candles.

Perry and Amanda have created strong relationships with local beekeepers. They use time-honoured methods to create their candles, which are poured, dripped, dipped and finished by hand.

You’ll discover all sorts of honey products at Cheeky Bee – everything from sweet honey sticks and beeswax lip balm, to hand, face and body cream free of preservatives and perfumes, and infused with honey, bee pollen and propolis (a resin-like material made by bees).

You can also pick up bee-themed jewellery, serving dishes and other artisan crafts. And make sure to buy some candles, which are fragrant, lovely and plentiful. They come in all shapes and sizes, from something you could put by your bedside, to a centrepiece for an entire room.

Herma’s Fine Food and Gifts

On County Rd. 28, you’ll find Herma’s, just 10 minutes north of Port Hope. A simple, single storey structure on the outside – but inside, honey is just one reason to visit.

Venture into Herma’s and you'll discover a seemingly endless bounty of treats in this 4,500-sq.-ft. boutique. Foodies can wander for hours among Herma’s culinary offerings. They include everything from handmade pasta, to an impressive collection of international cheeses, to homemade frozen meals. There are also many, lovely gift items which are artfully displayed on the shelves. (Products range from Mason Cash pottery to Spiegelau glassware.)

And there’s honey, too. Herma’s offers selections that include local honey. You can buy everything from pure, raw wildflower honey, to honey infused with chillies. Or, even better, you can pair your favourite honey with blue cheese and chicken pâté. Make it part of a charcuterie board, which the staff at Herma’s make to order, right here, in house.